Marí was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She began her career at the age of twelve, after being encouraged by her paternal grandparents. She soon caught the attention of Big Mike, Ed K, and Helluvah of Detroit's K.I.S.S. Productions, which developed her from the age of thirteen onward. Under Big Mike's guidance, Marí spent every free moment in the studio, working with producers and songwriters like Helluvah, Disco D, Big Mike, Chaz M, Detail, Lyriq, AK, and J.R.

K.I.S.S. Productions arranged for Marí to collaborate with artists such as Ray J, J-Kwon, and Bee, and for Marí to appear on Detroit's Fox 2 Morning Show and UPN 50 Sports Rap. In October 2003, the label released Teairra's first album, an EP called Get Away, which included the title track plus four more songs, and became a local success. In the meantime Teairra attended Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts, and was a vocal major.

At the age of sixteen, K.I.S.S.'s Big Mike felt that Marí was ready for a major career, and he introduced her to a number of label executives. Marí worked with Jay-Z, in his first collaboration project since becoming president of Def Jam Records, to create "Make Her Feel Good", the lead single from her debut album on Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam that reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the R&B charts. It was heavily played on BET but ignored by MTV. The second single "No Daddy" had a video that led to commercial success on MTV. The video spent sixteen days on Total Request Live, reaching number four. Shortly after she released her third single "Phonebooth" only to radio outlets and got a lukewarm response due to it not having a video and no promotion. Teairra Mari's first album, Roc-A-Fella Presents: Teairra Mari, was released in 2005. The album reached the #5 position on the Billboard 200 albums chart and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. During 2005 Teairra also performed on shows such as 106 & Park, Trl, The BET Comedy Awards, and the American Music Awards along with others while modeling and doing adds for the Roca Wear campaign and her fame was on the rise.

In 2006, Teairra Mari stopped production in the middle of her second album entitled Second Round and was let go by Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records but remained on good terms, she then signed a lucrative deal with Interscope Records and landed new management with Fo'Reel Ent under the wing of Cudda Love.