Sorry the 2nd post is later this week, I didn't manage to get it finished yesterday. :)
I'm starting a new series called Random Albums, where I feature an album I own. I've actually had the idea for ages, since last year! lol. Today I'm focusing on Complex Simplicity, the debut album by American singer Teedra Moses. :)
Teedra started out as an assistant wardrobe stylist to celebrities, before becoming a singer. She began her music career by signing to TVT Records in 2002, going on to release her debut US single You'll Never Find (A Better Woman) featuring rapper Jadakiss in November 2003. The following June she brought out her 2nd single Be Your Girl. She released Complex Simplicity in August 2004 in the US and the following year in the UK.
The album was largely produced by Paul Poli, with all tracks co-written by Teedra herself (and many also written by Paul). It features her first two singles You'll Never Find and Be Your Girl as well as a 3rd, You Better Tell Her, which came out in December 2005 (on vinyl). I think Be Your Girl was likely her first UK single and I'm not sure if the other two were actually released here.
To date, Teedra has released one more album, Cognac & Conversation (which came out in August 2015) and 5 original mixtapes, including Luxurious Undergrind (2011), California Vibes (2014) and Clair Voyant (2015). I remember waiting for her 2nd album to come out (I think at the time it was going to be called Young Lioness) but not hearing anything much about it. I just listened to Cognac & Conversation on Spotify recently, I'm not sure if I'd heard the whole thing before.
More recently, Teedra brought out the singles Cashmere Compliments featuring Trackademicks and Lucky Ry, and Make Me featuring the late Uncle Chucc and Brody B. (in November 2020 and May 2021 respectively). They were from her 3rd album The Bull$hit, which was scheduled for release in spring 2021 at the time. I don't think it's been released yet, but her most recent single is WITH ALL MY HEART, which came out last month.
In addition to singing, Teedra is a songwriter. As well writing her own songs she's written for other artists. Her songwriting credits include Still in Love by Nivea, Dip it Low by Christina Milian (on of my fave Christina songs), rapper Trina's Here We Go and The Last Song by Terrace Martin.
After past signings to Maybach Music (American rapper Rick Ross' record label) and Shanachie Records, she's currently an independent artist.
While Complex Simplicity was released in America in August 2004, it came out later in other countries. It was released in the UK in June 2005. It didn't do that well on the mainstream US chart but was more successful in others. A 15th anniversary edition was released in September 2019. It's now 20 years since the American release, which seems crazy! Teedra is currently celebrating the anniversary.
Complex Simplicity is an R'n'B album with elements of soul (I think neo soul specifically). It's also been described as "pop-oriented R'n'B". I like the chilled style. Some of the songs have a melancholy vibe, while others are a bit more upbeat.
The original version contains 14 tracks and the 15th anniversary edition has 18. The 4 extra songs are Doin' You, You Better Tell Her (TVT Mix) which is a remix of the original You Better Tell Her, Cabernet Sauvignon and I Think Of You (3 Generations) featuring Shirley Moses, Raj and Taj Austin. I hadn't heard the extra songs prior to writing this post!
The original I Think Of You (Shirley's Song) is a tribute to Teedra's late mother Shirley Moses, who was a gospel singer. It was actually after her mother's death that Teedra decided to become a singer. I think it's Shirley's vocals featured at the beginning of the song.
The 3 Generations version also features Teedra's twin sons Raj aka Ras and Taj (whose father is American rapper Ras Kas, a member of hip hop supergroup The HRSMN. The twins themselves are co-founders of the rap group Coast Contra. I think it's nice that Teedra, her mum and sons are all on a song together. :)
According to Genius, the UK version of Complex Simplicity (first edition) had two extra tracks- Doin' You and Still Your Girl, an unofficial remix of Be Your Girl. But the CD version that I have doesn't have those songs. Even more confusingly, Amazon UK has a CD version with only 12 songs and a different tracklist. The songs not on my version are Still Got Love, Winter 96 and Cabaret.
I like most of the tracks on the album but my favourites are Be Your Girl, You'll Never Find (A Better Woman), Caution, Backstroke, No More Tears, Complex Simplicity and Last Day. I didn't used to listen to I Think Of You as much but then got more into later.
Here are the singles and my fave songs. Please note that some of the songs contain explicit lyrics. :)
Be Your Girl
Be Your Girl (Track 1 on the album) was the first song of Teedra's that I heard. As I mentioned above, I think it
was likely her debut single in the UK, so I've put it here first before You'll Never Find (A Better Woman). I wasn't actually previously aware that the
other songs were singles.
Back in the day streaming wasn't really a thing, so you couldn't often
listen to whole albums online. You would hear the singles and then you
could listen to samples on iTunes or Amazon etc. So Be Your Girl was the first song from the album that I heard and then I just listened to samples before I got the actual CD. Makes me feel old but also nostalgic! lol. These days I don't listen to CDs much.
