Teedra Shenita Moses[1](born December 17, 1976) is an AmericanR&Bandsoulsinger-songwriter.[2]
Teedra Moses | |
|---|---|
 Moses in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Teedra Shenita Moses |
| Also known as | Young Lioness |
| Born | December 17, 1976 New Orleans,Louisiana,U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | teedramoses |
Early life
editMoses was born and raised inNew Orleans.She later moved toLos Angeleswith her mother and three siblings after her parents separated.
Her childhood has been a direct influence on her musical style, her mother was a gospel singer and she was raised ongospel,jazz,zydecoandblues.
Moses recalls wanting to listen to the music that was then being played on the radio, but her mother made her listen to gospel.[3] The final song on her debut album, "I Think of You (Shirley's Song)", is dedicated to her late mother.
Career
editPrior to becoming a recording artist, Moses worked as an assistant wardrobe stylist alongside her best friend Nonja McKenzie for artists such asWill Smith,Kelis,R. KellyandNo Doubt.[4]But after breaking her leg on a video set, Moses decided to follow her heart and make music.
Moses teamed up with producer Paul Poli and signed with the Indie Record Label,TVT Recordsto release her debut albumComplex Simplicityin August 2004. Complex Simplicity included fourteen tracks penned by Moses, with dominant production handled by Poli; the two would share a deserved executive production credit. The album underperformed on the major U.S. chart, debuting and peaking at number one hundred and sixty-eight on the Billboard 200. However, the album was critically acclaimed, otherwise finding success on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, the Top Independent Albums, and the Top Heatseekers charts, reaching number twenty, number eleven, and number ten, respectively. It is now considered a cult classic.[5]
In addition to executive producing and penning all the lyrics on her own project, Moses has written songs for other artists including Nivea, Christina Milian, Mary J. Blige and others. She was featured on and co-wrote two songs fromRaphael Saadiq's 2004 albumRay Ray,"Chic" and "I Want You Back". Her songs have been showcased in the Logo seriesNoah's Arcas well as in the HBO hit show Entourage, and in movies such as Never Die Alone, Beauty Shop, and Be Cool.
Though Moses had not released a studio album in several years, she could be found touring and doing live shows on a regular basis. From March to November 2010 Moses was a spokesmodel on the Lady Hennessy Tour. In addition, Moses continued to release underground, all-original mixtapes for her fans to enjoy while she awaited a new label deal that was necessitated by theChapter 11 bankruptcyfiled by the now defunctTVT Recordsin 2008.
2011–present
editOn March 25, 2011, it was announced that Moses had signed to rapperRick Ross'Maybach Music GroupviaWarner Bros. Recordsas its first female artist.[6]In 2011, Moses released theLuxurious Undergrindmixtape.[7]
In February 2014, Moses released the single "All I Ever Wanted," which samplesDynasty's 1980 song "Adventures in the Land of Music".[8]The song was released as the lead single from her EPCognac & Conversation,which is co-executive produced by Rick Ross andRaphael Saadiq.[9]
In December 2014, it was reported that Moses signed to Shanachie Records after the ill-fated alliance with Maybach Music Group. Moses revealed singerAvery Sunshinewas the reason why she signed with the label, due to the success that Sunshine is having while being on Shanachie's roster.[10]On August 8, 2015, finally second albumCognac & Conversationwas released.[11][12]
Songwriting style
editWhen writing songs, Moses prefers to do so alone in her own space. Commenting on this Moses said; "I hate to admit it because it sounds so weird, but I don't like other energies around me. I need to be alone, in my own space, with just me and my music so I can be honest with whatever I feel from the music; otherwise I'm just giving something from the surface."[3]Moses also tries to always be honest with her lyrical content noting it as important to her, expanding on this Moses commented saying "If I'm honest with people, then people will feel that. And that's been my experience so far, just being frank about my feelings about life, and my experiences in life and love. I think me being honest like that is why I've gained sincere fans. From here to America, sincere people who really dig me, that can quote lyrics."[3]
Songwriting credits
edit- 2001: "Still in Love" — fromNivea's albumNivea
- 2004: "Dip It Low"— fromChristina Milian's albumIt's About Time
- 2004:Complex Simplicity– debut album entirely written by Teedra Moses
- 2004: "Chic" and "I Want You Back" – fromRaphael Saadiq's albumRaphael Saadiq As Ray Ray
- 2005: "Get Up on Ya Gangsta" — fromTeairra Marí's albumRoc-A-Fella Presents: Teairra Marí
- 2006: "Here We Go"— fromTrina's albumGlamorest Life
- 2006: "So Lady" — from the Japanese and international edition ofMary J. Blige's albumThe Breakthrough
- 2007: "Finally Made Me Happy","Ghetto Love ", and" AEIOU "— fromMacy Gray's albumBig
- 2008: "So Deep So Fast" — leaked track fromChristina Milian's albumIt's About Time
