Known for her 2005 top ten hit “Make Her Feel Good,” Teairra Mari is set to return to music later this year after being dropped from Roc-A-Fella via a new contract with Interscope.

The singer who has been dubbed by Sean Garrett as an “urban Avril Lavigne,” says she learned about her being dropped from Roc-A-Fella just before her high school graduation. “I got a call before my high school graduation,” recalls Mari. “I kept it to myself for about six months; I didn’t even tell my mom. Then news about it started coming out on the radio. I stopped doing music for a year.” While on Roc-A-Fella the “princess of the roc’s” single “Make Her Feel Good” peaked at no.9 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart while her album “Roc-A-Fella Presents Teairra Mari” reached no.2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. However, those chart topping moments and high profile performances with Rihanna and Amerie were not enough to keep the singer on the roster.

Since then Mari has been busy working on her upcoming Interscope debut. According to Billboard, the as-yet-untitled album is due late 2008/early 2009 and features collaborations with Timbaland, JR Rotem, Cudda Love (Nelly, Murphy Lee) and Nephew. “I’m at a good point now, with more creative control to be Teairra Mari,”says Mari of her new album led by the single “No, No, No.” “The last time out, I was more concerned about trying to get a platinum album instead of enjoying the journey. I love music and that’s what it’s really about: getting my message across to those who want to hear it.”

In addition to her upcoming Fo’ Reel Entertainment/Interscope project, the burgeoning songbird has been tapped as the spokesmodel for Love’s jeans line Jean Addicts, which bows in the fall. Mari will also appear in the film “Doorman,” due later this year.