Ozonemag: While her career has undeniably seen it’s ups and downs, 2010 has definitely been a resurgent one for Teairra Mari. After a two week period where she realized the release of her EP “Sincerely Yours and movie “Lottery Ticket,” the former Jay-Z protégé spoke to OZONE about being past the “Point of No Return,” and where she plans on going from here. In this exclusive interview she discusses her ban from BET, love of Pharrell and her role in Lottery Ticket.If you could come up with the title for this article based on where you at right now in your career, what would you suggest it should be?
I named my mixtape, “The Point of No Return” and that’s where I feel like I am just because you know, I’ve been working for a very long time and I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs and I’m still on my way back up. And I just feel like there’s no turning back right now. You know what I’m saying? Like no matter what people may say or think, whatever they feel. I can’t turn back so I can only keep going forward. Point of no return.
I named my mixtape, “The Point of No Return” and that’s where I feel like I am just because you know, I’ve been working for a very long time and I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs and I’m still on my way back up. And I just feel like there’s no turning back right now. You know what I’m saying? Like no matter what people may say or think, whatever they feel. I can’t turn back so I can only keep going forward. Point of no return.
DJ Drama did that “Point of No Return,” mixtape. Is it true he actually requested to work with you on that project?
Yeah, he did, and I was really – I was flattered by that because I like DJ Drama and I listen to a lot of his mixtapes you know. Believe it or not, I love rap mixtapes. Some of Jizzy’s first mixtapes were like my favorite, my car favorites, my writing favorites, so I was a big drama fan. And I was like, “Oh, hell yeah. I’ll do it.”
Yeah, he did, and I was really – I was flattered by that because I like DJ Drama and I listen to a lot of his mixtapes you know. Believe it or not, I love rap mixtapes. Some of Jizzy’s first mixtapes were like my favorite, my car favorites, my writing favorites, so I was a big drama fan. And I was like, “Oh, hell yeah. I’ll do it.”
You did some videos for some of the tracks on there, like the “My Lovin,” that were pretty hot. Was it at all uncomfortable to do something so sexy in front of a camera?
No, it wasn’t. I don’t know, it’s just kind of like second nature for me because it wasn’t like too raunchy. I don’t think I would be doing anything that was crazy raunchy or anything. I felt comfortable and I felt tasteful, and I felt good.
No, it wasn’t. I don’t know, it’s just kind of like second nature for me because it wasn’t like too raunchy. I don’t think I would be doing anything that was crazy raunchy or anything. I felt comfortable and I felt tasteful, and I felt good.
It seems like most female R&B singers cater to women in their songs, but you seem to target men a lot as well. Is that something you consciously do?
I think it just came about. It’s just who I am because I just speak what I feel and whatever I feel like talking about. It’s just everyday life situations and I don’t over think it.
I think it just came about. It’s just who I am because I just speak what I feel and whatever I feel like talking about. It’s just everyday life situations and I don’t over think it.
Where exactly can you not return to? Where are you trying to moving forward and emerge from?
Just, you know, every day is a progression to me, in my eyes. You know, it’s like Tarzan on the rope. When he’s on the rope he can’t stop, he can’t go back, because each one is gone, you know. And if he pauses for one second, then he’s gone. So he has to just keep moving forward and I just feel like it’s not anything bad or anything good that I don’t want to return to. I just don’t want to go backwards in life so I just refuse to… You know, a lot of people live in their past. A lot of people, you know, feel regretful all the time because of things that they’ve done in their past and I just don’t feel like that. I don’t – you know, I have felt like that before and I don’t ever want to go back to that, you know, so it’s just moving forward for me and that’s – I just don’t want to return to anything in my past, like I don’t want to go back. I look back on good memories but other than that, it’s just – it’s not worth it.
Just, you know, every day is a progression to me, in my eyes. You know, it’s like Tarzan on the rope. When he’s on the rope he can’t stop, he can’t go back, because each one is gone, you know. And if he pauses for one second, then he’s gone. So he has to just keep moving forward and I just feel like it’s not anything bad or anything good that I don’t want to return to. I just don’t want to go backwards in life so I just refuse to… You know, a lot of people live in their past. A lot of people, you know, feel regretful all the time because of things that they’ve done in their past and I just don’t feel like that. I don’t – you know, I have felt like that before and I don’t ever want to go back to that, you know, so it’s just moving forward for me and that’s – I just don’t want to return to anything in my past, like I don’t want to go back. I look back on good memories but other than that, it’s just – it’s not worth it.
You just released an EP, “Sincerely Yours” on iTunes. Is the full-length album on the way. Have you thought of a title for it yet?
Not yet. I’m just working on it. Once I get like the middle of the project, then it will be easier for me to pick a title. But right now, I’m just working, and I haven’t even started the bulk yet. I like to record the bulk in Miami.
Not yet. I’m just working on it. Once I get like the middle of the project, then it will be easier for me to pick a title. But right now, I’m just working, and I haven’t even started the bulk yet. I like to record the bulk in Miami.
Why Miami?
Why not? I don’t know, there’s something about Miami. I just feel like I sing better here. I don’t know if it’s because of the humidity or what it is—the weather. But still – I just feel so much better when I’m in Miami.
Why not? I don’t know, there’s something about Miami. I just feel like I sing better here. I don’t know if it’s because of the humidity or what it is—the weather. But still – I just feel so much better when I’m in Miami.
Is it true that your “Sponsor” video got banned by BET?
Well, as far as I was – I far as I know, it wasn’t true. I did see the video actually on there myself one time before. So I don’t think it was true but when I initially heard it I was[banned] I was like, “Damn, for real?” You know, but I never actually heard anything official so I was just like, okay, I won’t even comment any further on it.
