Teedra Moses

Teedra Shenita Moses (born December 17, 1976) is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter.

Early life Moses was born and raised in New Orleans. She later moved to Los Angeles with 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 on gospel, jazz, zydeco and blues.

Moses recalls wanting to listen to the music that was then being played on the radio, but her mother made her listen to gospel. The final song on her debut album, "I Think of You (Shirley's Song)", is dedicated to her late mother.

Career

Prior to becoming a recording artist, Moses worked as an assistant wardrobe stylist alongside her best friend Nonja McKenzie for artists such as Will Smith, Kelis, R. Kelly and No Doubt. 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 Records to release her debut album Complex Simplicity in 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.

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 from Raphael Saadiq's 2004 album Ray Ray, "Chic" and "I Want You Back". Her songs have been showcased in the Logo series Noah's Arc as 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 the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed by the now defunct TVT Records in 2008.

2011–present On March 25, 2011, it was announced that Moses had signed to rapper Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group via Warner Bros. Records as its first female artist. In 2011, Moses released the Luxurious Undergrind mixtape.

In February 2014, Moses released the single "All I Ever Wanted," which samples Dynasty's 1980 song "Adventures in the Land of Music". The song was released as the lead single from her EP Cognac & Conversation, which is co-executive produced by Rick Ross and Raphael Saadiq.

In December 2014, it was reported that Moses signed to Shanachie Records after the ill-fated alliance with Maybach Music Group. Moses revealed singer Avery Sunshine was the reason why she signed with the label, due to the success that Sunshine is having while being on Shanachie's roster. On August 8, 2015, finally second album Cognac & Conversation was released.

Songwriting style

When 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." 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."

Songwriting credits 2001: "Still in Love" — from Nivea's album Nivea 2004: "Dip It Low" — from Christina Milian's album It's About Time 2004: Complex Simplicity – debut album entirely written by Teedra Moses 2004: "Chic" and "I Want You Back" – from Raphael Saadiq's album Raphael Saadiq As Ray Ray 2005: "Get Up on Ya Gangsta" — from Teairra Marí's album Roc-A-Fella Presents: Teairra Marí 2006: "Here We Go" — from Trina's album Glamorest Life 2006: "So Lady" — from the Japanese and international edition of Mary J. Blige's album The Breakthrough 2007: "Finally Made Me Happy", "Ghetto Love", and "AEIOU" — from Macy Gray's album Big 2008: "So Deep So Fast" — leaked track from Christina Milian's album It's About Time 2010: "Still Hurts" — from Macy Gray's album The Sellout 2014: "The Last Song" — from Terrace Martin' album 3ChordFold Pulse

Discography Albums Complex Simplicity (2004) Cognac & Conversation (2015)

Mixtapes 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 California Vibes (2014)

Singles

Collaborations 2003: "Hot 1" and "I'm That Gangsta" — from Ras Kass' album Presents Re-Up The Compilation 2003: "Realize" — from Bravehearts' album Bravehearted 2004: "Chic" and "I Want You Back" — from Raphael Saadiq's album Ray Ray 2005: "Get High" — from Ambitious' album The Intricate Plot 2005: "Put That Thang Down" — from Ying Yang Twins' album U.S.A. (United States of Atlanta) 2005: "Here We Go" — from Trina's album Glamorest Life (the album features the version with Kelly Rowland) 2006: "Nothings Gonna Change" and "County Jail" — Scipio 2008: "Get Yours" — Raheem DeVaughn 2009: "Internet Connection" — from Nu Jerzey Karpet's album Mr. Red Karpet 2010: "World On Wheels" — X.O. aka Scipio 2010: "Turns Me On" — from Big Boi's album Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty 2010: "Magic Touch" — Triflon 2011: "Face The Music" — from Trackademicks' album State of the Arts 2011: "Self Made", "Rise" & "Running Rebels" — from Maybach Music Group's album Self Made Vol. 1 2011: "Me & My Nuh" — from 9th Wonder's album The Wonder Years 2011: "It's On You" — from the mixtape Wing Stop & Cîroc hosted by DJ Scream & DJ Sam Sneak 2011: "I Wish I Could Fly" — from Fiend's mixtape Smokin' Champagne 2012: "Go Get It" — from Torch's mixtape UFO Vol. 2 2012: "We Fly" — from Terrace Martin's album 3ChordFold 2012: "Amsterdam" — from Rick Ross' album God Forgives, I Don't 2012: "Message From The Soul Sisters" — from the compilation Soul Finger The Life, Love & Passion Sessions Volume 1 2013: "Breathe" — from Donnie Cash's album Antithesis of Average 2013: "Coupes & Roses" with Stalley — from Maybach Music Group's compilation album Self Made Vol. 3 2014: "Nobody" — from Rick Ross' album Mastermind 2014: "The Last Song" — from Terrace Martin' album 3ChordFold Pulse 2015: "Heartbreak" — from Semi Hendrix' (Ras Kass and Jack Splash) album Breakfast at Banksy's 2016: "Entitled" — from Torae's album Entitled 2016: "Evil Genius" – from Ab-Soul's album Do What Thou Wilt. 2019: "Culture" – from Kaytranada's album BUBBA

Tours 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