Teyana Taylor’s ‘Escape Room’: A powerful return to R&B
After five years away from music, Teyana Taylor is back with a new project that proves why she remains one of the most creative voices in R&B.
Her new album, Escape Room, is more than just a comeback. It is a statement, writes Music News Blitz’s Lindokuhle Mlombo.
A return on her own terms
Teyana Taylor has not released a full album since 2020, when she stepped back from the music industry due to frustration and a desire to focus on her family.
Many thought she might never return. Instead, Taylor took that time to grow as a mother, an actress, and a creative force behind the scenes.
Now, she is back, and Escape Room shows just how much she has evolved.
The 22-track album is ambitious, emotional and deeply personal. It blends R&B, soul and pop into something bigger than music, a cinematic experience.
Taylor herself has called it a universal charger meant to give energy, hope and healing to anyone who listens.
READ MORE: Music news: Reneé Rapp embraces chaos and candour on her new album ‘Bite Me’
The music: Bold and expansive
What makes Escape Room stand out is its size and variety. Across its 22 songs, Taylor explores themes of love, resilience, freedom and empowerment.
Her sound moves smoothly between slow-burning R&B ballads, up-tempo grooves and layered tracks that feel ready-made for film.
The features are just as wide-ranging as the sounds. She collaborates with R&B great Jill Scott, fresh stars like Tyla and Lucky Daye and the always innovative Kaytranada.
Her daughters, Junie and Rue Rose even make appearances adding a warm and personal touch to the album.
This is not just about music, it is about family, community and connection.
Storytelling through sound and vision
Escape Room also comes as a visual album, showing how serious Taylor is about blending sound with image.
The project is filled with cinematic storytelling, voice contributions from actresses like Sarah Paulson, Regina King, Issa Rae and Taraji P. Henson turn parts of the album into dialogue-driven scenes.
By weaving voices from film and TV into her music, Teyana Taylor creates something that feels immersive, like stepping into her world. It is a bold move that pushes R&B into new territory. Lindokuhle Mlombo
MORE BY LINDOKUHLE MLOMBO: The Coachella of African music: The festival putting African music on the world stage
A different kind of comeback
Taylor’s return matters because she is not just following trends.
Instead, she is setting a new standard. In a time when many artists release short albums designed for streaming, Escape Room is unapologetically long, complex and layered. It asks listeners to sit down, pay attention and experience it fully.
It also reflects where she is in life, more confident, more self-assured and free from the industry pressures that once made her step away.
This time, she is in control.
Why ‘Escape Room’ matters
Teyana Taylor’s Escape Room is more than music. It is a message.
It proves that R&B can be deeply personal while still pushing artistic boundaries.
It reminds listeners that albums do not have to be disposable or rushed. They can be long and cinematic experiences that stay with you long after the music ends.
For fans of R&B, it is a gift. For Taylor, it is a declaration that she is back and she is not going anywhere.
In the end, Escape Room is not just an album. It is Teyana Taylor opening the door to her world, inviting us in and reminding us why her voice both as a singer and as an artist matters.
READ NEXT: Music news: CDs, cassettes and vinyl enjoying a resurgence in a digital world
