Detroit rapper
Tee Grizzley enjoyed a swift rise to worldwide fame on the back of his breakout 2016 single "First Day Out." That track introduced millions of fans to the raw elements of
Grizzley's talents: ruthless street raps, meticulously constructed flows, and simmering beats that pushed dark melodies as much as they did unrelenting rhythms. His 2017 mixtape
My Moment, a collaborative single with
Lil Yachty, and 2018 studio debut
Activated all saw the rapper's fame growing, and mixtape
Still My Moment sees
Tee Grizzley further developing his style and taking his lyrics to new places. While not all of the songs aspire to break new ground, when those moments arrive, they're notable. Standout tracks like the confessional, R&B-inflected "Hustlin'" recall early days of struggle with deeper emotional inspection than the aggressive approach of earlier material. Relatively uplifting track "Wake Up" features
Chance the Rapper and gets into an uncharacteristically motivational message. Though the
Lil Pump assisted "Bitches on Bitches" is a bit of a dud, tracks featuring
YNW Melly,
Offset,
Quavo and others contribute to many of
Still My Moment's highlights. The growth in
Tee Grizzley's rapping shows when lyrics are surprisingly clever, humorous, or introspective. Advancing well past the depth of his first singles and mixtapes,
Still My Moment suggests the scope of
Tee Grizzley's work is still finding its definition. ~ Fred Thomas