A BALLER ALERT EXCLUSIVE: A CONVERSATION WITH TEAIRRA MARI

Success doesn’t come easy. If it did, more people would achieve it. Things aren’t always what they seem & objects are usually closer than they appear. Opportunities come few & far between for most. However, for Teairra Mari she had an opportunity of a lifetime. Just at 17, she was signed to a major label, had a hit single in Make Her Feel Good which blazed the airwaves. She was the princess of the Roc. Her dream unfolded right before her eyes. Hell, having Jay-Z co-sign your career is an accomplishment within itself. How many 17 year old these days can vouch for that?

In an industry colder than ice its hard to decipher whats business &
that of personal. Just as her rose began to come full bloom, the coldest winter hit. She had been released from Def Jam. This here is when you detach your emotions from the situation & realize, this too is a business. You might not always come out with the winning hand. You learn from the situation to make your current that much better. She up & left her hometown of Detroit & landed a new home & deal with Warner Bros.

She’s back & better than ever. Having learned a few new things along the way, With her single, Sponsor, currently making its way up the charts,As she preps for the release of her sophomore release, At That Point, she is in a better place. A place where she controls her own destiny & she couldn’t feel better about it.

Take a peep at our exclusive conversation below:

BA: Hey Teairra! How are you?

TM: I’m great thanks, & yourself?

BA: I’m great, on behalf of the Baller Alert community, we appreciate you taking this interview today. Now, let’s get right to the point. Its a new year, new season & you have a new deal & label. How does it feel to be Teairra Mari now vs. the past?

TM: It’s definitely not a problem. You know I feel great, its a blessing. I didn’t know what was going to happen when I got released from Def Jam, so you know I just had my faith to hold onto. So to be here, its a blessing & I’m grateful for it.

BA: I understand. Now as an artist, how do you feel you’ve grown since then?

TM: Well I’ve definitely grown vocally, mentally & of course physically. (laughs) I’m a woman now. So, yeah the last album, I spoke on things that I may have more so witnessed versus now, I’m speaking more so on my experiences.

BA: Okay, Okay. I imagined you have gone through quite a bit in that time frame. Now your album is entitled At That Point, what led you to this discovery that brought you to “that point”?

TM: Just everything that I’ve been through altogether. Its just so much up & down. Life is a rollercoaster & I just feel that I’m finally at a point where I’m comfortable with myself. I don’t care what people think & if things aren’t helping my growth, I’ll just leave it alone. So I’m at a point of no return; a great point. I’m just at THAT point(laughs). It’s a good one though.

BA: Well stated & much respected. Now your current single, Sponsor, is currently getting some major spins here on the radio here in the DMV. Where did the concept of this song come from?

TM: Well actually, the song was already written. I heard it & was like, I love it. I tweaked it a little bit & changed some of the words when I recorded it. But, when I initially heard it, I thought of my girlfriend in college who always needed money. I called her & told her, “You need a Sponsor”.& she was like, Ohh yea, I’m going to start using that word (laughs). So you know it just clicked & attached to the song, the word, the term, all of that & we use it, all the time. So when I recorded the song & tweaked my few words, I had it so the words were coming from me. Like my Sponsor is Warner Brothers. I love the song because it says SPONSOR not SUGAR DADDY. So whoever is giving you your money is your sponsor. Whether its your job, some people it might be their man or sugar daddy, some people it might be their woman, etc.

BA: Thanks for the clarification because a few individuals think the song carries a negative connotation. Hope their view changes now that we know its a deeper meaning to Sponsor.

TM: Definitely, its just a fun song & very sarcastic. In the verse, I speak on I don’t care what he does, he could be a doctor, baller, whatever, it doesn’t matter. Its just a real fun & sarcastic record, you know? It’s not negative. I’m not encouraging you to go find a man to take care of you. I’m just saying, get your money.

BA: Oh ok. (laughs) So who on the low is Teairra Mari’s Sponsor outside of Warner Bros?

TM: (laughs) That’s it! Warner Bros & myself. The streets, the promoters, those who sponsor me to come out & perform here & there.

BA: When can we expect a release date for your album, At That Point?

TM: This June, definitely.
BA: Sounds good, I’ll definitely be on the lookout for it. Given I’m a fan of your work. Phone Booth was my favorite track off your first release during your Roc-a-fella days.

TM: Thank you!

BA: Definitely glad to see you’re back at it. A lot of people get the industry misunderstood, not knowing what it takes to get & keep a deal. So I applaud you for keeping at it. What had you done to stay relevant during your time off?

