Teyana Me Shay Jacqueli Taylor is one of those rare artists whose energy is impossible to ignore. Born and raised in Harlem on December 10, 1990, Teyana has been blazing her own trail as a singer, actress, dancer, and creative force since she first hit the scene as a teenager. Her style has always been bold, her talent undeniable, and above all, she’s unapologetically herself – whether on stage, in front of the camera, or behind the scenes.
Teyana’s official introduction to the music world came in 2007, when Pharrell Williams spotted her talent and signed her to his Star Trak label. But her path wasn’t the overnight success story people often expect. Instead, she spent years hustling, writing, and perfecting her craft before finally releasing her debut album, “VII,” in 2014. The album was pure Teyana: smoky, sultry vocals over R&B beats, and an unfiltered point of view that set her apart from industry trends.
Fans gravitate to Teyana’s authenticity. She blurs the lines between her art and her real life, whether she’s performing, designing, or acting. Her live shows are especially legendary – full of raw choreography, charisma, and a fierce presence that was impossible to miss in Kanye West’s unforgettable “Fade” video.
Love Life and Relationships
Teyana’s personal life has always been part of her story, though she’s fiercely protective of her boundaries. Her most well-known relationship has been with NBA player Iman Shumpert. The couple started dating around 2014 and quickly became one of the entertainment world’s favorite pairs. Their undeniable chemistry and candidness shone in their reality shows, “Teyana & Iman” and later, “We Got Love Teyana & Iman,” where fans got a closer look at their partnership, both as lovers and as parents.
There’s a love story that fans especially adore: in December 2015, when Teyana went into unexpected labor, Iman ended up delivering their daughter, Junie, at home with his own hands. Their second daughter, Rue Rose, was also born at home in September 2020.
Teyana and Iman married in 2016, seemingly living the “#couplegoals” life. But in September 2023, after seven years of marriage, Teyana filed for divorce, choosing to keep the details private and focus on co-parenting their girls. Through it all, she’s been open about the ups and downs but never let the public define her happiness or choices.
Before Iman, Teyana was briefly linked to NBA player Brandon Jennings in 2013, and there were rumors – unconfirmed, as always – about flings with Colin Kaepernick and A$AP Rocky (though both insisted they were friends). At the end of the day, Teyana has always maintained a healthy balance between being open with her fans and keeping some things just for herself. As she once said in a radio interview, “When you find your person, you know it. Everything else before was just preparing me for this.”
Life Beyond the Spotlight
For Teyana, family always comes first. Even as her star rose, she never shied away from motherhood – instead, she’s shared it, bringing her daughters along on tours and into her creative work. That realness and vulnerability have only deepened her connection with fans.
In 2020, Teyana shocked many by announcing her retirement from music, frustrated by battles with her label. But walking away from one arena didn’t slow her down – if anything, she just poured her creative energy elsewhere: directing music videos, acting in movies like “Coming 2 America,” and collaborating as a designer and entrepreneur.
Change, for Teyana, is almost a philosophy. She’s never just one thing – never just the girl Pharrell discovered, never just a singer, dancer, or even a wife and mom. She reinvents, experiments, and keeps pushing forward in her own way.
Since separating from Iman, Teyana has kept her romantic life under wraps, choosing focus over fanfare. If there’s one theme to her journey – through love, career, motherhood, and everything in between – it’s authenticity. Or, as she told Essence with typical candor: “I’m not interested in living my life for anybody’s timeline but my own.”
Past Relationships
Aaron Pierre
Colin Kaepernick
Iman Shumpert
Kyrie Irving
Kevin Durant
Chad Johnson
Brandon Jennings
Soulja Boy
Drake
Daniel Gibson
A$AP Rocky
Teyana Taylor’s story is still very much unfolding, but one thing is clear: whatever she chooses next, she’ll do it on her own terms and with her signature, unshakable confidence.
