As a child, Teyland’s greatest male influence was his self-taught multi-instrumentalist great-grandfather. Inspired by his emotional and spiritual connection to music, Teyland began teaching himself piano. In 2007, however, he discovered Lil Wayne’s music and immediately changed course. He became infatuated with the idea of bending the English language, communicating his thoughts through clever wordplay and intricate rhymes. From that point on, Teyland was determined to be the best, and that determination has since grown into a deep hunger.

That hunger is Teyland’s most defining characteristic. From running college track to starting his own record label in 2018, Teyland’s competitive nature combined with his unmistakable selflessness has given him the edge he needs to lead a team to victory. Over the years, he has had the blessings of being mentored by Curtiss King and consigned by Mackwop, receiving a feature from King Los, and headlining a show in the central plaza of Grand Rapids, MI during ArtPrize. Now, at the age of 28, he is taking the reins once again in an effort to put his city on the map.

Teyland’s February 2023 release, “Redux,” acts as a sonic journal, marking the beginning of a new chapter of maturity. With both energetic and conscientious cuts, this project offers a deeper, more nuanced view into his own perspective and that of the community he is trying to uplift. If there is one thing to draw from this release, however, it’s that “Redux” is just the beginning.

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