Tee Grizzley
American rapper (born 1994)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Terry Sanchez Wallace Jr.[2] (born March 23, 1994), known professionally as Tee Grizzley, is an American rapper. He first began posting music online following a two year prison sentence, self-releasing his 2017 song "First Day Out". It quickly gained viral status—earning two million views on YouTube in under three weeks—due to a social media challenge enacted by American basketball player LeBron James, after which the song peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 and led him to sign with 300 Entertainment. Its release preceded his debut mixtape My Moment (2017), and was followed by the single "From the D to the A" (featuring Lil Yachty), which received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His collaborative mixtape with Lil Durk, Bloodas (2018), was followed by his debut studio album, Activated (2018).[3]
- Rapper
- songwriter
The album peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200, while his second and third albums, the Timbaland-produced Scriptures (2019) and Built for Whatever (2021), peaked at numbers 20 and 15, respectively. His fourth album, Tee's Coney Island (2023) marked a period of commercial resurgence as its lead single, "IDGAF" (featuring Chris Brown and Mariah the Scientist) entered the Billboard Hot 100 once more.[4][5][6]
Early life
Wallace was born on March 23, 1994, in Detroit, Michigan, and was raised by his grandmother near the intersection of Joy Rd. & Southfield Freeway in the Warrendale neighborhood due to his mother and father constantly being in and out of prison.[7] In middle school he began developing an interest in rap music and eventually formed the musical group All Stars Ball Hard (ASBH) along with three of his friends, JR, Po, and Lee. Wallace took the moniker of ASBH Tee, and they began uploading their songs to YouTube. In 2011, his mother was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug trafficking and released in late 2020. His father was murdered in 2012.
Wallace was the first member of his family to attend college in generations. He attended Michigan State University to study finance and accounting. He and a friend began to burglarize other students' dormitories. They stole $20,000 worth of electronics and money from other students in February 2014. On February 27, Wallace and Jeremy Ford were caught but released pending investigation.[8][9]
Wallace went on the run, and fled to Kentucky. On July 1, 2014, Wallace was one of three people arrested following an attempted robbery at a jewelry store in Lexington, Kentucky.[8][9] Wallace was sentenced to nine months for the robbery, and, while already serving that sentence, he was sentenced to 18 months to 15 years for the Michigan State robberies in September 2015.[10] On October 16, 2016, he was released from prison in Michigan.[11]
Career
2016–2019: Debut singles, My Moment, Activated, and collaborations
While in prison, Wallace began to take rapping more seriously and wrote the entirety of his debut mixtape.[12] After being released from prison, where he took the name Tee Grizzley, he released his debut single "First Day Out" in November 2016. The music video, posted to YouTube, gained over 2 million views in less than three weeks.[5] He later signed to 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records in 2017.[4] He released his second single, "Second Day Out", in February 2017.[13] His third single "From the D to the A" featuring Lil Yachty was released in March 2017.[14]
He released "No Effort" and its accompanying music video on March 31, 2017.[15] His debut mixtape My Moment was released on April 7, 2017.[16] Grizzley said that his record sales tripled after his song was featured in a LeBron James Instagram post.[17][18] Grizzley's song "Teetroit" was released on July 28, 2017.[19] The single "Beef", featuring Meek Mill, was released on September 1, 2017.[20] He received two 2017 BET Hip Hop Award nominations for Best New Hip-Hop Artist and Best Mixtape for My Moment.[21]
