The album features guest appearances from Chris Brown, Fabolous, Pusha T and Yo Gotti.

[1] Taylor stated that she and Star Trak founder Pharrell Williams, have remained amiable since the end of their business relationship.

[2] Taylor has stated on many occasions that her release from the label was necessary because she wanted to have a level of independence in the music industry.

More positive reviews of the latter track note that "The Harlem songstress channels Janet Jackson as she glides over the smooth Hit-Boy-produced beat with her airy vocals, while fellow New Yorkers Fabolous and Jadakiss ride shotgun".

[7] After some time as an independent artist and taking time to find herself as an artist, Taylor signed a joint-venture deal with Kanye West's label GOOD Music and The Island Def Jam Music Group, on June 14, 2012.

[9] She provides vocals for the opening track "To the World", with Kanye West and R. Kelly, provides the hook and chorus for "Sin City", which also features John Legend, Cyhi the Prynce, Malik Yusef and Travis Scott, and also duets with John Legend on a song titled "Bliss".

[13] On August 1, 2014, it was announced that that album would be titled VII, and would be released on October 21, 2014, through Def Jam and GOOD Music.

[23] Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly said, "After an extended tour of duty on the guest-appearance battlefield—that's where she befriended mentor Kanye West—Taylor finally drops her official debut.

VII lacks his boundary-warping weirdness, but she has a strong grasp on lush '90s-kissed R&B, especially on the stark, slithery "Business".

[26] Rachel Leah of HipHopDX stated, "Overall, VII feels authentic and offers a much wider scope of artistry than we’ve seen prior from the Island Def Jam artist.

Aside from the lack of significant risk-taking, Teyana Taylor generated a debut album that is honest and well produced.

"[27] Michael Arceneaux of Complex said, "Overall, VII makes for an impressive debut, though it remains to be seen whether or not audiences are willing to give her a real chance.