Back in 2005, Jay-Z was given the job to develop a hit making princess for his first task as the newly appointed president of Def Jam. Enter Teairra Mari, a multi-octave voiced teenager from Detroit dubbed "Princess of the Roc" by Jay for extra officialness. Paired with hit song writer Sean Garret, Teairra’s first single, “Make Her Feel Good’ soared up the charts and her debut album peaked at number two. But before starting work on her follow up album, with no warning call or condolences from her mentor, this princess soon found herself without a label to call home. Just like that, before you could say Rihanna, it was wrap.

Fast forward three years later and Mari is preparing to re-introduce her self to the world in more ways than one. During her time off from recording, she also made her acting debut in The Doorman and became the face of Jean Addicts. Now signed to Interscope, this self proclaimed “good girl” is set to prove she isn’t just a one hit wonder. This time around she’s working with Cudda Love, who introduced Grammy winner Nelly’s Country Grammar sound to the world. Her new single, the very personal “No, No, No” is already generating positive feedback from fans feeling her twenty-one year old relationship pain. Teairra recently chatted it up with HipHopDX and shared what it was really like being a Roc princess, how she’s taking control of her career, and those pesky dating rumors.

HipHopDX: You started hanging out in studios and recording demos when you were twelve. Was being a singer something you always wanted to do?
Teairra Mari: Definitely. From the moment I could talk and say words, I was singing. Even before I could talk, I knew commercials, but didn’t know my ABC’s. I think that’s why it was easy for me to learn my ABC’s because I could sing them.

DX: You attended the same performing arts high school in Detroit as the late great Aaliyah. Did her success encourage you?
Teairra Mari: Definitely! She was a person I looked up to and admired. We walked the same ground in Detroit. I knew if she could do it, I could do it. Everyone who went to that school wanted fame. Everyone fought for her locker.

DX: Did being in the arts help you avoid getting caught up in some of the things that negatively effect young women today?
Teairra Mari: We went to school from eight in the morning until four thirty. We always had rehearsals, programs, and things to attend so I was busy. I was in the studio all the time and I missed out on a lot of things my friends got to attend. Acting and singing helped me to stay out of a lot of trouble.

DX: How was that transition coming from Detroit and being a local artist to going national with one of the biggest labels in the industry?
Teairra Mari: Oh my God, it was crazy! You don’t even know how many people know who you are and just walk up to you. You don’t really know until you are in an airport and people are screaming your name. Outside of Detroit, it was an amazing thing. I loved it.

DX: You were dubbed "Princess of the Roc" by Jay. Did you feel pressure to put out a big selling album?
Teairra Mari: I did. I felt the pressure really badly. Before the album came out, I started crying. I wondered what was going to happen. Instead of the people around me making it fun for me as a young girl, they didn’t. That’s what they should have been doing. It was such a pressure to sell records or do this or do that. I definitely think I felt it. This time around, I don’t feel it. I feel good. I’m having fun with it.

DX: There are a couple of different stories about you being dropped from Def Jam...
Teairra Mari: I don’t know what happened with Def Jam. Business is business and that’s just how I look at it now. I didn’t get a call from Jay [click to read] and that was very surprising considering I thought we were cool. If I see Jay, I’ll probably want to ask, “What’s the deal?” I don’t know if I would do that, but I don’t really care anymore. Right now I’m signed with Fo’Real Entertainment through Interscope. It’s a great move for me. I’m older, can make my own decisions, and it's Teairra’s show. I don’t have anyone to blame for anything.

DX: Looking back, can you say that getting dropped changed you as an artist? What did you learn?
Teairra Mari: It changed me as a person. When I first started I was young, sassy, feisty, and hot headed. I didn’t listen. I wasn’t a terror or anything, but I was going through that teenage thing. Going through that made me grow up faster. It humbled me and let me know whatever I want I have to work for it. I’m more business savvy. I look at everything as a business in this business. Even when someone invites you to dinner, it isn’t just dinner, it's business. I understand that now. I realized this is the business of music.

DX: So when you made your label switch, what changes were you able to make as an artist?
Teairra Mari: Because I am older now, I can say, "No, I want to talk about this," or "I don’t want to watch my mouth on this part." I can make those choices now. Musically, I like music that puts you in a zone. I don’t really want to do dance music because I am not a dancer. I like to make people feel good and move to my music. I like the music to take you to another zone. All music can’t do that. Continued on page 2 »