Be Your Girl was released as a 12-inch vinyl in the US in June 2004, as the second single from Complex Simplicity (coming after You'll Never Find; see below). I'm not sure when it came out in the UK but I remember seeing the video on music channels. It was available as a music video on UK iTunes in May 2004, so I think it was probably around then.
In 2018 a remix by Haitian Canadian DJ and producer KAYTRANADA was released.
It's a nice, laidback song, in which Teedra fantasises about being someone's girl. She later revealed that it was about her crush on rapper Nas (originally about his character in a film).
Interesting info: The track samples Nas' One on One from the 1994 film Street Fighter, which Teedra's ex Ras Kas also did a song for.
Listen to the KAYTRANADA remix here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y75DAFB-b1U
There was also a song called Still Your Girl which was included on an international version of the album. (It's not on the UK version that I have.) It's an unofficial remix of Be Your Girl and Juicy Fruit by 1970s/80s group Mtume and features Raphael Saadiq (who was also a producer on the album and appears on the song Take Me), Truth Hurts and Scipio. I like Juicy Fruit, I first heard it in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City!
Listen to Still Your Girl here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktVPwHZ2DnA
You'll Never Find (A Better Woman) feat Jadakiss
You'll Never Find (Track 2) was Teedra's first American single and the lead single from the album, released in November 2003. It's about dealing with a "thug" boyfriend and how he'll never find a better woman (or a bigger fool)! The track actually samples an old song called Better Woman Or Bigger Fool by American R'n'B singer Alicia Myers.
American rapper Jadakiss features on the track and his rap goes well with the song. I find that some raps don't really add anything to pop/R'n'B songs (just seem like "filler" to be honest), but this one works.
There doesn't appear to be a music video, so this is the official audio.
You Better Tell Her
You Better Tell Her (No.8 on the album) was the 3rd and final single, which came out in December 2005. It's a more upbeat song with assertive lyrics, where Teedra informs her man about another woman who claims to be involved with him and lets him know he'd better do something about it. She tells her boyfriend, "Listen Daddy, I'm too cute to fight/You better get that b*tch told tonight"!
There's also a version featuring rappers Pitbull and Lil' Scrappy. A new remix (TVT Mix) was included on the 15th anniversary edition of the album.
Listen to the Pitbull and Lil' Scrappy remix here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awyFqScLltE
And go here for the TVT Mix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNNsYl_FAus
Caution
This is another favourite of mine. I like the general vibe of it and the chorus, especially the lyrics, "I lick my lips and then I think about how sweet it is be me/ So to date me must be hot". Nice to see that confidence!
Backstroke
Anorther one I really like. This is one of the songs that has a kind of sad feel to it, but not in a depressing way. Teedra sings about how she wonders why she stays with her lover, yet "there's something in his backstroke".
I wasn't actually sure what "backstroke" meant (apart from in swimming!) but apparently it's slang for a man's "game" and a sexual innuendo, at least according to Urban Dictionary! (Teedra's lyrics are quoted there.) I guessed it was something sexual though, lol.
No More Tears
No More Tears is another laidback song. It's about putting relationship worries to the side and relaxing with your loved ones.
The tracks contains elements of American hip hop duo OutKast's SpottieOttieDopaliscious, from their 2008 album Aquemini.
Complex Simplicity
The title track has a sad, kind of haunting edge to it, but it's a more poppy song about partying and forgetting your troubles. The lyrics are about living like it's your last day. My favourites are "Party all night/Don't let it get you down/ It's just life". (Although it can be very hard not to let things get you down at times!
Caught Up
I also like the beat and "old school" vibe of Caught Up. Teedra confesses her feeling to a man and how she wants to be his "wifey". Side note: That term always make me think of Next's Wifey!
Last Day
This is perhaps one of the most melancholy songs on the album, about how Teedra would live if it was her last day on earth. But it's still uplifting in a way, about spending time with loved ones and making the most of things.
I Think Of You (Shirley's Song)
Finally, here is the original I Think Of You. It's dedicated to Teedra's late mum Shirley. It opens with an intro from Teedra explaining that she'd planned to sing the song at her mother's funeral, but wasn't feeling up to it. So she then included it on the album. :)
Listen to the 3 Generations version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnAxu00Km44
I also like Rescue Me, Outta My Head and For a Lifetime, but haven't included those songs because this post is getting long!
Listen to/stream Complex Simplicity: 15th Anniversary Edition at the links below:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5ds3BcAZoYcGl8H1yMbnH
YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi-kyTxSm3o&list=OLAK5uy_lF4GUu2MJkRuym_ePqZeNFnYPce79oeAY
And keep up with Teedra at these links:
Official site: https://teedramoses.com/
Official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TEEDRAMOSESOfficial
Hope you liked the post! :) Are you a Teedra fan? What do you think of Complex Simplicity?
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