Albums
Every release — plus the records she helped make history on.
The records history remembers — with Tarrey's voice on them.
Twenty-five years of sessions, features, and albums — in order.
January 27, 1999 — her first professional performance, at Rituals in Chicago · first place at the citywide Windy City Live Talent Showcase, taken with a grand standing ovation · her first recording, with producer Chris Robb on Chicago's South Side
Musically Yours! — debut album, September 2000, one year in · hit the road on the NAACP's 55-city Get Out the Vote tour as both tour manager & featured performer, alongside headlining sponsor Coca-Cola
“Still Will Love You” (prod. Mark “M-Doc” Williams) — hits Chicago's WGCI After Dark and stays in commercial rotation for nine months, on one of the largest urban radio stations in the world · Down at the Loose Skillet (J. Ivy) — “Go-Go,” “We Made the Moon Cry,” “I Miss You” (prod. George Claiborne), “Misery”
“My Way” — Get Well Soon… (Kanye West mixtape) · “Hear the Song” — Philadelphia Freeway (Freeway, prod. Kanye West), also on Kanye's I'm Good… mixtape · session vocals on DMX “Where My Dogs” (Kanye West production)
The College Dropout (Kanye West) — “Family Business,” with background vocals across “We Don't Care,” “Jesus Walks,” “Never Let Me Down,” & “Two Words” · Get Lifted (John Legend) — co-wrote & sang “Live It Up,” plus “So High” (promo album). Both albums won GRAMMY® Awards.
For Better or Worse (J. Torae — Tarrey & J. Ivy together) — “Good Mornin' Baby,” “In Time,” “Ain't No Sunshine,” “Through the Storm” — the year they married
Two and a half years as Talib Kweli's touring background vocalist, coast to coast across the U.S. — the KOOL New Jazz Philosophy Tour 2006 with The Roots, Common & The Pharcyde · the Rock the Bells festival run, 2007 · Chris Webber's Bada Bling charity weekend at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas (July 2007) — singing behind Kweli, Common & Lil' Mo · a Seattle bill with Lupe Fiasco · college shows with The Roots out to Eugene, Oregon · Sundance in Park City · the X Games · a New York television taping with Kweli · behind Eardrum (2007) · “Kweliwood” (2008)
“Made Man” — NY's Finest (Pete Rock) · Kings Amongst Kings (Beatnam Vets) — “For the Love” · Stereotype (Blitz The Ambassador) — “Dying To Live” & “Something To Believe” · Here I Am (J. Ivy) — “It Is What It Is” & “Everything” · February 2010 — the “Hope for Haiti” benefit at Chicago’s House of Hope, on a bill with Common, Lalah Hathaway, Shirley Caesar, Marvin Sapp & Donald Lawrence
February 16, 2013 — Tarrey Torae’s Soul Lounge, her own headline night at Chicago’s DuSable Museum — a packed house, hosted by J. Ivy · “Go With Me” (Phil G.) · “Truth Hurts” (Marshall Knights) · Marching On EP · “Ain't No Roaches in the Chicken” (Not Another Black Movie) · My Daddy's Records (J. Ivy) · Dear Father audiobook · P.E.A.C.E. (Phil G.)
December 2013 — she joins hip-hop legend Slick Rick as his lead touring vocalist, and never really leaves: steady touring through the years, spot dates to this day. The longest-running ride of her career — still rolling.
The Sweetest Survivor — her album of survival & love · “Let It Go” remixes · “Take Me Home” · Freedom Ride EP (prod. Terry Hunter)
Catching Dreams (J. Ivy, 2020) — featured vocalist & executive producer — earns a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Spoken Word Album at the 63rd GRAMMY® Awards (2021), making Tarrey a nominated artist alongside J. Ivy · Catching Dreams: Live at Fort Knox Chicago (2021), which she also executive produced, is nominated again at the 64th (2022)
Catching Feelings — the studio album, released 2022 · The Poet Who Sat by the Door (J. Ivy) — featured vocalist & executive producer, including “A Mile in His Soul” & “Learn You a Lesson” (with PJ Morton)
February 5, 2023 — The Poet Who Sat by the Door wins Best Spoken Word Poetry Album at the 65th GRAMMY® Awards, the first award in the category's history — her first GRAMMY® win · that fall: The Light Inside (J. Ivy, 2023) — “Come Back To You” (with DJ Jazzy Jeff) & “Winning”
Catching Feelings: Live In Chicago — the live album, its own release, 2023 — the record on its feet at home · performing with J. Ivy on The Jennifer Hudson Show
February 4, 2024 — The Light Inside wins Best Spoken Word Poetry Album at the 66th GRAMMY® Awards — her second GRAMMY® win, back-to-back years in the category
The Baptist (Sir The Baptist, 2024) — “Fire” · HBCU Honors at Howard with J. Ivy · “FREE” (Maurice Brown, 2025) · “No Words” Terry Hunter remixes (2025) · “Little Girl” (2026) · the Beauty of the Journey Tour with J. Ivy — and Tarreytown