1999
The first night
January 27, 1999 — her first time singing in public, at Rituals Jazz Club in downtown Chicago. First place at the citywide Windy City Live Talent Showcase, taken with a grand standing ovation.
1999
“I Miss You” — the first record
Her first recording and debut single, the “I Miss You” single, made with producer George Claiborne — alongside Chris Robb and Mark “Doc” Williams — circulates the streets of Chicago and beyond.
2000
Musically Yours! & the Coca-Cola tour
Her debut, the Musically Yours! album, arrives. One year into her career, she hits the road as tour manager and featured performer on the 55-city NAACP Get Out the Vote tour, headlined by Coca-Cola — through the HBCU campuses of the South.
2001
Nashville recording days
Studio time in Nashville — recording and writing, laying the foundation of everything that followed.
2002
The Kanye West years begin
“My Way” appears on Kanye West’s Get Well Soon mixtape as his sound — and their studio bond — takes shape.
2003
Six-time Showtime at the Apollo winner
Six wins on the most unforgiving stage in American music, in the era hosted by Mo'Nique.
2003
“Hear the Song” — a single
Her vocals on Freeway’s Philadelphia Freeway album, produced by Kanye West — carried to the streets on Kanye’s I’m Good mixtape.
2003–2004
Kanye West & John Legend
The years she began recording with both Kanye West and John Legend. On Kanye’s The College Dropout album she is a co-writer and performer on “Family Business” and sings across the sessions; on John Legend’s Get Lifted album she co-wrote and co-sang “Live It Up.” Both albums won GRAMMY® Awards.
2005
For Better or Worse
The year she married J. Ivy — and together, as J. Torae, they recorded the For Better or Worse album, a duo record born straight from their love story.
2006–2009
On the road with Talib Kweli
Two and a half years as Talib Kweli’s touring background vocalist across the U.S. — the KOOL New Jazz Philosophy Tour with The Roots, Common, and The Pharcyde, and the Rock the Bells run — while recording features like “Made Man” with Pete Rock.
2010
Here I Am
Featured vocalist and co-executive producer on J. Ivy’s Here I Am album — one of the projects she’d go on to co-executive-produce as their partnership deepened toward its GRAMMY® years.
2012
Recording years
Studio recording sessions across Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.
2013
Slick Rick the Ruler
December 2013 — she becomes lead touring vocalist for hip-hop legend Slick Rick, a ride that continues with select dates to this day.
2014
More recording years
Studio recording time — Chicago, Nashville, New York, and L.A.
2015
Dear Father Concert Tour
On the road with J. Ivy, performing live at the Dear Father concerts.
2016
Marching On & the big screen
The Marching On EP — and a musical performance and acting role in the film Not Another Black Movie.
2017
My Daddy’s Records & the Soul Lounge
Featured vocalist and co-executive producer on J. Ivy’s My Daddy’s Records album — and headlining her own packed Soul Lounge night at Chicago’s DuSable Museum.
2018
The Sweetest Survivor
Her full-length statement — the Sweetest Survivor album: survival, sweetness, and Chicago soul.
2019
Freedom Ride
The “Take Me Home” single, and the Freedom Ride EP, produced by house legend Terry Hunter.
2020
Catching Dreams — GRAMMY® nomination
Featured vocalist and co-executive producer on J. Ivy’s Catching Dreams album, which earns a GRAMMY® nomination — making Tarrey a nominated artist alongside him.
2021
Live at Fort Knox Chicago & Hal King
The Catching Dreams: Live at Fort Knox Chicago album, which she also co-executive-produced, earns a second GRAMMY® nomination; the “In Time” single arrives; and she acts as Madame Quickly in the film Hal King (Tubi).
2022
Catching Feelings · jeen-yuhs · The Poet Who Sat by the Door
Releases her Catching Feelings album, appears in Netflix’s jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, tours with Slick Rick — and sings on J. Ivy’s The Poet Who Sat by the Door album, winner of the first-ever GRAMMY® for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album — her first GRAMMY® win.
2023
Live In Chicago · The Light Inside
The Catching Feelings: Live In Chicago album comes home — recorded live in the city that raised her. And she wins her second GRAMMY® on J. Ivy’s The Light Inside album, featured on “Come Back To You” with DJ Jazzy Jeff and “Winning” with Anthony Hamilton.
2024
The Baptist & HBCU Honors
Featured on two songs on Sir The Baptist’s The Baptist album — “It’s Me (Standing in the Need of Prayer)” and “Fire” — and HBCU Honors at Howard University with J. Ivy.
2025
New collaborations
Featured on Maurice Brown’s “FREE” single and the Terry Hunter remixes of J. Ivy & Anthony Hamilton’s “No Words,” with the HBCU Symphony.
2026
Beauty of the Journey Tour
On the road with J. Ivy — 33 cities, from Chicago to Cape Town — and co-executive production on the halftime tribute for Derrick Rose’s jersey retirement at the United Center in Chicago.