- 2010: "Still Hurts" — fromMacy Gray's albumThe Sellout
- 2014: "The Last Song" — fromTerrace Martin' album3ChordFold Pulse
Discography
editAlbums
edit- Complex Simplicity(2004)
- Cognac & Conversation(2015)
Mixtapes
edit- The Young Hustla Compilation(2004)
- Young Hustla, Vol II: Live from the Jungle Mixtape(2007)
- Lionhearted – Young Hustla, Vol. III(2009)
- Royal Patience Compilation... A Love Journey(2010)
- Luxurious Undergrind(2011)
- Clair Voyant: The Mixtape(2015)
Extended plays
edit- California Vibes(2014)
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | U.S. R&B | Twitter Emerging Artists | |||
| 2004 | "Be Your Girl" (solo / 2018 Remix byKAYTRANADA) | 87 | 29 | — | Complex Simplicity |
| "You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)" (featuringJadakiss) | — | 86 | — | ||
| 2005 | "You Better Tell Her" | — | — | — | |
| 2010 | "R U 4 Real" | — | — | — | Royal Patience |
| "Another LuvR" (featuringWale) | — | — | — | ||
| 2013 | "Can't Be Luv" | — | — | — | California Vibes – EP |
| "Secrets of Life" | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| 2014 | "All I Ever Wanted" (featuringRick Ross) | — | — | 2 | Cognac & Conversations |
| 2015 | "Get It Right" | — | — | 43 | |
| "That One" (featuringAnthony Hamilton) | — | — | 44 | ||
| 2019 | "Cabernet Sauvignon" | — | — | — | Complex Simplicity: 15th Anniversary Edition |
| 2020 | "Feels Good" (featuring Dave B) | ||||
| 2021 | "Make Me" (featuring Brody and Uncle Chucc) | ||||
Collaborations
edit- 2003: "Hot 1" and "I'm That Gangsta" — fromRas Kass' albumPresents Re-Up The Compilation
- 2003: "Realize" — fromBravehearts' albumBravehearted
- 2004: "Chic" and "I Want You Back" — fromRaphael Saadiq's albumRay Ray
- 2005: "Get High" — from Ambitious' albumThe Intricate Plot
- 2005: "Put That Thang Down" — fromYing Yang Twins' albumU.S.A. (United States of Atlanta)
- 2005: "Here We Go" — fromTrina's albumGlamorest Life(the album features the version withKelly Rowland)
- 2006: "Nothings Gonna Change" and "County Jail" — Scipio
- 2008: "Get Yours" —Raheem DeVaughn
- 2009: "Internet Connection" — from Nu Jerzey Karpet's albumMr. Red Karpet
- 2010: "World On Wheels" — X.O. aka Scipio
- 2010: "Turns Me On" — fromBig Boi's albumSir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
- 2010: "Magic Touch" — Triflon
- 2011: "Face The Music" — fromTrackademicks' albumState of the Arts
- 2011: "Self Made", "Rise" & "Running Rebels" — fromMaybach Music Group's albumSelf Made Vol. 1
- 2011: "Me & My Nuh" — from9th Wonder's albumThe Wonder Years
- 2011: "It's On You" — from the mixtapeWing Stop & Cîrochosted by DJ Scream & DJ Sam Sneak
- 2011: "I Wish I Could Fly" — from Fiend's mixtapeSmokin' Champagne
- 2012: "Go Get It" — from Torch's mixtapeUFO Vol. 2
- 2012: "We Fly" — fromTerrace Martin's album3ChordFold
- 2012: "Amsterdam" — fromRick Ross' albumGod Forgives, I Don't
- 2012: "Message From The Soul Sisters" — from the compilationSoul Finger The Life, Love & Passion Sessions Volume 1
- 2013: "Breathe" — from Donnie Cash's albumAntithesis of Average
- 2013: "Coupes & Roses" withStalley— fromMaybach Music Group'scompilation albumSelf Made Vol. 3
- 2014: "Nobody" — fromRick Ross' albumMastermind
- 2014: "The Last Song" — fromTerrace Martin' album3ChordFold Pulse
- 2015: "Heartbreak" — from Semi Hendrix' (Ras KassandJack Splash) albumBreakfast at Banksy's
- 2016: "Entitled" — fromTorae's albumEntitled
- 2016: "Evil Genius" – fromAb-Soul's albumDo What Thou Wilt.
- 2019: "Culture" – fromKaytranada's albumBUBBA
Tours
edit- 2004: Seagram's Gin Live
- 2004: Live in London
- 2005: Raphael Saadiq As Ray Ray
- 2007: Heineken Red Star Soul
- 2008: Turn It Up
- 2010: Lady Hennessy
References
edit- ^""Complex Simplicity" Album Details ".umiscpub.Universal Music Publishing Group.RetrievedFebruary 1,2021.
- ^Ramirez, Erika (April 20, 2011)."Exclusive: Teedra Moses Signs to Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group".Billboard.RetrievedAugust 22,2011.
- ^abc"Teedra Moses".Thesituation.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon April 3, 2011.RetrievedAugust 24,2014.
- ^"Teedra Moses Interview:" Back To Where I Started "".SoulCulture.March 3, 2010.RetrievedNovember 12,2019.
- ^"Album Review:" Complex Simplicity "by Teedra Moses".Pitchfork.February 12, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^Harper, Rosario (March 25, 2011)."Rick Ross Signs The First Lady Of Maybach Music".sohh.RetrievedMay 31,2011.
- ^"Teedra Moses – Luxurious Undergrind".Dope Box.RetrievedAugust 24,2014.
- ^Green, Treye (March 7, 2014)."Teedra Moses Talks 'Cognac And Conversations' EP, The Perks Of Being An Independent Artist And Her Love For Bob Marley".interview.ibtimes.RetrievedMarch 8,2014.
- ^"Listen: Teedra Moses Lifts A Classic Sample For 'All I Ever Wanted'".Vibe. February 2, 2014.RetrievedAugust 24,2014.
- ^"Exclusive: Teedra Moses Signs to Shanachie Records After Inspiration from Avery*Sunshine, New Album to Release Early 2015".youknowigotsoul.You Know I Got Soul.RetrievedMay 23,2015.
- ^"Cognac & Conversation by Teedra Moses on Amazon Music".Amazon.RetrievedMarch 17,2020.
- ^"‎That One (feat. Anthony Hamilton) by Teedra Moses on Apple Music".Itunes.apple.August 7, 2015.RetrievedMarch 17,2020.