Teyana Taylor is known as a creative force…a jack of all trades, if you will, but she says this hasn’t always been the case.

During an upcoming appearance on The Main Thing, the new four-part digital series created from Indeed, The Lebron James Family Foundation and James and Maverick Carter’s Uninterrupted, Taylor opened up about the importance of creative freedom.

In an exclusive clip shared with Blavity from the new episode, Taylor also revealed that her creative freedom hasn’t always been a liberty that she’s been afforded throughout her career.

Teyana Taylor gets candid in ‘The Main Thing’

“The difference is, where I am now, versus where I was, you feel what I’m saying,” said Taylor. “Where I was wasn’t on my terms, and where I am now is on my terms. I was in one box.”

Whether she’s shifting the narrative through cultural storytelling, be it through fashion, film, television, music, dance, and beyond, Taylor has never been a one-trick pony; instead, she likens herself to a Glade plug-in.

“I’m a Glade plug-in. Imma plug in every single socket,” she said. “You gone plug me in every single outlet. Why only make the bathroom smell good, when you can make the whole house smell good? I wanna make every square foot of this building smell good. Why only smell the fruits of your labor in one room?”

Taylor added, “On other people’s terms, I had the key to one door. On my terms, I could open every single door in this room. And if I don’t got a key, I’m picking the locks.”

What is ‘The Main Thing’ about?

Here’s the official description for The Main Thing:

In the series, James sits down with cultural icons and innovators including skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, multi-hyphenate entertainer Teyana Taylor, digital creator Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), and fashion designer Melody Ehsani, to explore how skills honed through life experience, hard work, and creativity open doors across industries. Through candid, in-depth conversations and hands-on challenges, each episode challenges the traditional over-reliance on college degrees as the sole measure of career readiness and potential. 

“I’m all about turning grind into opportunity and this partnership with Indeed, UNINTERRUPTED, and the LeBron James Family Foundation is where talent and hustle get their shine,” Taylor said in an exclusive statement to Blavity.

The series premiered on Oct. 1, and Taylor’s episode airs on Wednesday.

Watch the exclusive preview below: