Rob Markman: We’re here over at the Children's Aid Dunlevy Milbank Center, which is the spot
that you know really well.
Teyana Taylor: This was like an everyday thing.
We was able to rehearse here.
We danced here.
We sang here.
We all used to be up in Milbank, like legit.
Rob Markman: What was your biggest goal at that point?
Teyana Taylor: To do music and to get my art out.
I think that’s what it is for everybody eventually, you know?
That’s what it’s always been for me, whether I wanted to sing, dance, you know.
I wanted it to get out there so you can inspire other people.
Rob Markman: Teyana, what’s up?
Teyana Taylor: Hey, how you doing?
Rob Markman: Look.
I’m from Brooklyn.
You know, Brooklyn and Harlem…
We love each other, but it’s not so often we visit so to be able to be here with you
today, to be up in Harlem, I feel blessed.
Teyana Taylor: Thank you.
Thank you for coming.
Rob Markman: Nah of course.
I just want to talk about the neighborhood a little bit, right?
Historically, Harlem has been like this epicenter for art and culture, specifically African
American art and culture.
And you growing up here and being a child of Harlem…
When did you first realize the magic of your city, the magic of your neighborhood?
When did the first dawn on you that you were coming up in a special place?
Teyana Taylor: I probably had to be about… maybe like 5 or 6.
You know, 5, you’re very aware of what's going on around you.
You know what I’m saying?
My Bobo's, all the stores, Mart 125, all the beauty supply stores, you know…
The McDonald’s used to be right there.
It was just a lot of different things that have been up there for years.
Harlem has always been dope to me.
Rob Markman: What’s dope about you as an artist…
You write, you sing, you dance, you direct.
It kind of embodies all these creative areas and I feel like the neighborhood really instills
that.
There’s no boundaries when it comes to creativity.
Teyana Taylor: I’ve always naturally had that in me where I’m just like literally
doing a million things at one time like I’m doing right now.
But it’s not something that feels overwhelming in any type of negative way, where it's like
"Oh, this is just too much,” because I'm so used to that pace.
Rob Markman: We're back here at the Dunlevy Milbank Center, and I want to know what keeps
you coming back to these kids, because you were once one of these kids, in the sense
of running around expressing yourself.
Teyana Taylor: That's exactly why I come back because it was something about Milbank where
you could literally express yourself.
You could be sitting right here on the bleachers and they'll call a timeout during the basketball
game.
Then a song would come on.
You ain't have to raise your hand, you ain't have to ask if you could come down.
We just jumping off the bleachers and we getting it rocking and they embracing it.
There ain't no like, "No, you sit down."
Because you know how that go.
It’s never been a hassle to express yourself here.
Teyana Taylor: Yassss!
Teyana Taylor: Hey girls! How are you?
How you doing?
How are you darling?
What are you guys rehearsing?
Can I see?
Girls: Yes!
Teyana Taylor: Alright let me see.
Rob Markman: I think this convergence of, when you take something from your past that
meant so much, and your growth, and then you're a part of this, McDonald's Beat of
My City campaign, and you're able to really marry the two.
So what is it like to be a part of Beat of My City, and have that represented right here
at Milbank?
Teyana Taylor: I really appreciate McDonald's for even doing this with me.
With choosing to collaborate with me on Milbank.
That means you did your research and you know that this is where I used to dance.
To be that supportive is everything and I already love McDonald’s but that just gave them
like the extra brownie points.
This was really to genuinely give back.
Rob Markman: Like how can we help the community, how can we help what’s important…
Teyana Taylor: Like yeah.
That was really really dope.
Teyana Taylor: Yeah!
Bring it in.
Group hugs.
C’mon. C'mon.
Rob Markman: Us over here on the Genius side of things, we’re excited to have partnered
with you and to partner with McDonald’s for this other component of it which we call
Annotate For Good, and that’s the program where the Genius Community adds annotations
adds music knowledge to our site.
What it does is it raises money so for each annotation, it’s representative of a dollar
amount.
And you left an annotation as well in “Rose in Harlem.”
I just kind of wanted to talk to you about that.
When you see fans interpreting your lyrics, obviously, your lyrics mean so much to you
your music, your creativity.
How do you feel when you kind of see people try to decipher your stuff like that?
Teyana Taylor: I always get the goosebumps.
That always means so much to me because it really just shows that your hard work, you
know, never goes unnoticed even when you feel like it do.
Teyana Taylor: Get up on stage and it’s all these kids that are like crying with you,
laughing with you, singing with you, every single word and it’s just like, why would
I want to stop?
That keep me going.
That keeps me going to know that there’s people out there that I’m uplifting.
That means the world.
If I’m out here uplifting people then I’m going to continue to do that.
Iman Shumpert: New York, make some noise!
Rob Markman: Once we start getting visuals and new music, and things of that nature…
Is the album coming?
Like what's going on next for you?
Teyana Taylor: Yeah.
It’s coming. It's coming.
It’s coming December 6th.
Rob Markman: Oh.
Sooner than we…
I didn’t think it was going to be that soon.
What kind of vibe are you going for, if you wanna sum it up?
Teyana Taylor: Like on this new album, I've really been inspired by just the things that's
been happening around me.
Like seeing my friends go through certain stuff, seeing my friends going through heartbreaks,
seeing my friends trying to find love, seeing my friends fail at love, seeing my friends
cry in my lap.
Yes I’m in love.
Yes I’m happy.
Yes I’m a mom but I’m also still a human being and I also still have experienced stuff
and I’ve been through stuff.
Even before I found my happiness, you know?
So I find the balance in singing about my happiness but also singing about everyday
struggles, everyday life, everyday things that are going on in our world today in real
life that people could really relate to.
That’s what I want to keep giving.
I wanna keep giving those records.
Like...
I’m still human.
Rob Markman: You keep being you ‘cause that’s what makes us fans of you so you know we gonna
be watching.
We gonna be listening.
I appreciate you inviting us up to Harlem.
Teyana Taylor: I appreciate y’all coming.
Rob Markman: A Brooklyn boy like myself.
I rode up here on the 3 train.
You know what I’m saying?
We wish you luck in everything that you’re doing.
You always have support here with us.
Teyana Taylor: Thank you so much. I appreciate that.
Teyana Taylor: I want all y’all to know that whatever it is you want to be in life,
go for it.
Don’t give up.
Please…
Don’t give up.
I’ve been grinding for so long.
So long.
And I’m finally really just getting my just due.
And nights like this reminds me that I’m doing something right.
I’m so happy I can inspire you guys.
I just want you to know from the bottom of my heart I appreciate y’all so much.
Thank you guys, goodnight!