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Teyana Taylor has won awards, acted in movies, penned some of our favorite songs, and even choreographed some of the music videos for those songs. Yet, despite all her accolades, the multi-talented artist is widely underrated as a musician — and so, she’s hanging up her mic.
Last week, a number of musicians took to social media to express their disappointment with the Grammy nominations’ lack of acknowledgment and representation. Among those artists was Teyana Taylor. Rightfully so. Her latest work, The Album, debuted at the number eight spot on the Billboard 200.
Teyana shared her frustration about her music journey while expressing her gratitude to her fans for streaming her music over 162.8 million times on Spotify:
“Wow, who did that? Y’all did that,” Teyana captioned in an Instagram post. 
Thank you 
I ain’t gone front in times of feeling super under-appreciated as an artist, receiving little to no real push from the “machine”, constantly getting the shorter end of the stick, being overlooked, I mean the list on and on lol.. I’m retiring this chapter of my story with the comfort that i can depart with peace of mind seeing that all the hard work & passion put in was indeed loved & supported somewhere in the world! To all my supporters from day 1 & all my new ones I love you and I thank you for everything & don’t worry y’all know 
all hustlers have the understanding that when one door closes another will open…either that or I’m pickin da locks petunia!!! So wassup
”
READ: Elton John on Teyana Taylor: ‘You’re Not Getting The Recognition’
Listening to Teyana Taylor’s music is like experiencing love for the very first time. She sweeps you off your feet with soulful tunes that spark feelings you never knew existed. Her range alone puts her in a class with some of the greatest musicians of our time. Between her unique, raspy alto voice, her honest, candid lyrics, and the smooth combination of 90’s feel-good music with a hint of that Harlem flavor, Teyana Taylor’s collection of work is worthy of praise.
Teyana first hit the screen on MTV’s My Super Sweet Sixteen. At 16 years old, the singer showed she had personality and presence. Not long after, she embarked on her music career, and fans learned more about Teyana’s commitment to artistry when she released VII. The body of work confirmed that she was not the little girl from Sweet 16. She was grown, and she was going to prove that to you through her lyrics.
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After that Album, if the world wasn’t hip to Teyana, they finally caught on when she appeared in Kanye West’s Fade video. A singer, songwriter, choreographer, director, producer, and actress, Teyana Taylor has proven that she’s a woman of many talents.
Now that she had the world’s attention, it was the perfect time to put out new music. In 2018, she released her second studio album K.T.S.E. (Keep That Same Energy). Although the 23 minute, 8-track album, was phenomenal, it felt like a slight to her as an artist. She expressed her disappointment in the way her label G.O.O.D. Music handled her album and thought it felt rushed. K.T.S.E. didn’t win any major awards, but Teyana managed to showcase other talents by directing and producing the music videos for her songs.
However, the setback didn’t stop Teyana. In 2020, the singer released The Album. The 23-track collection featured artists like Erykah Badu, Kehlani, Lauryn Hill, Future, Rick Ross, Quavo, Elton John, Big Sean, Missy Elliot, and her daughter Junie. This body of work showed the growth and evolution of Teyana. Her days of encouraging people to “Google Me” were long gone, as the artist had become a household name.
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In a world where under-appreciated artists get their flowers when it’s too late, Teyana Taylor deserves a bed of roses, a field of tulips, and a farm full of daisies now. Although she announced that she’s closing her chapter in music, she represents rare artistry that can’t just sit on the sidelines. To keep classic R&B alive, we need the unique, modern voices of artists like Teyana Taylor, Summer Walker, H.E.R., and Jhene Aiko. They keep us connected to true R&B. Can you imagine the 90’s without a song from Brandy, Erykah Badu, Toni Braxton, or Mary J Blige? That’s who these artists are for today’s music.
Source: 2020HHA / Getty
When it feels like your first love doesn’t quite love you back, you move on to other experiences. Teyana’s other talents have made her financially fruitful, so a walk away from music won’t be detrimental to her brand. Still, let’s hope that with time, that walk redirects her back into the studio so she can continue to breathe life into music.
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Why Artists Like Teyana Taylor Need Their Roses Now was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
