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Teairra Marí (born Teairra Maria Thomas) is an American R&B/hip hop singer.

Early life

Marí was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She began her career at the age of twelve, after being encouraged by her paternal grandparents. 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 thirteen onward. Under Big Mike's guidance, Marí spent every free moment in the studio, working with producers and songwriters like Helluvah, Disco D, Big Mike, Chaz M, Detail, Lyriq, AK, and J.R.

K.I.S.S. Productions arranged for Marí to collaborate with artists such as Ray J, J-Kwon, and Bee, and for Marí to appear on Detroit's Fox 2 Morning Show and UPN 50 Sports Rap. In October 2003, the label released Teairra's first album, an EP called Get Away, which included the title track plus four more songs (currently available only on this album), and became a local success. In the meantime Teairra attended Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts (the same school Aaliyah went to), and was a vocal major, performing songs by artist's that influenced her such as Destinys Child, SWV, Jodeci, Patti Labelle, Ashanti, etc. in many of the school's talent showcases.

"Roc-A-Fella Records Presents: Teairra Mari" (2005-2006)

At the age of sixteen, K.I.S.S.'s Big Mike felt that Marí was ready for a major career, and he introduced her to a number of label executives. Candy Tookes, a friend of Big Mike, introduced the pair to industry veteran Daryl Simmons in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2004 Simmons then shared Marí's K.I.S.S. Productions-produced demo disc with Antonio "L.A." Reid, chairman of The Island Def Jam Music Group. After hearing Teairra Marí perform live, Reid offered her a contract on the spot and soon started work on her debut album.

Marí worked with Jay-Z, in his first collaboration project since becoming president of Def Jam Records, to create "Make Her Feel Good", the lead single from her debut album on Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam that reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the R&B charts. It was heavily played on BET but ignored by MTV. The second single "No Daddy" had a video that led to commercial success on MTV. The video spent sixteen days on Total Request Live, reaching number four. Shortly after she released her third single "Phone Booth" only to radio outlets and got a lukewarm response due to it not having a video and no promotion, she also made cameo apparences in various videos such as Biggie (Nasty girl), 3LW (Feelin You) Jay-Z (Show Me What You Got) and played the leading lady in Sammie's video for You Should Be My Girl as rumors came along that they were dating. Teairra Mari's first album, Roc-A-Fella Presents: Teairra Mari, was released in 2005. The album reached the #5 position on the Billboard 200 albums chart and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts while modeling and doing ads for the Roca Wear campagin. In 2005 through 2006 Teairra performed on shows such as American Music Awards, the BET Comedy Awards, TRL, 106 & Park, The Tyra Banks Show, etc.

Second Round and Interscope/ Fo'Reel Ent. debut

In 2006, Teairra Mari stopped production in the middle of her second album entitled Second Round and was dropped by Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records but remained on good terms, she then signed a lucrative deal with Interscope Records and landed new management with Fo'Reel Ent under the wing of Cudda Love (the man responsible for Nelly's success), now she is working on a new album that is still untitled and is scheduled to be released in the top of 2009 with production by Timbaland, J.R. Rotem, Neff-U,^[1] Danja, Sean Garrett, Scott Storch, Bryan Michael Cox, The Clutch, Rodney Jerkins, she also cowrote songs with Keri Hilson and Solange Knowles, no word yet on collaborations. Her new single No No, produced by The Movement was released on june 1st to mainstream radio and digitally on June 17th, and is available on Teairra's myspace page also. She can currently been seen on tour with Bow Wow and Pleasure P doing spot dates promoting the single and is rumored to be dating rapper Lil Wayne after being spotted on outings olong with his tour bus.

Future collaborations

Teairra will also make her film debut in the comedy film called Doorman in which she co-stars with Jackie Long about a beat boxer trying to enter a club through the night.

She is to appear on future albums by J-Kwon, the new R&B/Rap female group Candy Hill on their single "Head Gone" and former B2K member Lil Fizz on his new single called "Choose U" also featuring Pleasure P. She and Pleasure P also collaborated again on his single "Did U Wrong". She can be heard on the single "Tatted" by up and coming rapper R$K from london england.

Discography

Main article: Teairra Mari discography

References

External links

• http://www.myspace.com/TeairraMari Official Myspace