Tee Grizzley

Terry Sanchez Wallace Jr., known as Tee Grizzley, is an American rapper and songwriter from Detroit. He broke through in 2017 with the viral single "First Day Out," a raw diary entry recorded hours after his release from prison. The track caught fire after LeBron James shared it, racking up two million views in three weeks and landing on the Billboard Hot 100. That momentum earned him a deal with 300 Entertainment and a spot in XXL's 2017 Freshman Class.

His double-platinum hit "From the D to the A" featuring Lil Yachty cemented his place in mainstream hip-hop. Over the next several years, he dropped a string of albums, Activated (2018), Scriptures (2019), Built for Whatever (2021), each landing in the top 20 of the Billboard 200. In 2023, he roared back with Tee's Coney Island and the hit "IDGAF" featuring Chris Brown. As of 2026, Tee Grizzley remains a prolific force in Detroit rap, known for his gritty storytelling and relentless work ethic.[edit]

Tee Grizzley grew up in Detroit's Herman Gardens housing projects, raised by his grandmother after his mother was incarcerated. His father was also in and out of prison, leaving young Terry to navigate a tough environment on his own. He attended Michigan State University on a full academic scholarship, but financial struggles and the pull of street life led him to drop out after one semester.

In 2014, he and two friends were arrested for stealing laptop computers from a university dormitory. He was sentenced to two to five years in prison. During his time inside, he dedicated himself to writing lyrics, honing his craft, and finding his voice. He earned the nickname "Grizzley" from fellow inmates for his tough demeanor. The day he was released in 2016, he went straight to the studio and recorded "First Day Out" in a single take, a song that would change his life.[edit]

In February 2017, Tee Grizzley self-released "First Day Out" on YouTube. The track went viral after LeBron James posted an Instagram video of himself rapping along, and within three weeks it had over two million views. The song peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100, leading to a record deal with 300 Entertainment. He dropped his debut mixtape My Moment in April 2017 and was named to XXL's Freshman Class later that year.

The single "From the D to the A" featuring Lil Yachty became his biggest hit, peaking at No. 43 on the Hot 100 and earning a 2x Platinum certification. He followed with the collaborative mixtape Bloodas with Lil Durk in 2018, then his debut album Activated, which hit No. 10 on the Billboard 200. His next two albums, Scriptures (2019) and Built for Whatever (2021), were produced by Timbaland and reached Nos. 20 and 15, respectively. In 2023, he released Tee's Coney Island, whose lead single "IDGAF" featuring Chris Brown and Mariah the Scientist returned him to the Hot 100. He continued his prolific output with the mixtape Post Traumatic and the album Still My Moment in 2024.[edit]

Tee Grizzley is known for raw, street-oriented storytelling over trap beats. His lyrics frequently detail his time in prison, the realities of Detroit street life, and his rise to success. The media portrays him as an authentic, unfiltered voice in hip-hop, often contrasted with more commercial rappers. His social media presence is direct and motivational, mixing music promotion with glimpses of his life as a father. Fans connect with his narrative of redemption and his refusal to sugarcoat his past.[edit]

Tee Grizzley commands a distinct, global footprint rooted in Detroit's raw storytelling and a massive digital gaming community. While his music reaches millions, the iFANN Global Fame Engine evaluated this artist in August 2026 and determined he does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings for the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. He is not ranked among the world's most famous individuals at this time. His audience, often identifying simply as "Tee" or "Big Grizz" through social media handles rather than a formal club name, engages deeply with his narrative lyricism and authentic street perspective. A unique pillar of his fame lies in his Twitch presence, where over one million followers tune into his "Grizzley World" server to watch him play Grand Theft Auto Roleplay and Call of Duty. This interactive sub-community celebrates his ability to generate significant revenue through streaming, creating a dynamic where fans interact with him in virtual settings rather than just listening to tracks. The fanbase values his refusal to sugarcoat life, connecting with stories of trials and redemption that feel unmanufactured compared to commercial pop appeal.[edit]

His stage name "Grizzley" stems from his prison days, where he earned a reputation for being tough like a grizzly bear, a fact reflected in the tattoo of a grizzly bear on his chest. He recorded the viral hit "First Day Out" in a single take just hours after his release, a moment that launched his career. As a first cousin of fellow Detroit rapper Babyface Ray, he shares deep roots in the local scene. A defining legend of his career is the explosion of the "First Day Out" video, which has since garnered 333 million views and nearly two million likes on YouTube, cementing it as the primary story told to newcomers about his impact. Another foundational myth involves his legal redemption; on August 5, 2026, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina officially expunged every felony on his Michigan criminal record, an event celebrated as a major victory for cleaning up his name. Fans also track his musical consistency, noting his recent release of "No Effort 2," which has led critics to compare his approach to sequels with Christopher Nolan's work in film.[edit]

Tee Grizzley was raised primarily by his grandmother in the Herman Gardens projects. His mother was incarcerated when he was young, and his father also spent time in prison. He has a close relationship with his cousin, rapper Babyface Ray. He has one son, born in 2018, with a woman who stays out of the public eye. He often posts about his son on social media, calling him his motivation.[edit]

Tee Grizzley has collaborated extensively with Lil Durk (joint mixtape Bloodas), Lil Yachty (on his biggest hit "From the D to the A"), and Timbaland (producer of Scriptures and Built for Whatever). He also worked with Chris Brown on the 2023 hit "IDGAF." He is a first cousin of Detroit rapper Babyface Ray.[edit]

Tee Grizzley was in a public relationship with model and television personality Shantel Jackson from 2018 to 2019. He was briefly linked to singer and actress Jade Novah in 2019-2020. He has a son, born in 2018, with a woman who has remained largely out of the public eye; the relationship ended shortly after the child's birth. As of 2026, Tee Grizzley is single and focused on his music career and fatherhood.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Tee Grizzley's net worth stands at $4 Million as of 2026. This financial standing is driven primarily by consistent revenue streams from music streaming royalties, concert touring, and merchandise sales. He has cultivated a strategic partnership with the cannabis brand Cookies, adding another layer to his income portfolio. Despite his prolific release schedule featuring multiple albums and mixtapes that generate steady cash flow, he currently lacks major endorsement deals or publicly reported real estate holdings. His wealth has grown steadily through a relentless output of content, maintaining a solid financial position without relying on high-profile corporate sponsorships.[edit]