T-Love
Background information
Birth nameTaura Taylor Mendoza
Also known asTaura Taylor-Doucet, Taura Taylor, or Taura Love
Born1969
Los Angeles, California
Occupation(s)Rapper
Journalist
LabelsPickininny Records
Formerly ofVidableu, Vidableu, and Urban Prop
Websitetauralove.com

Taura Taylor Mendoza, also known as Taura Taylor-Doucet, Taura Taylor, or Taura Love, but most commonly known as T-Love, (born 1969) is an American rapper.

Biography

T-Love, born as Taura Taylor Mendoza in Los Angeles, California, grew up in South Central Los Angeles with Dr. Dre.[1] She began her career producing demos for Eazy-E and Jerry Heller's Ruthless Records and later recorded under the name Urban Prop at Capitol Records.[2] At the age of 15, she made her debut on LA radio station KDAY.[1] Simultaneously, she became a journalist, writing for magazines such as Vibe, URB, Hip Hop Connection, and The Source, and contributed to books such as It's Not About a Salary and Girl Power.[1][3] During her journalism career, she interviewed film director Spike Jonze and musicians such as Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, Kool Keith, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, Ultramagnetic MCs.[1][3]

In 1997, T-Love founded jazz-hop group Vidableu while living in France.[4]

In 1998, after leaving Capitol, T-Love founded Pickininny Records.[1] The label released music from Jurassic 5 and her EP, Return of the B-Girl.[3] By the late 1990s, she engaged in international collaborations with DJ Ollie Teeba of The Herbaliser and members from the Ninja Tune label.[2] Though she initially planned to end her music career with the EP, its success, especially in the UK, inspired her to continue.[1]

Mendoza then relocated to London, where she found a more appreciative audience, even performing at the Glastonbury Festival.[1] In 2003, she released a full-length album, Long Way Back, through Astralwerks.[1][5][6] The album, which combined rap with elements of soul and jazz, included tracks that reflected personal experiences, heritage, and various musical influences.[1] Apart from rapping, the album also highlighted her singing talents.[1]

During her career, T-Love worked with music producers such as Jay Dee,[7] Muddfoot aka The Alchemist,[8] The Herbaliser, and Dwele.[7] She also recorded vocals on commercially released songs for French hip-hop group Hocus Pocus.[9]

In the 2023 West Adams Neighborhood Council election, Taura Taylor Doucet was elected as an At-Large Representative.[10]

Discography

EPs/LPs

  • Return of the B-Girl (1998)[11]
  • Long Way Back (2003)[12][13]
  • Long Way Up: The Basement Tapes (2007)
  • No Apologies: Best of T-Love (2008)[14]

Bibliography

  • It's Not About a Salary
  • Girl Power

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "T-Love". Encyclopedia.com.
  2. 1 2 "T-Love Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio". AllMusic.
  3. 1 2 3 "Journalist T-Love Has Reason To Rhyme". MTV.
  4. ↑ "Vidableu". www.sonotheque-normandie.com.
  5. ↑ Mitchell, Celeste Dawn (May 17, 2003). "T-Love: "Long Way Back"". Salon.
  6. ↑ "T-Love: Long Way Back, PopMatters". PopMatters. January 6, 2004.
  7. 1 2 "T-Love – Long Way Back Album" – via AllMusic.
  8. ↑ aussie, Ad Ministrator test (May 22, 2007). "DEFINITION OF A YEE YEE / FOOLISH PRIDE". Rush Hour.
  9. ↑ "Vocab!". January 1, 2007.
  10. ↑ https://clkrep.lacity.org/election/2023_West_Adams_Neighborhood_Council_Official_Results.pdf
  11. ↑ "T-Love | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com.
  12. ↑ "Recensie: T-LOVE - Long Way Back (album)". December 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Hip Hop Core - Chronique : T-Love "Long Way Back"".
  14. ↑ "T-Love". AllMusic.
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