Unladylike

A friend coined the duo’s name after reacting with surprise to the sharp-edged rhymes they had developed, prompting Tee—born Teosha Thomas—and Gunna—born Jasmine Baker—to team up while still attending high school in their hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois. Following a handful of local shows, the pair traveled to a talent showcase in New York, where they caught the attention of emerging industry figures Sita Lewis and Ty Fyffe, the latter a producer whose résumé already included work with Wreckx-N-Effect, Busta Rhymes, and 50 Cent. The Lewis family subsequently placed them on its Def Jam-affiliated Voicez imprint, leading Tee and Gunna to complete the album Unladylike Radio, which Def Jam issued in June 2009.