UB Anniversary ReVisit: Teairra Marí Talks Being Dropped + Rihanna

Over the next year, we’ll be spotlighting features from our e-zines from the last 25 years. T M H Entertainment, T M Hxone and Urban Bridgez.

As the longest running website for R&B online, since 1999 – We’ve been able to conduct some amazing interviews with R&B Royalty, as well Hip Hop Legends.

Influenced by Motown and the late Aaliyah -a fellow Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts alumna. Teairra Marí came by her talent naturally: Her grandmother sang backup for Aretha Franklin.

Following her declaration, Teairra began splitting her time between singing in church and recording demos in her cousin’s basement. She even scored a local hit with an early song, “You Thought.”

She soon caught the attention of Big Mike, Ed K and Helluvah of Detroit’s K.I.S.S. Productions, which developed her from the age of 13 onward. Under Big Mike’s guidance, Teairra spent every free moment in the studio, working with some of the hottest producers and songwriters in the game.

K.I.S.S. Productions arranged for Teairra Marí to collaborate with artists such as Ray J, J Kwon and Lola Damone. Eventually, the young diamond-in-the-rough was honed into a polished gem, ready to take the industry by storm.

In October 2003, K.I.S.S. Productions released Teairra’s first album, an EP called “Get Away,” which became a local sensation.

When she was age 16, K.I.S.S.’ Big Mike felt that Teairra was ready for the big time, and he brought the R&B starlet in front of a who’s who of label execs. Candy Tookes, a friend of Big Mike, introduced the pair to industry veteran Daryl Simmons in Atlanta. Simmons then shared Teairra’s demo with Antonio ‘LA’ Reid, Chairman of the Island Def Jam Group. After hearing Teairra Marí perform live, L.A. offered her a contract on the spot.

Teairra worked with Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, in his first collaboration project when he became President of Def Jam.

Signed to Def Jam in July 2004, and crowned by Jay-Z as the label’s “Princess of the Roc,” and described by songwriter/producer Sean Garrett as an “urban Avril Lavigne. [She] talks about life as it is.”

Teairra Marí at the time said her sound is “sleek, sassy and edgy. I don’t want to do anything that doesn’t sound like me.” They led with the single “Make Her Feel Good,” which was a great introduction reaching #45 in Billboard.

That first album, 2005’s “Roc-a-fella Presents Teairra Marí,” sold 69,000 units its first week. For promotion of the album Teairra Marí performed on Teen People magazine’s mall tour, which started at the Mall of America in Minneapolis.

Her second single “No Daddy” was huge for her, as well as the video. Which VP of marketing Tracey Waples summed up as Baby Boy the movie meets the Mean Girls.

The third and final single from the album entitled “Phone Booth” was released 15 years ago today on November 1st, 2005. Despite the single not having a visual and only being released to retail in the UK — the single was without a doubt the highlight of the album. Described by many as an R&B classic!

Teairra Marí was dropped from the label after the first release. At the time Teairra stated “It was business. They put a lot of money into the first album and it didn’t do as well as they anticipated, so they had to let me go.”

Fast-forward to the year 2009, Teairra was back and on a new label Fo’Reel Music Group, prepping “At That Point.” The album featured guests appearances by Nicki Minaj, Kanye West and Gucci Mane, to name a few. The album was later shelved.

Teairra Marí released her first mixtape “Don’t Make Me Cause A Scene” and released a second, “Point of No Return,” in 2010.

Teairra Mari spoke to UB in early 2009 about the release of “At That Point,” being dropped from Def Jam and Rihanna comparisons.

Teairra also shares her experience of working with Rico Love, recording “At That Point” and her overall career goals.

