Teyana Taylor explains music industry exit

Teyana Taylor's initial retirement announcement in December 2020 came via an Instagram post of her Spotify Wrapped numbers, where she told fans she felt "super underappreciated as a artist, receiving little to no real push from the 'machine'". She later clarified that the message was a warning shot aimed directly at her record labels, G.O.O.D. Music and Def Jam Records. In an Instagram Live session, Taylor revealed she had asked Def Jam to drop her on nearly 10 different occasions due to feeling "alone," "under-appreciated," and "failed." She explained her decision was crucial for her mental and emotional health, and for her children, stating, "Until I'm free, until I can get [my label] to release me, yes I want to retire." The artist stated she felt her label was only giving "10 percent" of the effort she was putting in, which she quantified as "110 percent." These frustrations weren't new; her 2018 album, *K.T.S.E.*, was reportedly affected by last-minute changes and sample clearance issues that she was unaware of until the public release. Despite her industry battles, her final project, *The Album*, released in June 2020, was a commercial success. The 23-track set debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200, her first top 10 album, and hit No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart. It featured a notable roster of artists including Missy Elliott, Erykah Badu, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and Future. Following her step back from music, Taylor has flourished as a creative director and director. Her all-female production company, "The Aunties," has handled creative direction for artists like Summer Walker, Lil Baby, and NBA YoungBoy. She also won Best Director at the 2020 BET Awards. In September 2021, she fully committed to her retirement from the stage by announcing "The Last Rose Petal Farewell Tour," a 12-city tour framed as a final goodbye for her fans. While she has referred to it as retiring a "chapter," she has also stated it's "not that I retired permanently."