From a Boy to a Man

Teyana Taylor: A different kind of superstar

by: Sean A. Bennett

If America is the land of golden opportunities then nothing validates this more than the upsurge in American teenage superstars. Within the last decade, more youngsters have been bit by the ‘star’ bug and have sought to create big names for themselves. It’s an extensive list, one that includes actors such as 16 year old Dakota Fanning, 18 year old Taylor Launter, 18 year old Miley Cyrus and twenty one year-olds Taylor Swift and Chris Brown- all of whom had a huge buzz surrounding them in 2009.

But 19-year old Teyana Taylor is far from average. Not only does she sing, dance, choreograph and act, she is also a rapper and stylist- making her something of a ‘sextupled’ threat- and she does it all while keeping her clothes on.

It’s just after 4:30 pm on a Jamaican sun-drenched Friday in early February. Teyana is staring, silent and seated on a black cushioned golden chair in Kingston’s National Indoor Sports Center, as her dancers make the final touches on a routine before joining them for rehearsal.

It’s her first time on Jamaican soil.

She’s here as one three hosts for the third staging of the Youth View Awards, which, like herself, has become something of a big deal to adolescents across the island. As she watches, men work feverishly to set the venue for tomorrow night’s grand affair.

She stands. Walks to the stage and instantly becomes a vision of enviable beauty- natural, ruffled hair, full lips, glowing skin and a body enveloped in gym attire that looks like it was built by years of dancing. She looks good, really good. But in an industry where a sexy image is everything, Teyana is making sure this is more than just about her looks- a whole lot more.

“I think God sent me here for a reason. I’m very close to Him and I know He has a plan for me that’s why I’m so different. I don’t try to be like what everyone else in the industry wants me to be like. I know that sex sells, and everyone wants me to be in-your-face sexy but so what? That doesn’t mean I have to follow what they say. I think I’m sent here to be a change”

             

The change of which she speaks is the archetypal formula of what makes a ‘pop’ star successful- long, flowing processed hair, sexy lyrics and overly exposed skin. And when compared to her overly exposed music industry counterparts, she hasn’t has that much success. At least not commercially. And doesn’t need to try and fit a mould in order to become one.

“I stand up for what I believe in and what I believe in is to be myself at all times. I don’t need to be naked to prove anything”

But what’s the definition of success? Let’s look at her resume one more time. At 19, she’s already worked with major Hip-hop and R&B music industry players such as Missy Elliot, Ludacris, Pharrell, Omarion, Brandy and Chris Brown and has the blessing and backing from music’s most powerful couple-Hip hop heavyweight Jay-Z and the Pop/R&B’s reigning Queen, Beyonce.

She also has a role in Stomp the Yard 2, the sequel to 2007’s Stomp The Yard to be released in September, recently launched her own lip gloss line called ‘Smooches’, has an accompanying single and is reading scripts for a new movie.

Her first brush with fame came in 2007 when she was featured on MTV’s My Super Sweet Sixteen’- a show about lavish 16-year old celebrations- the same year that Hip-Hop producer Pharrell signed her to his record label. It was just a year ago that this Harlem native finished high school , and ten years ago that she began singing. 

If you ask her to compare herself to an animal, she’ll tell you this- A Leopard, because it’s sexy, rough, laid back, independent and very different.

What also makes her different is her stance on relationships. Ms. Taylor is single and enjoys every bit of it.

“Why am I single? Because! (laughs) I know how boys are and I know that anything can happen whether you mean for it to happen or not. I’d rather be lonely before I open my legs for anyone”

Her ultimate message and goal is to remain hungry and humble. 

“If you forget who you are, and what you love to do then as soon as you find some level of fame, it’ll go as quickly as soon as you get it”.

By the looks of it, Teyana is going to stay hungry and humble for a long time.

  

 (This interview was done in February as part of a class assignment. It got an A, just decided to post it)

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