He released the song "Win" on October 6, 2017.[22] He released the song "What Yo City Like" with rapper Lil Durk on November 30, 2017, as the lead single for their joint mixtape, Bloodas, released on December 8 of that year.[23] He released the single "Colors" on February 2, 2018.[24] The single "Don't Even Trip" featuring Moneybagg Yo was released on March 14, 2018.[25]
On March 9, 2018, Grizzley appeared on Lil Yachty's album Lil Boat 2 on the track "Get Money Bros.".[26] His debut studio album, Activated, was released on May 11, 2018.[6] In August, he received a 2018 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Push Artist of the Year.[27] He released the mixtape Still My Moment on November 9, 2018.[28] In May 2019, he released the single "Locked Up".[29]
On August 20, 2019, his vehicle was shot at in Detroit, Michigan. His aunt and then-manager Jobina Brown was killed in the shooting; she was 41. He and the driver survived the incident unharmed.[30] On September 20, 2019, Grizzley released his single "Satish" accompanied with a music video to commemorate Brown's death.[31]
2020–present: The Smartest, Built for Whatever and Half Tee Half Beast
In January 2020, Tee Grizzley released the single "Red Light".[32] In March, he released the single "Payroll" featuring Payroll Giovanni.[33] His song "No Talkin" was featured in the Netflix film Coffee & Kareem.[34] He released the song "I Spy" on May 1,[35] and "Mr. Officer" on June 5 in response to the murder of George Floyd and police brutality. The song features Queen Naija and members of the Detroit Youth Choir.[36] He released the mixtape The Smartest on June 19.[37]
On May 7, 2021, Tee Grizzley released his third studio album, Built for Whatever, a 19-track record that includes guest appearances from artists such as the late King Von and Young Dolph, as well as Lil Durk, YNW Melly, Quavo, G Herbo, and Big Sean.[38]
On April 15, 2022, Tee Grizzley released the mixtape Half Tee Half Beast, along with a video for the track "Robbery Part 3". He explained the mixtape's title: "Yeah, I"m human like everyone else, but also the things I've been through and had to survive made me a beast".[39]
On October 4, 2024, Tee Grizzley released his fifth studio album Post Traumatic.[40] It was preceded by the singles "Suffer in Silence", "Swear to God", "Robbery 7", "Detroit", "Blow for Blow" and "Situationship", which were all released in 2024.
On May 16, 2025, Tee Grizzley released his sixth studio album Forever My Moment.[41] It was preceded by the singles "Rick Jameski", "Jalen Hurtski", "Forever My Moment", "My God" and "They Shot at Trump" which details how Grizzley gained a new sense of existential dread at seeing the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.
On May 1, 2026, Tee Grizzley released the single "Still Going".
Personal life
In February 2021, My'Eisha Agnew gave birth to Wallace's first child, a son named Terry Wallace III.[42] Grizzley married My’Eisha Agnew June 4, 2023.
Grizzley is an avid gamer and began streaming in 2020 to fans on the video streaming platform Twitch. The vast majority of his streams are centered around Grand Theft Auto V.[citation needed]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [43] |
US R&B/ HH [44] |
US Rap [45] |
CAN [46] | ||||||||||||||||
| Activated |
|
10 | 6 | 6 | 25 | ||||||||||||||
| Scriptures |
|
20 | 10 | 9 | 43 | ||||||||||||||
| Built for Whatever |
|
15 | 10 | 9 | 46 | ||||||||||||||
| Tee's Coney Island |
|
65 | 24 | 20 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Post Traumatic |
|
60 | 20 | 15 | — | ||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mixtapes
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [43] |
US R&B/ HH [44] |
US Rap [45] |
CAN [46] | ||||||||||||||||
| My Moment |
|
44 | 21 | 16 | — |
| |||||||||||||
| Still My Moment |
|
29 | 16 | 15 | 57 | ||||||||||||||
| The Smartest |
|
22 | 14 | 11 | 88 | ||||||||||||||
| Half Tee Half Beast |
|
116 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Chapters of the Trenches |
|
124 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Forever My Moment |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Street Psalms |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
