Biography

Full Name: Teairra Maria Thomas
Stage Name: Teairra Mari
Date of Birth: Dec. 2nd, 1987
Nationality: Afro-American
Born & Raised: Detroit, Michigan

EARLY LIFE:

At a young age, she was encouraged by her grandmother who sang back up for Aretha Franklin to pursue a musical career. She began her career at age 12, recording in her cousin's basement. 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 13 onward. Under Big Mike's guidance, Marí spent every free moment in the studio, working with some of the hottest producers and songwriters in the game, including 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, Lola Damone, and Bee and for Marí to appear on Detroit's Fox 2 Morning Show and UPN 50 Sports Rap. In October 2003, K.I.S.S. Productions released Teairra's first album, an EP called Get Away, which became a local sensation. Teairra attended Aaliyah's alma mater, the Detroit High School for The Fine and Performing Arts and was a vocal major, performing in many of the school's talent showcases. At the age of 16, K.I.S.S.' Big Mike felt that Marí was ready for the big time, and he brought the R&B starlet in front of a who's who of label execs. Candy Tookes, a friend of Big Mike, introduced the pair to industry veteran Daryl Simmons in Atlanta, Georgia. 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.

ROC-A-FELLA RECORDS (2004 – 2006):

Teairra worked with Jay-Z, in his first collaboration project since becoming president of Def Jam Records, to create "Make Her Feel Good" along with producer Sean Garrett, 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 barely on 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 two. 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 appearances in various videos such as Biggie (Nasty girl), 3LW (Feelin You) and played the leading lady in Sammie's video for “You Should Be My Girl”. Teairra Marí's first album, Roc-A-Fella Presents: Teairra Marí was released on August 2nd 2005 and was produced by Brian Michael Cox, Darkchild, Cool and Dre, Blackout Movement, The Trackboyz, Kwame and was co-executive produced by Sean Garrett. 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 campaign. 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. In 2006, Teairra Marí's first single “Play Me” was scheduled to be released in the fall but production was stopped in the middle of her second album entitled Second Round and she was dropped by Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records.

WARNER BROS/FO’REEL ENT. DEBUT (2007 – PRESENT):

In 2007 Marí signed a lucrative deal with Warner Bros and Violator but decided to split with Violator and landed a new development deal with Fo'Reel Ent. under the wing of Cudda Love (the man responsible for Nelly's success). She was rumoured to be releasing the Jermaine Dupri produced single Wait a Minute which featured Bow Wow and Solange Knowles as the first single on Warner Bros in 2006. She is working on a new album that is titled "At That Point" and is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2009 with production by The Underdogs, The Runners, Neff-U, The Movement, DJ Clue, Polow Da Don, Tony Dixon, Miscke, Tank, Pleasure P, and Rico Love she also co-wrote songs with Keri Hilson, Solange Knowles and Sean Garrett, no word yet on collaborations. The buzz single No No, produced by The Movement was released on June 1st to mainstream radio and digitally on June 17th, but was cancelled and now given to the R&B group Dear Jayne, also while other songs have been leaked such as "Find My Way Back", "Holla", "The Truth", "U Said", "Exclusive", and "Built For This" produced by Warren "Oak" Felder; The first single is "Hunt 4 U" produced by Rico Love and Co-Produced by Ehood & E2 with a video recently being shot by Benny Boom and was released January 12th midnight. Teairra is also the spokes model for the new jean line Jean Addicts set to launch later next year and she can be heard on Pleasure P's remix for his hit single "Did You Wrong" as well as a song called "Sidekick" by Detroit rapper Tone Tone from his album D-Boy Fresh. The Clutch member J. Que confirmed in an interview that the whole team is going to write songs for her forthcoming album. The second single "Cause A Scene" which features rapper Flo Rida was confirmed by Teairra herself in an interview.

Facts

Teairra is born on December 2nd, 1987 in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Teairra’s real name is Teairra Maria Thomas.
She’s only 5' 1½" (1.56 m).
In October 2003, Teairra Released Her Debut EP “Get Away”, which became a local sensation.
At age 16, Teairra signed with Roc-A-Fella Records, owned by Jay-Z.
Teairra was dubbed Princess of the ROC by Jay-Z.
Attended the Detroit School of Arts her freshman year and then moved to Warren Fitzgerald her sophomore year.
Attended to the same high school as the late, great R&B sensation Aaliyah.
Teairra’s first performance was in elementary school in front of the school for a bag of chips and a juice.
Teairra’s first kiss was in a red wagon at her aunt’s house.
Teairra first met Jay-Z in New York at The Sony Studio.
Teairra loves pepper steak and a good macaroni & cheese.
Would like a shoe line someday and wants to become a brand.
Teairra can possibly be considered a mezzo-soprano. In the studio her voice seems high like a soprano, and in live performances she can be considered an alto. She has about 2.5 or round a 2.8 octaves.
Teairra has a puppy named Cherrie Cola.

Quotes

"Right now, everything's all about the whole Southern movement, so me coming in from the Midwest is like a breath of fresh air. There's no other city in America like Detroit. It's just fly, and I love it. Our swagger, the way we dress-everything is so different and laid back, which is how I am. You walk up the street and everybody has a different colored mink, Cartier glasses-everything. We like to floss and be seen, so we don't have to say much.”

"Only in the dictionary does success come before work"

Fashion

Tattoo's