The MisUnderstanding of Teyana Taylor

For someone who has followed Teyana Taylor since her days with Pharell, I’m glad she has finally gotten some kind of recognition.  She has come a long way from “You ain’t nobody, ‘Google Me Baby’.”  Last week the curly-haired tomboy finally released a collection of music for her fans, a mixtape entitled “The MisUnderstanding of Teyana Taylor,” a nice play on the similar Lauryn Hill title.

Her version of “Marvin’s Room” by Drake is by far the mixtape favorite.  The video, featuring Omarion, shows her grown and sexy side (and her envious 6-pack).  She shows her appreciation to Lauryn more than a few times, the first being the similar mixtape album titles.  On “Lauryns Interlude,” she covers Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing),” showing off her beautiful voice, then again when she presents audio of Miss Lauryn on “Words of Wisdom.”  She also pays homage to Mary J. Blige, putting her own twist on “Love No Limit” on her own track, “You Know.”

The features on her mixtape are a hit and miss.  Songs like “D.U.I.” with Fabolous and Jadakiss and “Make Your Move” featuring Wale are smooth.  She worked with great artists, though the songs would have still sounded good without them.  “Bad Boy” (featuring Honey Cocaine) honestly could’ve been left off, sounding more like the female version to French Montana’s “Shot Caller,” in the first couple of lines.  Honey Cocaine (the female Tyga) is just…well, the female Tyga.   I mean honestly, it’s called substance- get some.  Travis Porter gives us their regular sex-crazed teen talk over a fairly hot beat you can dance to on “Choosin,” though the song itself wasn’t impressive.

JSYK (Just So You Know): For the record, “Complicated” was recorded a while back- though I feel this is obvious when it sounds more like a teeny-bopper track compared to the rest of the mixtape.  Her teen fans, however, will appreciate it. 

All in all the mixtape was nice, smooth and chill with a few hip-pop songs throughout.  For her first big release, Teyana showed promise, and I’m awaiting an album or another mixtape that is gonna really help her blow up.  Check out the video for “Marvin’s Room,” and her single “DUI” below.

Download here.

"Marvin's Room" - Teyana Taylor

"DUI" - Teyana Taylor feat. Fabolous & Jadakiss