Collaborative mixtapes
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [43] |
US R&B/ HH [44] |
US Rap [45] | |||||||||||||||||
| Bloodas[51] (with Lil Durk) |
|
96 | 34 | 25 | |||||||||||||||
| Controversy[52] (with Skilla Baby) |
|
— | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [53] |
US R&B/HH [54] |
US Rap [55] | |||||||||||||||||
| "First Day Out" (solo or with Meek Mill)[56] |
2016 | 48 | 18 | 13 | My Moment | ||||||||||||||
| "Straight to It"[57] (featuring Band Gang) |
2017 | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||||||||||||||
| "Second Day Out"[58] | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "From the D to the A"[59] (featuring Lil Yachty) |
—[A] | 48 | — |
| |||||||||||||||
| "No Effort"[61] | — | —[B] | — |
|
My Moment | ||||||||||||||
| "Beef"[63] (featuring Meek Mill) |
— | —[C] | — | Non-album single | |||||||||||||||
| "Colors" | 2018 | —[D] | —[E] | — | Activated | ||||||||||||||
| "Don't Even Trip" (featuring Moneybagg Yo) |
— | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Sweet Thangs" | 2019 | — | — | — | Scriptures | ||||||||||||||
| "Satish" | —[F] | 48 |
— |
|
The Smartest | ||||||||||||||
| "Red Light" | 2020 | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||||||||||||||
| "Payroll" | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "I Spy" | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Mr. Officer" (featuring Queen Naija and Members of the Detroit Youth Choir) |
— | — | — | The Smartest | |||||||||||||||
| "Married to My Enemies" (with Jackboy) |
— | — | — | Living in History | |||||||||||||||
| "Wit a Sticc" (with Stupid Young) |
— | — | — | From Here on Out | |||||||||||||||
| "For the Team" (with Blaze) |
— | — | — | Non-album singles | |||||||||||||||
| "Bossa Nova" (with Kash Doll) |
— | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Gave That Back" (featuring Baby Grizzley) |
2021 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| "Late Night Calls" | — | — | — | Built for Whatever | |||||||||||||||
| "Robbery Part Two" | — | — | — | Non-album single | |||||||||||||||
| "White Lows Off Designer" (featuring Lil Durk) |
— | — | — | Built for Whatever | |||||||||||||||
| "Never Bend Never Fold" (with G Herbo) |
— | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "313-414" (with Lakeyah featuring DJ Drama) |
— | — | — | My Time (Gangsta Grillz: Special Edition) | |||||||||||||||
| "Afterlife" | 2022 | — | — | — | Half Tee Half Beast | ||||||||||||||
| "Beat the Streets" | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Buss It All Down" | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Robbery" | — | — | — | Non-album single | |||||||||||||||
| "Robbery Part 4" | — | — | — | Chapters of the Trenches | |||||||||||||||
| "Jay & Twan 1" | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Ms. Evans 1" | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Tez & Tone 1" | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Jay & Twan 2" | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Dropped the Lo"[64] (with Skilla Baby) | 2023 | — | — | — | Controversy | ||||||||||||||
| "B&E Pt. 1"[65] (with Skilla Baby) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Gorgeous"[66] (with Skilla Baby or remix featuring City Girls) | — | — | — | Controversy and Tee's Coney Island | |||||||||||||||
| "IDGAF"[67] (featuring Chris Brown and Mariah the Scientist) | 98 | 30 | 22 |
|
Tee's Coney Island | ||||||||||||||
| "Grizzley 2Tymes"[68] (featuring Finesse2tymes) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Robbery 6"[69] | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Pressin'"[70] (with Kash Doll) | 2024 | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||||||||||||||
| "Suffer in Silence"[71] | — | — | — | Post Traumatic | |||||||||||||||
| "Swear to God" (featuring Future) | —[G] | 40 | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Robbery 7"[72] | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Detroit"[73] (featuring 42 Dugg) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Blow for Blow" (featuring J. Cole) | 88 | 23 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||