Well, as far as I was – I far as I know, it wasn’t true. I did see the video actually on there myself one time before. So I don’t think it was true but when I initially heard it I was[banned] I was like, “Damn, for real?” You know, but I never actually heard anything official so I was just like, okay, I won’t even comment any further on it.
Aside from your music, you’ve been acting a lot lately. Which are you more passionate about right now, music or movies?
I don’t know, like I would definitely have to say I do more music than anything, of course. I mean, I do that sleeping. So I guess, music is my first love but I love acting. I love every part of the theatrical world. It’s just I love everything about movies. I’m a movie fanatic and you know, I’m really into acting and actresses, and actors, and I really look at them and I, you know, I take things from professional. You know, things like that. It’s like something that I’m really passionate about so I look deep into it.
I don’t know, like I would definitely have to say I do more music than anything, of course. I mean, I do that sleeping. So I guess, music is my first love but I love acting. I love every part of the theatrical world. It’s just I love everything about movies. I’m a movie fanatic and you know, I’m really into acting and actresses, and actors, and I really look at them and I, you know, I take things from professional. You know, things like that. It’s like something that I’m really passionate about so I look deep into it.
How did your role as Nikki Swasey in “Lottery Ticket” come about?
Just auditioning. I got a call from my stylist, Shanita Palmer, and she was just telling me like, “There’s this role that the audition is today, in a couple of hours though. Can you do it?” And I was like, “Hell, yeah. I’ll do it.” And I didn’t the know the lines or anything. I didn’t even know what it was for, honestly. I just said that I would do the audition because you know, I haven’t went to an audition in a very long time. And it was about that time, so I said, of course, and I didn’t know the lines, and I went into the audition, and I got a call back. And then I got a second call back, then I got a third call back. Like, honey, I went to like six auditions or whatever and I was like [sighing sound]. It was a journey but I finally got the role.
Just auditioning. I got a call from my stylist, Shanita Palmer, and she was just telling me like, “There’s this role that the audition is today, in a couple of hours though. Can you do it?” And I was like, “Hell, yeah. I’ll do it.” And I didn’t the know the lines or anything. I didn’t even know what it was for, honestly. I just said that I would do the audition because you know, I haven’t went to an audition in a very long time. And it was about that time, so I said, of course, and I didn’t know the lines, and I went into the audition, and I got a call back. And then I got a second call back, then I got a third call back. Like, honey, I went to like six auditions or whatever and I was like [sighing sound]. It was a journey but I finally got the role.
So you had to be relieved when you finally got it?ey wanted to use me and then they called me and told me that they didn’t want to use me. They wanted to go in another direction and I was so hurt. I was on the bed for like two days. I’m like [sighing sound]. I just felt so bad. And then they called me back, “Can you get on the plane tomorrow? Because you know, we want to use you now.” So I was like, “Of course, I can.”
You did some acting in the videos from your DJ Drama mixtape also. Are you really as skilled in the kitchen as you appeared to be in the “Daddy’s Home” remix or was that just a demonstration of your acting skills?
No, I am pretty skilled in the kitchen. I am. I’m pretty good, you know. I’m not your world renowned chef or anything, of course, but I am pretty good in the kitchen.
No, I am pretty skilled in the kitchen. I am. I’m pretty good, you know. I’m not your world renowned chef or anything, of course, but I am pretty good in the kitchen.
What’s your specialty, like if you were trying to impress a man with your cooking, what would you make?
I think I make pretty good cabbage.
I think I make pretty good cabbage.
Cabbage? I guess you don’t really try to impress too much, huh?
[Laughs] My cabbage is really good! Everybody always says, “I hate cabbage but I love yours!” So you know, I think my cabbage is pretty good.
[Laughs] My cabbage is really good! Everybody always says, “I hate cabbage but I love yours!” So you know, I think my cabbage is pretty good.
If you had to pick one song of yours for the soundtrack of your soundtrack plight right now, which one would that be?
See, that’s a tough question. I will have to say all of them. I don’t record anything that I don’t feel personally about, even if I didn’t write it. If I’m not feeling it, I’m not recording it. If it’s not something that I feel that I can relate to, that I feel is a part of my life or a part of my story, or something that I’m a witness to, then I can’t – I don’t do it.
See, that’s a tough question. I will have to say all of them. I don’t record anything that I don’t feel personally about, even if I didn’t write it. If I’m not feeling it, I’m not recording it. If it’s not something that I feel that I can relate to, that I feel is a part of my life or a part of my story, or something that I’m a witness to, then I can’t – I don’t do it.
What’s your dream collabo, musically?
I always say Pharrell, I love Pharrell and I’ve been loving him since I first heard that song he did with SWV “Use Your Heart.” I’ve been loving him ever since then.
I always say Pharrell, I love Pharrell and I’ve been loving him since I first heard that song he did with SWV “Use Your Heart.” I’ve been loving him ever since then.
Have you met him yet?
No, I haven’t but of course, if I meet him I will approach him. I’m not a scared biatch.
No, I haven’t but of course, if I meet him I will approach him. I’m not a scared biatch.
You definitely don’t seem like one at all. Okay. So what is the best part of the entertainment – people pay a lot of attention to the negative aspects, but what about the entertainment makes you continue in it?
I mean, the freedom to do you. You know, a lot of people get caught up into what other folks want or whatever, but there’s really a freedom to do you, you know. And I think that’s what’s more attractive anyway.
I mean, the freedom to do you. You know, a lot of people get caught up into what other folks want or whatever, but there’s really a freedom to do you, you know. And I think that’s what’s more attractive anyway.
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