Are Kanye West and G.O.O.D. Music doing the best for R&B singer Teyana Taylor? Some on Twitter would argue not
After much excitement, Teyana Taylor's second album, K.T.S.E. (an acronym for “Keep The Same Energy”), finally arrived on June 23. Amidst all of the fanfare on Twitter, there were worries that Kanye West (and the team at G.O.O.D. Music) had possibly botched what should have been a major moment for Taylor.
K.T.S.E. is Taylor’s second album. As is the case with previous albums released created during West’s time in Wyoming (including ye and Kids See Ghosts), it’s a short album, with just seven tracks and each song coming in at two or three minutes each. Also similar to previous albums West produced, there was a listening party for K.T.S.E. on June 21. But, unlike the next-day release schedule for ye or Kids See Ghosts, K.T.S.E. landed on Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal two days later, on June 23, with no reason given for the delay.
It may not seem like a big deal, but the delay of the release of the album for one of G.O.O.D. Music's few female artists has caused some to criticise West. June 22 saw fans complaining that West and Taylor were risking losing enthusiasm or streaming numbers by not doing a next-day release. One Twitter user even rebuked West, tweeting, “Kanye West continues to prove he doesn't see Teyana Taylor as a priority.”
Teyana Taylor lost a full day of streaming. Kanye's cheesing, that aint a good look. He messed up Nas' release last week too. No more listening parties. The listening party should be albums dropping everywhere at midnight!
— Chris Smoove (@Chris_Smoove) June 23, 2018
Teyana. Taylor's. Album. Still. Isn't. Out.
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) June 23, 2018
Kanye West continues to prove he doesn't see Teyana Taylor as a priority
— Ruby Redbone (@BJTheBlogger) June 23, 2018
When K.T.S.E. was released, author Michael Arcenaux commented that even though the album was finally here, the underwhelming amount of music (23 minutes total of new music), plus the starange delay in its release, was an issue.
“So Teyana Taylor’s album is up on iTunes and Tidal, but it’s eight songs and not even eight full songs which makes it 23 minutes long. Because that’s how you respond to an aside with buzz built on a slept on debut, great performances & amazing covers floating around social media?” Arcenaux writes. Comments in agreement with Arcenaux's observation rolled in, with one follower agreeing that everything about K.T.S.E.'s release made it feel like the shine was taken away from Taylor and put back on West.
Neither West nor Taylor have commented on why K.T.S.E.'s release was delayed.
So Teyana Taylor’s album is up on iTunes and Tidal, but it’s eight songs and not even eight full songs which makes it 23 minutes long. Because that’s how you respond to an aside with buzz built on a slept on debut, great performances & amazing covers floating around social media?
— Michael Arceneaux (@youngsinick) June 23, 2018
I’m trying to understand GOOD Music’s bigger narrative with all the releases this month and the only conclusion I could come to is that Ye suffers from Diddyism:
— Hassan Sayyed (@HausUrban) June 23, 2018
There is no larger strategy beyond none of the artists getting more earned media than him.
True! Even looking at clips of Teyana’s listening party, Ye was the main focus. It’s reeks of laziness. Puff was a narcissist but had the sense to keep several project managers around.
— Hassan Sayyed (@HausUrban) June 23, 2018
Kanye and GOOD Music holding Teyana Taylor back.
— T.J. (@LifestyleofTJ) June 23, 2018
She is the total package as an artist, she deserves better.