| "Situationship"[74] (with Mariah the Scientist) |
— | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "Voicemail"[75][76] (featuring Rod Wave) |
2025 | —[H] | 36 | 24 | Street Psalms | ||||||||||||||
| "Seen Enough"
(featuring Polo G) |
— | — | — | Street Psalms | |||||||||||||||
| "Hard Times"
(featuring Hurricane Wisdom) |
2026 | — | — | — | Street Psalms | ||||||||||||||
| "Still Going" | — | — | — | Non-album single | |||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Money"[77] (Allstar Ballhard featuring Tee Grizzley) |
2017 | Non-album singles | |||||||||||||||||
| "Road to Riches"[78] (Ty featuring Tee Grizzley) |
|||||||||||||||||||
| "Supposed To"[79] (Duo Tycoon featuring Tee Grizzley) |
|||||||||||||||||||
| "#Moneybag"[80] (Gway featuring Tee Grizzley and YV) |
|||||||||||||||||||
| "We Got It Lit"[81] (Navé Monjo featuring Tee Grizzley) |
|||||||||||||||||||
| "Rollie On"[82] (Aoc Obama featuring Tee Grizzley) |
Obamacare 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Still Running"[83] (Cap 4z and K'hunnit featuring Tee Grizzley) |
Non-album singles | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Get the Money"[84] (Lougotcash featuring Tee Grizzley) |
|||||||||||||||||||
| "Any Means Necessary"[85] (Cash Kounty Pilot featuring Tee Grizzley) |
|||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm On 3.0"[86] (Trae tha Truth featuring T.I., Dave East, Tee Grizzley, Royce da 5'9", Curren$y, DRAM, Snoop Dogg, Fabolous, Rick Ross, Chamillionaire, G-Eazy, Styles P, E-40, Mark Morrison, and Gary Clark, Jr.) |
Tha Truth, Pt. 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Cold Summer"[87] (Jeezy featuring Tee Grizzley) |
Pressure | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Dreadz n Bread (Remix)"[88] (Nook and Tee Grizzley and Sada Baby) |
2018 | Non-album singles | |||||||||||||||||
| "Freddy Krueger" [89] (YNW Melly featuring Tee Grizzley) |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| "Freak" (Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne, Joyner Lucas and Tee Grizzley) |
2024 | 11:11 (Deluxe) | |||||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Bub. [91] | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Jettski Grizzley" (featuring Lil Pump) |
2018 | 4 |
|
Activated | |||||||||||||||
| "2 Vaults" (featuring Lil Yachty) |
12 |
| |||||||||||||||||
| "Young Grizzley World" (featuring YNW Melly and A Boogie wit da Hoodie) |
2019 | — |
|
Scriptures | |||||||||||||||
| "Friday Night Cypher" (Big Sean featuring Tee Grizzley, Kash Doll, Cash Kidd, Payroll, 42 Dugg, Boldy James, Drego, Sada Baby, Royce da 5'9", and Eminem) |
2020 | 10 | Detroit 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| "Rich Gangsta" (King Von featuring Tee Grizzley) |
2022 | 18 | What It Means to Be King | ||||||||||||||||
| "Robbery Part 3" | 20 | Half Tee Half Beast | |||||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Dope Money" | 2016 | Gtm Gwolla Gettaz | Been Trippin Lately (Vol. 1, Catch the Wave) |
| "Want Millions" | Louie Ray, Bankroll Bubba | The Gift | |
| "Mouth Closed" | 2017 | Bang Gang Paid Will, Bandgang Maseo | Br6nx Baby |
| "Bankroll Bigger" | Gtm Gwolla Gettaz | Until My Time Came | |
| "Kick Her out (Remix)" | Gtm Gwolla Gettaz, Crispy Gotti, BandGang, Bossman Rich, AllStar Lee | Welcome 2 the Darkside, Vol. 1 | |
| "Rollie On" | Aoc Obama | Obamacare 2 | |
| "#Moneybag" | Gway, Yv | The G Way | |
| "Catch Up" | Reeves Junya | Remake World Underground Mainstream | |
| "We the Ones" | Quality Control Music, Takeoff | Control the Streets, Volume 1 | |
| "Cold Summer" | Jeezy | Pressure | |
| "Get The Money" | LouGotCash | Lounited States of America Pt2 | |
| "GET MONEY BROS." | 2018 | Lil Yachty | Lil Boat 2 |
| "Head Tap" | Don Q | Don Talk | |
| "D to the A Freestyle" | MBNel | Deeper Than Rap | |
| scope="row""Ready 4 Real" | Lil Reese | GetBackGang | |
| "My Shit" | Philthy Rich | N.E.R.N.L. 4 | |
| "Where Im From" | DatBoiSkeet | Broke Is The Root Of All Evil | |
