The Game has offered words of encouragement to Teyana Taylor after she announced that she would be retiring from this chapter in her career after feeling “super underappreciated” as an artist.
On Sunday (Dec. 6), the Born 2 Rap emcee took to Instagram to share a lengthy message to the singer, alongside an image of her latest LP, The Album. “TT, Teyana Taylor…….. this message is from the young Game who met a very young, talented Black girl with the biggest voice I’d ever heard in my life on a cold night in New York City — I don’t remember how many years ago,” he wrote. “The 1st time I heard you sing, I knew what you were & also knew it was only a matter of time before you were a SUPERSTAR.”
The Game then shared memories that he had with Taylor, such as the time he invited her to be the opening act of his tour. He also spoke about her being signed to Kanye West and starting a family with her husband, Iman Shumpert. Game also praised her music and told her not to give up.
“I always told you, you were one amazing project away from your destiny & then it came….. THE ALBUM… your CLASSIC!!!” he continued. “Undeniably YOU. A body of work that was clearly the best R&B album of the year. You know it, I know it & so does your fanbase. Live in your glory & never be detoured by the minds of those weakened by this watered-down era of appreciation. You know I know 1st hand about being the underdog as the odds have been stacked against me my entire career, but we didn’t get where we are by things going exactly the way we thought they would.”
“We made it here cause WE believed in our craft when no one else did,” Game concluded. “I say all of this to say, YOUR GIFT IS SO APPRECIATED & as your big bro I want you to know, you are truly one of the best artist/people inside & outside of music I’ve ever known. NEVER TIP THE CROWN QUEEN.”
Last week, Taylor announced that she was retiring after feeling like her work wasn’t recognized in the industry. Her statement came just days after she called out the Grammy Awards for only having male artists nominated for Best R&B Album. She received zero nominations for the forthcoming show, despite The Album hitting No. 8 on the Billboard 200.
Check out Game’s full post below.