Birth Name: Tyra Shardell Bolling
Stage Name: Tyra B
Born: June 27, 1985
Birthplace: Petersburg, Virginia, USA
Gender identity: Cisgender Woman
Pronouns: She/Her
Sexual Orientation: Gay
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: Black
Profession: Singer · Songwriter · Dancer
Years Active: 2004 to present
Genres: R & B · Contemporary Soul
Labels: GG & L · Warner Bros. · Sphinx · Walnut Hill · EMPIRE
Associated Acts: PrettyBoy & Bradd Young · Chingy · Soulja Boy · Destiny’s Child · Keith Sweat

Overview:
Tyra B is an American R & B singer and songwriter who rose to national attention in the mid-2000s with independent Billboard-charting hits. Known for songs like “Country Boy,” “Still in Love,” and “Givin’ Me a Rush,” she built early success without major label backing. She later toured with Destiny’s Child and maintained an independent music career while also becoming one of the few openly gay Black women in R & B.

Early Life and Education:
Tyra Shardell Bolling was born in Petersburg, Virginia on June 27, 1985. She started singing at a young age and joined a local R & B trio called Kraz’e with her sister and a friend. After the group disbanded when other members left for college, Tyra began recording solo and performing at talent showcases around Virginia. She committed to a music career instead of pursuing formal college education.

Career:
In 2005, Tyra B independently released the singles “Country Boy” and “Still in Love,” both of which reached the Billboard Hot R & B/Hip-Hop Songs Top 40. The remix of “Country Boy” featured Chingy, and both songs were produced by PrettyBoy & Bradd Young. Her debut album Introducing Tyra B was completed but ultimately shelved by Warner Bros.

In 2007, she released “Givin’ Me a Rush,” her most successful single, which reached No 36 on the Billboard R & B chart and peaked at No 2 on BET’s 106 & Park countdown. She followed it in 2008 with “Get It Poppin’” featuring Soulja Boy. A second album, Past Due, was also shelved despite having planned collaborations with Ludacris and Trey Songz.

Returning to independent music, Tyra dropped the single “Sex” in 2012, followed by the 2013 mixtape The Morning After. In 2015, she released the EP Tysexual, led by the single “Tease.” She continued releasing indie singles like “Hardly Ever,” “I’m Yours,” and “Middle of Nowhere.”

Tours:
In 2005, Tyra B was an opening act on the Destiny Fulfilled… and Lovin’ It Tour, which was Destiny’s Child’s final North American concert tour. She performed alongside Mario and Amerie on select dates, exposing her to large-scale arenas and national audiences.

Discography:

Singles
2005 – “Country Boy”
2005 – “Still in Love”
2007 – “Givin’ Me a Rush”
2008 – “Get It Poppin’” (feat. Soulja Boy)
2012 – “Sex”
2015 – “Tease”
2016 – “Hardly Ever”
2016 – “I’m Yours”
2016 – “Middle of Nowhere”

Mixtapes and EPs
2013 – The Morning After (mixtape)
2015 – Tysexual (EP)

Unreleased Albums
Introducing Tyra B (2006, shelved)
Past Due (2008, shelved)

Personal Life:
Tyra B publicly came out as gay, stating on social media, “I’ve never been intimate with a man before… I’m gay. Always have been. Always will be.” She has openly discussed how her early song “Still in Love” was based on a real relationship with another girl during high school. Her honesty and visibility have made her a rare voice in the R & B genre, where Black LGBTQ+ women are still underrepresented.