| "Shit Real" | Jay Rock | Redemption | |
| "Keys to the Streets" | Cash Click Boog | Indictment Music | |
| "Game" | Only the Family, Lil Durk, Sada Baby, YNW Melly | Only the Family Involved, Vol. 2 | |
| "MWBL" | 2019 | 42 Dugg | Young and Turnt |
| "All the Money - Remix" | Tie Cinco | 20Cinco | |
| "Surf" | King Combs, City Girls, AZ Chike | Cyncerely, C3 | |
| "Nobody Watching" | Fredo Bang | Big Ape | |
| "Bullshit" | Ralo, Bankroll Ziggy, VI Deck | Free Ralo | |
| "Go to Mars" | PnB Rock | TrapStar Turnt PopStar | |
| "Faith" | Booka600 | Word to LA | |
| "Made This Way" | E-40, Rod Wave | Practice Makes Paper | |
| "Once Again" | Quality Control Music, Lil Yachty | Control the Streets, Volume 2 | |
| "The Silk Road" | Highly Suspect | MCID | |
| "Still Running" | DemGuyz, Cap 4z, K-Hunnit | For da Streetz 2 | |
| "Blessings" | Jae Mansa | Relationships & Money | |
| "Stainless Steel" | 2020 | DigDat | Ei8ht Mile |
| "Str8" | King Von | Levon James | |
| "Like A Gee" | Fredo Bang | Most Hated | |
| "Big Boy Money" | Westside Tut | Don't Let Go 2 | |
| "Married to My Enemies" | Jackboy | Living In History | |
| "Notice Me" | |||
| "Friday Night Cypher" | Big Sean, Kash Doll, Cash Kidd, Payroll Giovanni, 42 Dugg, Boldy James, Drego, Sada Baby, Royce da 5'9", Eminem | Detroit 2 | |
| "R.I.P" | Berner | Russ Bufalino: The Quiet Don | |
| "Energy" | Drakeo the Ruler | We Know the Truth | |
| "Wit A Sticc" | $tupid Young | From Here On Out | |
| "Forever" | 2021 | Peewee Longway, Cassius Jay, Lil Yachty | Longway Sinatra 2 |
| "Check Wit It" | Young Buck, Sada Baby | Back on My Buck Shit, Vol. 3 | |
| "Chess" | Only the Family | Only The Family - Lil Durk Presents: Loyal Bros | |
| "Game Face" | Only the Family, Booka600 | ||
| "NO HAND OUTS - REMIX" | Donnie B | Detroit State of Mind | |
| "Dynamic Duo" | Lil Yachty | Michigan Boy Boat | |
| "Pistolette" | 28AV, Blanco Warren | Czarleo | |
| "Freddy Krueger" | YNW Melly, Future | Just a Matter of Slime | |
| "313-414" | Lakeyah, DJ Drama | My Time (Gangsta Grillz: Special Edition) | |
| "Turn Into 20" | Payroll Giovanni, Peezy | Giovanni's Way | |
| "Trendsetter - Radio Edit" | 2022 | Boujee Leak | Convergence |
| "Certified Street Platinum" | AllStar Lee | STREET PLATINUM | |
| "Rich Gangsta" | King Von | What It Means to Be King | |
| "Wit It" | Drego & Beno, Sada Baby, Lil Yachty | Sorry We Was Trapping | |
| "Pay For It" | Fredo Bang, Soulja Slim | UNLV | |
| "Uh Huh" | 2023 | Hunxho | 22 |
| "Spoof" | Trapland Pat | Professor Trap | |
| "Stepped On" | HorseTheOne | The Hood Hope | |
| "Hell Yeah" | HorseTheOne, Booka600 | ||
| "Heartless" | King Von | Grandson | |
| "DBZ" | Flight | Walking W Pt. 2 | |
| "NO GPS 2" | 264 Quez | Always On Go | |
| "Hell Yeah" | OMB Peezy | Le'Paris | |
| "Drac N' The Cape" | 2024 | THF LIL LAW | The Artof A HANNLER |
| "Freak" | Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Joyner Lucas | 11:11 (Deluxe) | |
| "Rose Gold" | Baby Money | H.I.M (Hustle In Me) | |
| "G-Code" | Mike Smiff | Thinking Out Loud | |
| "MALIBU" | YG, G Herbo | JUST RE'D UP 3 | |
| "HOODBACHI" | Doodie Lo | WHAT MADE ME | |
| "Kill A Rapper" | Tay B | YOU'RE WELCOME | |
| "Pressin'" | Kash Doll | The Last Doll | |
| "Benefits" | BlakeIANA | Back In The Field | |
| "Cecil Fielder" | Boldy James, Harry Fraud | The Bricktionary | |
| "Controversy 2" | Skilla Baby | Crack Music 3 | |
| "F 12" | 2025 | Luhh Dyl | Intrude |
| "Joy Road to Camp Wisdom" | Montana 700 | 700 Reasons | |
| "B.E.D" | 2026 | Tink | Fuck, Marry, Kill |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards | Best New Hip Hop Artist[21] | Himself | Nominated |
| Best Mixtape[21] | My Moment | Nominated | ||
| 2018 | MTV Video Music Awards | Push Artist of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
Notes
- "From the D to the A" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number three on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[60]
- "No Effort" did not enter the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number four on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[62]