BY BREE ARGARIN

G.O.O.D./Def Jam's Harlem starlet, Teyana Taylor, recently hit The Novo on 9/1 as part of her K.T.S.E. On Alse VII tour. The sold-out show also featured opening acts DaniLeigh—a Def Jam labelmate—Jade Novah and surprise guest YG, also a Def Jam artist.

Cleveland-native Novah graced the stage first, performing a few joints off debut album All Blue (Let There Be Art/EMPIRE). Following Novah, DaniLeigh shook things up, pulling from her vibey debut EP, Summer With Friends. Showing love to her home base of L.A., she brought out rapper YG mid-set to perform his "Big Bank" verse, which got the crowd real hyped.


Taylor kicked things into high gear, allowing her band to electrify the room with a strong intro number, "No Manners"—also the first track off K.T.S.E., an acronym for "Keep That Same Energy" and the title of her Kanye-assisted album. Taylor was accompanied by two backup dancers; all three were dressed in NAMILIA motocross gear and torpedo bralettes. Things really started to heat up when the gripping performer brought TV personality and model Draya Michele on stage to totally tantalize with steamy fan fave "3Way." With the assist from her back-up dancers, the sexual energy was palpable and invigorating. Basically, the sight of these empowered, beautiful women caressing each other had my jaw on the ground and my sexual orientation up in the air. I joke (...or do I?!).

A couple hits of a sativa joint and I was resurrected, as Taylor performed other K.T.S.E. lullabies "Gonna Love Me" and "Issues/Hold On." Closing the show out with "Rose In Harlem," the G.O.O.D. queen brought that sparkling diva energy, the stuff a pop (or R&B) star needs to nail a legendary stage presence. That in itself, is how you keep that same energy.