TM: You know I just always, always, always tried to remain positive. Even when I was depressed. I had to leave Detroit, just upped & left & went to LA to be around positive energy. I had to be somewhere that would inspire me to keep working. That’s exactly what LA did for me. Once I allowed that positive energy to flow into my life, things started happening for me.

BA: That’s a good deal. Nice to see things shaping up for you. Do you still keep in contact with those individuals who were associated with Roc-A-Fella?

TM: No, I don’t talk with any of them. There are no harsh feelings whatsoever.

BA: Now getting back to this here album, At That Point, you have a track entitled Lights Go Down, its a sexy record & as you put it; a “baby maker”. I particularly like those types of records because I’m at an age where i should be making babies. (laughs) So for those fans who will be looking forward to that track, break it down for them.

TM: (laughs) Yeah, it basically talks about what happens when those lights go down, you know? Like, lets go! You know lets go make a baby, get our rocks off, whatever you’re trying to do,is what happens when the lights go down. Its very slow & very sexy.

BA: My type of record! Now, what can your fans new & old expect from this project?

TM: Vocally I’ve grown. My content has matured, as I mentioned before its more so my experiences this go round. So as you listen, you can feel my emotions coming through on each track. Someone said to me the other day that they’ve been hearing a lot of upbeat stuff from me & that’s not all that is on the album. Expect a variety of slow, mid & upbeat records on this project. A little something for everybody.

BA: A lot of times we tend to put most celebrities on a pedestal thinking they’re of the supernatural So given your experiences & your celebrity, do you ever find yourself being vulnerable?

TM: Oh yea, most definitely. I’m human. Celebrity or not. Everybody becomes vulnerable once in a while.

BA: Good to know. Now, you’ll be on the big screen this summer acting alongside Shad Moss (Bow Wow) in the Lottery Ticket. What’s the premise of your character & how is it working with Shad?

TM: Her name is Nikki Swasey. She’s like the hot chic in the hood. Prior to, she’s never paid attention to Bow Wow’s character until she finds out he hit the lottery. Then she’s on him like white on rice. (laughs). That’s pretty much her character; she’s very shallow & definitely high-maintenance. She only deals with men who are up there, but she can’t be about her stuff too much, because she’s still lives in the projects.

Well, Bow is my friend. He’s a very sweet guy. He’s not like what people think. I mean he’s a guy,he has an ego, but he’s not over the top with it. Its what you would expect from any guy who’s confident in himself. He’s not an asshole. On set, he was one of the nicest people.

BA: Well, with that with you two working together comes speculation of you guys being an item. Do you wish to clarify that?

TM: Oh no, we weren’t dating. Like I said, he is my friend & has been for a long time even before the movie. So it was only natural for us to hang together while we were shooting the film.

BA: Now speaking of dating, I have to ask on behalf of your male fans,who or what makes Teairra Mari feel good? What type of guys are you checking for?

TM: (laughs) Uhh, I’d have to say, hot tea & good food. Men who rub feet & give back massages, Jacuzis, saunas & yoga. I’m definitely into guys that are smart, someone who’s clean & smells nice. GROWN. A guy who’s creative & honest. I love honesty, that is so attractive. That’s pretty much it; the basics.

BA: In speaking with you, you seem to have a very mature spirit. So with that being said, who are some of your musical influences?

TM: Thank you. Umm, Sade, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Sam Cooke, SWV, Jodeci, Mary J. Blige. There are others, but that’s who I’m going to go with for now.

BA: Some nice choices. Now Teairra, what can we expect of you in the future; project wise?

TM: Definitely more movies. I can’t speak on anything concrete right now, but I’ve been doing my thing in that world. Definitely look forward to the album & more albums to come.

BA: Good deal. Are there any prospects you’d like to work with?

TM: Pharrell! That’s the #1 person I would like to work with.

BA: Are you making any strides towards that? You know you have to speak that into existence.

TM: Not yet (laughs), but I will.

BA: Teairra, we’ve had a nice conversation here, but I know how the promo road can be with interviews. I thank you again, are there any parting words you’d like to leave your fans with?

TM: Definitely! I’d like to say thanks to all those who have supported the record & understand what it is about. They can follow me on twitter at- http://twitter.com/Teairra_Mari & myspace- http://www.myspace.com/teairramari

BA: Good deal. We wish you much success here on Baller Alert & again it was a pleasure.

TM: Thanks so much & likewise.