Half Tee Half Beast

The cover of Tee Grizzley’s *Half Tee Half Beast* couldn’t encapsulate the album’s contents better. It features a close-up of one of the many diamond-encrusted medallions Grizzley owns, this one a visualization of the MC’s face as he turns from man to teeth-gnashing bear. The point, as detailed across *Half Tee Half Beast*, is twofold: Tee Grizzley is doing extremely well by way of his profession, and he’s still an absolute beast in the booth. He’s cut down on the features for this one—there are guest verses from Quality Control signee Lakeyah and Grizzley’s brother, Baby Grizzley, and a number of cuts produced by ever dependable hitmaker d.a. got that dope. Otherwise, the floor is all Grizzley’s, the MC informing fans that he will always abide by street code (“Loyalty,” “Afterlife,” “Your Grave,” “Hustlin”), that his empire was built off his esteem and his esteem alone (“By Myself,” “Built 4 It,” “Beat the Streets”), and that, as he attests on “Drop a Bag,” his money is so long these days, he’s forgiven all his debtors: “If you owe me then you need it more than me, go ’head and keep it, bro.”

The title of Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley's fourth solo mixtape, Half Tee Half Beast, reflects his humanity as well as the struggles he's endured throughout his life, which have only made him stronger.