The G.O.O.D. Music label is filled with some of the most diverse talent in hip hop right now. Kanye West has put together quite an army of uniquely talented artists. With so many stand out acts, one of the main ones that stands out is this young lady. Teyana Taylor. As one of very few females on the label, she is certainly unique. From her brash New York attitude, to her looks and fashion style, to her seductively raspy voice (which I absolutely love). She has certainly grown and matured since her MTV Sweet Sixteen days which most people remember her from. Well after a few mixtapes and some guest features, it's time for her official debut. This is her debut album VII. I didn't have any real expectations for this. I haven't heard any of her previous projects to have any. So I went into this listening session basically not knowing what to expect. After listening, I thought this album was pretty good. The production was very dark, soothing and intimate. Which fits her style to a T. A very short album, but big in quality. It has an original sound you don't get too often in R&B. That's why a project like this you gotta appreciate it more. Here's the break down:
1. Outta My League (interlude)
This nothing but a quick sample of one of the deluxe edition tracks. I'll leave it at that because I tend to skip interludes on these reviews.
2. Just Different
So she begins this album with something very slow and intimate. Kinda caught me by surprise. Anyway this song isn't much but a dark and intimate slow jam like I said. Sounds like she's talking about a love she had for someone isn't the same anymore. She has a change of heart. It's funny because "just different" describes her perfectly as an artist. I thought that's what this song would be about but nope. It's an alright song. Just not how I expected her to begin this album.
3. Request
Here we have another slow jam. But this one I like a whole lot more. Now she singing about catering to her man and fulfilling all of his fantasies. The song already has a intimately dark feel to it and with her seductive raspy voice, it makes this sound very erotic. It actually takes me back to those dark and passionate midnight slow jams of the 90's. Good song here. I like it.
4. Do Not Disturb (featuring Chris Brown)
Now things get a little bit faster. Just a little bit. I like this beat especially the pacing of it. It's the same sound we're hearing from these radio songs today but done with a bit more originality. Her and Chris trade verses about what sounds like hotel room sex. I say hotel room because of the whole "do not disturb" thing they're singing about. Although he wasn't that bad, I'm sure if Chris Brown was the right person for this kind of song. He's singing on here with an unusual high pitched voice that totally sounds nothing like him. In fact you probably wouldn't even know it as him until he starts rapping towards the end. Nonetheless, this beat is excellent and a cool song overall.
5. Broken Hearted Girl (featuring Fabolous)
Here Teyana sings about only seeking sex now after a failed relationship that left her "broken hearted". Playing the rebound role basically. She making clear to dude (Fabolous in this case) that that's all she's looking for is sex now. Kinda makes you wonder how many other girls think like this after a bad break up. I guess that's another topic. Anyway, this song is somewhat slower than the previous. I would have liked to have heard this on a more faster production. But for what it is and it's topic of discussion the song is alright.
6. It Could Just Be Love (interlude)
This is again another small sample of another deluxe edition track. Nothing more. I'll leave it at that.
7. Put Your Love On
The production here is pretty dope. It has this reggae/island sound to it. Especially with the drums. Props to Harmony Samuels on the production. But again, she sings about more bedroom action. Him taking control and her satisfying him every way he wants. I laugh a little because at this point of the album she's starting to sound like a serious nympho. I guess there's nothing wrong with that depending on who you are. But anyway yes. I like the overall tune of this. Pretty cool.
8. Maybe (featuring Yo Gotti and Pusha T)
I've liked this song from the moment I heard it on the radio. Surprisingly, I haven't gotten sick of it yet either like I do with most songs that get endless radio spins. It's hands down the best beat on the album. I love the back and forth bass drops and trap inspired drum patterns. Huge props to The Order Music on the production. I probably could have done without Pusha T and Yo Gotti. Not that they were bad but two rap features weren't necessary on this kind of song. Makes it sound like a remix instead of an original track. Well...I guess one of them would have been enough but that's it. Still, I love this song regardless.
9. Dreams
Now comes the fun. This past summer, Tory Lanez released a song called "Teyana". A song where he basically showed his affection and lust for Teyana Taylor. Talking about how much he's feeling her and how much he wants to get with her. Well now...this is Teyana's direct response to that song. It uses the same beat and tune of the vocals. She tells him how she heard his song and know how much he wants it. That he gotta come better than that because he's not the only one that's feeling her. I laugh because this sounds like some high school drama. Guy likes the popular but high maintenance girl in school, writes her a letter (or song in this case) and she basically tells him nah (even though it doesn't sound like Teyana is straight up curving him). The song is a play on Biggie's song "Dreams Of Fucking A R&B Chick". Overall, the song is cool, both songs are cool and quite entertaining. We gonna have to keep our eye on these two and see where this goes.
10. Sorry
Here we get our first slow ballad of the album. This song show the true raspiness in her voice. Especially when she hits those notes. Sounds like she singing about a guy that she once loved, broke up with, and has moved on from finding another man. Apologizing to the old guy basically saying "sorry it has to be this way" or "sorry it didn't work out". A very relatable scenario to some. Good song. Great vocals.
11. Business
This is another slow song that is set to be the next single (a promo video was already released). This song is basically a plea to her lover to keep everything about them and their relationship between the two of them. Don't anyone anything. In today's social media driven world, that's a huge deal. I really liked hat almost sounded like her rapping towards the end. Maybe that's something she'll do more of in the future. But for now, this song is alright like it is.
12. In The Air
She ends this album with another top tier production. The beat kinda has sound elements from everything on this album. Some slow ballad material, some uptempo material, some trap inspired drum material and so on. She singing about leaving her man after what sounds like a bad argument over something he did (cheating I assume). Topic wise, I don't know if this was the right the song to close the album with. But sound wise it was.
Overall, I thought this album was good for the most part. Nothing more nothing less. Just good. This album does prove that Teyana Taylor could be the new face of dark and intimate R&B music that is greatly missed today. I give this a final grade of a B. Teyana Taylor's growth and maturity is quite evident by listening to this album. I think her fans who been here since day one will appreciate that the most. I think R&B singers, especially nowadays, really have to step outside the box to gain notoriety and separate themselves from the pack. Teyana Taylor has a voice, style, looks, and certainly music sound that stands alone. I think that's enough to carry her down the right path of music success in the future. She'll only get better with time. End.
Final Grade: B
CREDITS
Executive Producers
Teyana Taylor
Che Pope
Nikki Taylor
Derek Folk
Lead Artist
Teyana Taylor
Production
Craig Balmoris
Julian Nixon
Eric Johnson
Nick Brown
Jaramye Daniels
Kyle Owens
Matthew Samuels
Harmony Samuels
Allen Ritter
Vidal Davis
Robert Thomas
Brian Kennedy
Collaboration
Christopher Brown
Jonathan Jackson
Mario Mims
Terrence Thornton
Label
G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Recordings
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