Album Review: Teyana Taylor — Escape Room

Teyana Taylor’s Escape Room is the kind of return that feels like a creative rebirth. The project unfolds as an intimate visual album and sonic diary, part diary, part theatre piece, anchored by cinematic interludes from high-profile narrators and a lineup of guest artists who amplify rather than overwhelm the story. The album maps a journey from hurt and claustrophobia into healing and open air; it’s bold, dramatic, and deeply human. It was released: August 22, 2025.

No gimmicks here. The album is built around a string of narrated scenes and dramatic transitions, voices like Taraji P. Henson, Sarah Paulson, Issa Rae, Regina King and others introduce and punctuate sections, so it plays less like a playlist and more like a short film in 22 chapters. That framing permits Teyana to be theatrical, confessional, sensual and funny, all in one sitting.

TRACK-BY-TRACK BREAKDOWN

1. Narration by Taraji P. Henson
   A cinematic opener that sets the stakes. The narration feels like stepping into a screenplay. Teyana makes it clear this will be a staged, stylised, and deliberate journey.
   
2. Fire Girl
   An opener that sparks literally and figuratively: distorted vocal textures and Spanish-guitar motifs meet Teyana’s grit. It announces the album’s tone: fiery, wounded, resilient.
   
3. Narration by Sarah Paulson
   A short interlude that bridges mood and story, these spoken pieces do a lot of heavy lifting, giving context and cinematic beats between songs.
4. Long Time
   A standout single and one of the emotional centres. It’s a slow burner about regret and delayed clarity. Teyana’s voice sits on top of a lush, dramatic arrangement, turning heartbreak into an anthemic release. The single’s visuals (and accompanying short film) add layers to its narrative.
   
5. Narration by La La
   Another beat of spoken word that keeps the narrative thread taut while letting the songs breathe.
   
6. Narration by Niecy Nash
   The album’s interludes place the listener in different rooms of Teyana’s mind: safety, accusation, humour, tenderness. Niecy’s voice helps tip a scene one way before the next track lands.
   
7. Hard Part (feat. Lucky Daye)
   A soulful duet that digs into the difficulty of letting go. Lucky Daye’s presence complements Teyana’s raspy urgency; production leans into brass and bluesy piano touches, making this one of the rawest emotional moments.
   
8. Back To Life (feat. Tasha Smith)
   A yearning mid-section track, Teyana searches for someone to reanimate her spirit. The guest feature functions as emotional punctuation rather than a star turn.
   
9. Narration by Jodie Turner-Smith
   A brief nod from another voice in the cast; these lines stitch the record’s scenes together and add theatrical weight.
10. All Of Your Heart (feat. Taraji P. Henson)
    A surprising and tender moment where spoken word and song blur; Taraji’s input amplifies the drama and adds a connective tissue between story and feeling.
11. Shut Up
    A bold, punchy track, Teyana asserts boundaries and refuses to be gaslit. It’s an album highlight for fans who love her fierce side.
12. Pum Pum Jump (feat. Jill Scott and Tyla)
    Playful and jubilant, this cut leans into flirtation and joy. The guest spots add texture: Jill brings seasoned soul warmth; Tyla adds contemporary bounce. It’s a lighter, fun detour on an otherwise intense album.
13. Open Invite (feat. KAYTRANADA)
    A production highlight. Kaytranada’s touch moves the record into hazy electro-soul territory, groovy, sensual and undeniably danceable. Teyana leans into desire here, and it pays off.
14. Narration by Issa Rae Part 1
    Issa’s voice returns to deepen the narrative thread before the record moves toward its more reflective phase.
    
15. In Your Head
    A nocturnal, introspective cut. The track plays like the internal monologue after the party lights go down—reflective and quietly aching.
16. Final Destination
    Dreamy and optimistic, this track hints at new beginnings. Teyana’s voice sounds more open here, less guarded.
17. Narration by Issa Rae Part 2
    Issa closes another scene; these callouts give the album its cinematic pacing.
18. Bed Of Roses
    Released as a single ahead of the album, this song is sultry and direct. It pairs visual storytelling with intimate lyricism and cements the album’s romantic centre.
19. Narration by Kerry Washington
    Adds gravitas and frames the later emotional arc.
20. In Your Skin
    A warm, devotional song, this is where commitment and tenderness win out; production supports rather than competes with the vocal.
21. Narration by Regina King
    A brief, resonant scene setter before the finale.
    
22. Always (feat. Rue Rose Shumpert and Junie Shumpert)
    The album closer is a gentle acoustic landing. It reads like a promise to self and family. Teyana’s children even contribute spoken lines on the album’s final note, ending the record on a note of softness and lasting love.

STANDOUT THEMES

• Confession and Reclamation
  Teyana uses the album as a space to confess, clarify and reclaim. Whether she’s furious, tender or playful, everything feels like a curated truth.
• Cinematic Storytelling
  The narrated interludes make this a visual album experience even before you watch the short film. It’s designed for stage, screen and earbuds alike.
• Love, Forgiveness, and Boundaries
  From the regret of “Long Time” to the tenderness of “Always,” the arc moves from damage to repair.
• Play and Pleasure
  Tracks like “Pum Pum Jump” and “Open Invite” let Teyana be joyful, reminding listeners that healing includes pleasure.

WHY FANS ARE RESPONDING

• It’s Teyana on her own terms: more director than pop star, more storyteller than trend follower.
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  The record balances theatricality with intimacy—fans get both spectacle and a sense of being let in.
  • Songs land emotionally and melodically; there are club moments and hush moments in equal measure.
  • The cast of narrators and features adds prestige while keeping the focus squarely on Teyana’s voice and vision.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Escape Room is a bold return. It’s theatrical without being indulgent, vulnerable without being self-pitying, and cinematic while remaining deeply human. Teyana Taylor turned her life into a stage and invited listeners to sit in the front row. For fans who love R&B that aims to move both the body and the heart, this album is a win.