UrbanBridgez.com: First off congrats on the new single and the video doing so well on World Hip-Hop. How did the collaboration with Pleasure P come about? There was a remix online a few months ago of “Did You Wrong” with you on it and people were feeling it. How did you guys hook back up with “Hunt For You?”
Teairra Mari: Me and P had met through a mutual friend and ever since then we’ve just been friends. We’re cool, we go bowling, we go eat, and he’s like a brother. I hook him up with girls, he gives me guy advice. It was just natural, I was like “Hey I got this hot record” and he jumped on. It was simple.

UrbanBridgez.com: And of course it is a hot record, Rico Love wrote it right?
Teairra Mari: Yeah it was written by Rico Love.

UrbanBridgez.com: Who else did you work with on the album?
Teairra Mari: I’m finishing up with Rico Love & The Runners. I worked with this hot producer named Oak, Tony Dixon from the Underdogs, and that’s pretty much it.

UrbanBridgez.com: That’s what’s up. Sounds like it’s going to be a pretty well rounded album, especially with people like Rico Love and Tony. What makes the new album different from your debut, because even then you had a mature album for such a young age?
Teairra Mari: Well I think that’s what makes it different, the fact that I’ve matured. And I think since I know the business now also. Before I took things more personal and now I’ve learned that it’s business and I’m able to separate. Then I was young and hardheaded and thought I knew everything, but now I’m older. And it’s a good album, it’s an album I’m happy with so I’m really pleased with it.

UrbanBridgez.com: Were you pleased with your debut album or did you feel the music and image was forced?
Teairra Mari: I was pleased with it, but I think the image and the music didn’t connect. They marketed me as this young girl, but the album had a parental advisory sticker on it. So you wanted me to sell to kids, but the album had the sticker on it and what sense does that make?

UrbanBridgez.com: I feel you. I enjoyed the album, but also wondered what audience they wanted you to appeal to. I’m a few years older than you so my crowd could relate, but I remember the younger crowd jamming to it too.
Teairra Mari: Uh Huh [laughs]

UrbanBridgez.com: A lot of people are confused about your sudden departure from Def Jam. You came out with “Make Her Feel Good”, then “No Daddy” and then there was No Teairra, can you shine some light on that situation?
Teairra Mari: Like I said it was business, you know. My album didn’t do what they anticipated so they had to let me go. At first I was a little heartbroken and I spent a lot of time with friends and family, but it was business. I don’t think there was anything funny involved [laughs]

UrbanBridgez.com: And of course there has been talk about a feud with you and Rihanna. Me personally I didn’t really see the problems, but with your release from the label it does bring suspicion. It just makes you wonder, “What really happened to Teairra?”, “Was Rihanna the reason”? Do you all talk or are friends? Do any of the rumors hold any weight?
Teairra Mari: She has her career and I have mine. It was nothing to do with her, nothing at all. We were two separate commodities. She was here and I was me and that’s it.

UrbanBridgez.com: So off of all the Def Jam stuff. We of course know that you have a new album that’s going to be released soon. Have you decided on a title yet?
Teairra Mari: Yeah the new album is called “At That Point” and it will be released in April.

UrbanBridgez.com: Alright, and you mentioned some of the people you worked with. Did you write any of it yourself?
Teairra Mari: Yeah, I co-wrote a lot of it myself. I wanted to really be involved this time around. Even though with Sean Garrett, it was a collaborative effort.

UrbanBridgez.com: What are some of your favorite songs from the new album so far?
Teairra Mari: Oh my God, I love the whole album [laughs], but my favorite is probably this song called Emergency, I love “Holla”, and I love the single. I always loved this single.

UrbanBridgez.com: Is “No, No” going to be on the album?
Teairra Mari: No that’s not going to be on the album, The Movement produced it, but I also did two other songs with them. One called “Independent Stay” and the other is the title track.

UrbanBridgez.com: Who did you enjoy working with the most?
Teairra Mari: Oh God! I can’t say [laughs] I enjoyed working with everyone, but I worked with Rico the most, so that was like home.

UrbanBridgez.com: What are your long term goals with your career?
Teairra Mari: Reach deeper. I want to start a shoe and accessory line. And just be happy.