"Introducing the newest acquisition
To the R-O-C
Roc-A-Fella, y’all
Young princess of the Roc,
Teairra Marí"
I was just 11 years old, when I first heard those lyrics on 106 & Park and saw Teairra Marí step on the scene with her debut single, "Make Her Feel Good." Something about her had me hooked instantly. She didn’t look like me, but somehow, I saw myself in her. Every time she hit the stage, you better believe I had the VHS ready to record.
After her debut album dropped in 2005, the second single “No Daddy” made waves. It was one of those songs that felt necessary. It spoke truth for all the girls who grew up with an absent father or were dealing with the weight of daddy issues.
Growing up, it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one going through certain struggles. But when Teairra sang about the things I was feeling, it was like she pulled the words straight from my mind. She made me feel heard, understood. I know I wasn’t the only one. So many other girls and even some guys, felt that connection too.
After Teairra dropped her third single “Phone Booth,” I remember seeing her in a few cameos of music videos, but then she slowly faded from the spotlight. Back then, we didn’t have social media, to keep up with our faves. If you weren’t showing up on MediaTakeout, or featured in magazines, it felt like you just disappeared.
We didn’t really have the tools to go searching, we just waited to see who the industry brought out next. So, as much as we loved her, the cycle kept moving. Still, a part of me always wondered what happened. Like… where did she go?
Back then, Roc-A-Fella had two new queens in the making. Teairra Marí and Rihanna. They both stepped out with fire, ready to claim their place. They had the look, the sound and the energy. But somewhere along the way, things shifted.
While Teairra seemed to pause, whether by choice or circumstance, Rihanna seemed to be gaining more attraction and dropping more hit songs. Don’t get me wrong, Rihanna's a star in her own right. But it was obvious the label had shifted gears. Suddenly, although the words were never spoken, it was as if Rihanna was crowned the new "Princess of the Roc." We were left wondering... what happened to the first princess? Did she lose her throne before she even had a chance to truly wear the crown?
Teairra wasn’t just another artist to some of us. She was a mirror and a voice we didn’t know we needed. And even if the industry moved on, some of us never really let her go.
To our excitement, Teairra Mari popped back up in 2009, letting the world know that she was back. She dropped her first single “Hunt 4 U” off what was supposed to be her comeback album At That Point. The track caught fire, reminding everybody that Teairra still had that star quality and deserved her spot in the game. I was definitely one of those fans booting up LimeWire, trying to download that song to my iPod. Then she dropped “Sponsor” which really had the girlies in a chokehold.
Unfortunately, her second album never saw the light of day. In 2010, after several tracks leaked online, her new label decided to shelve the project. Still, it looked like Teairra was finding her footing again. She landed a lead role in Lottery Ticket and released several mixtapes between 2009 and 2012. But despite her efforts, the mixtapes didn’t hit like her debut album.
After another break from the spotlight, she reappeared in 2013 with a role in The Dempsey Sisters. Sadly, the film didn’t make much noise, marking yet another bump in the road.
Then came 2014. When the promo for Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood dropped, a lot of us were caught off guard but instantly intrigued. No real context was needed, just the promise of drama and the excitement of seeing Teairra back on screen. I was all in and counting down to the premiere.
I think many of us were shocked, finding out Teairra and Ray J had a whole situation going on. But even more than the relationship drama, what stuck with me was hearing Teairra finally open up about her past. I’d heard whispers over the years about why she wasn’t with Roc-A-Fella anymore, but hearing it straight from her, was liberating. She shared that she found out she was dropped from the label on the day of her prom. She got that call while she was getting ready for one of the biggest nights of her life.
That moment was heartbreaking. I was already cheering her on, but after hearing that, I wanted her to win even more. The way the industry brushed her off was cold and it made her strength and comeback even more inspiring.
As the show went on, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed in how Teairra was portrayed. Yeah, it was clear she was dealing with something deeper than what we could see on the surface. And sure, she gave the producers the material that fed into that negative image. But let’s be real, these so-called “reality” shows seem to thrive more on drama and tearing people down than actually helping them rebuild or shine.
Teairra has always had real talent, but on Love & Hip Hop, she often got lost in the mess. Constantly being caught up in situations that let the public paint her in the worst light. It's sad to see someone with so much potential being reduced to just another storyline.
During her five seasons on the show, Teairra Mari dropped her comeback single, "I Deserve." Even with just that one track, it was clear she still had it. Unfortunately, the show never really gave her the room to let that side shine.
Teairra’s story mirrors what so many women in the industry go through. They're constantly pitted against one another, as if there’s only space for one woman to win. Hearing L.A. Reid admit he was ready to fully back Teairra Mari, until the opinion of another popular artist led him to shift his support, was deeply disappointing.
It’s a pattern we’ve seen too many times: talented artists getting their shot, shining for a moment, and then being pushed aside for someone deemed more marketable. And just like that, they’re back at square one, sometimes in an even tougher spot than before.
To make matters worse, in 2018, Teairra Mari became a victim of revenge porn when her ex-boyfriend allegedly, maliciously shared explicit content of her on social media. Adding insult to injury, rapper 50 Cent reposted the images to his massive following, amplifying the violation. Teairra took legal action, suing both her ex and 50 Cent. While 50 Cent claimed he had no harmful intentions in sharing the content (a questionable defense), he ultimately won the case. 50 even counter-sued Teairra, resulting in her being held liable and having to pay him instead. The outcome was deeply unjust. To this day, despite portraying himself as an advocate for women’s rights, 50 Cent continues to take jabs at Teairra online whenever her name surfaces.
After stepping back for a bit, Teairra returned in 2023 for a performance at the I love R&B Fest. Then in 2024, she released a single called 'Take Me Out,' a reminder that she still has that undeniable spark. Because real talent? That never fades. The track didn’t get the recognition it deserved, but that had more to do with poor promotion than the quality of the music.
In July 2024, she shared the heartbreaking news of her mother’s passing. Since then, Teairra’s been quiet on social media and I genuinely hope she’s surrounded by love and healing. When she’s ready to come back, I hope the industry meets her with the respect support and the grace she deserves.
I get why Teairra might want to keep a low profile, this industry hasn’t always been kind. But personally, I hope she chooses to share more of her story; whether through a book or an album. Whatever it is, I hope she steps fully into her purpose. Because one thing’s for sure, her story isn’t over.
