Tee Grizzley is an American rapper who has a net worth of $4 million as of 2023. He is best known for his singles “First Day Out”, “No Effort”, “Colors”, and “From the D to the A” (featuring Lil Yachty). He rose to fame after being released from prison in 2016 and signing a deal with 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records. He has released several mixtapes and albums, including My Moment, Activated, Scriptures, and The Smartest. He has also collaborated with artists like Meek Mill, Young Thug, Lil Baby, and Big Sean.
Tee Grizzley’s Background and Career
Early Life and Education
Tee Grizzley was born Terry Sanchez Wallace Jr. on March 23, 1994, in Detroit, Michigan. He was raised by his grandmother near Joy Road and Southfield Freeway in the Warrendale neighborhood. His mother and father were both in and out of prison for drug trafficking and murder charges. His mother was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2011 and his father was killed in 2012.
Tee Grizzley developed an interest in rap music in middle school and formed a group called All Stars Ball Hard with his friends. He took the name ASBH Tee and uploaded their songs to YouTube. He was the first member of his family to attend college and enrolled at Michigan State University to study finance and accounting. However, he faced financial difficulties and resorted to robbing other students’ dormitories. He stole $20,000 worth of electronics and money in February 2014.
Rise to Fame
Tee Grizzley was caught for the robberies and went on the run. He fled to Kentucky, where he was arrested again for attempting to rob a jewelry store in July 2014. He was sentenced to nine months for the Kentucky robbery and 18 months to 15 years for the Michigan robberies. He spent almost three years in prison, where he wrote his debut mixtape.
He was released from prison on October 16, 2016, and changed his name to Tee Grizzley. He released his debut single “First Day Out” on YouTube in November 2016. The song went viral and gained over two million views in less than three weeks. The song caught the attention of 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records, who signed him to a record deal in 2017.
Tee Grizzley released his debut commercial mixtape My Moment in April 2017, which peaked at number 44 on the Billboard 200 chart. The mixtape featured the singles “No Effort”, “From the D to the A” (featuring Lil Yachty), and “Beef” (featuring Meek Mill). He also collaborated with Young Thug on the song “Fuck It Off”.
In December 2017, Tee Grizzley released a collaborative mixtape with Chicago rapper Lil Durk called Bloodas. The mixtape spawned the singles “What Yo City Like”, “Flyers Up”, and “Bloodas 2 Interlude”.
In May 2018, Tee Grizzley released his debut studio album Activated, which debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album featured guest appearances from Lil Yachty, Lil Pump, Moneybagg Yo, Jeezy, Chris Brown, and more. The album included the singles “Colors”, “Don’t Even Trip” (featuring Moneybagg Yo), “2 Vaults” (featuring Lil Yachty), and “Jettski Grizzley” (featuring Lil Pump).
In November 2018, Tee Grizzley released his second commercial mixtape Still My Moment, which reached number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart. The mixtape featured contributions from Chance the Rapper, Quavo, Offset, Lil Pump, Bryan Hamilton, and more. The mixtape contained the singles “Wake Up” (featuring Chance the Rapper), “Pray for the Drip” (featuring Offset), and “Hustlin’” (featuring Bryan Hamilton).
In June 2019, Tee Grizzley released his second studio album Scriptures, which was executive produced by Timbaland. The album peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and featured collaborations with A Boogie wit da Hoodie, YNW Melly, King Von, Payroll Giovanni, and more. The album included the singles “God’s Warrior”, “Locked Up”, “Sweet Thangs”, and “Young Grizzley World” (featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie and YNW Melly).
In June 2020, Tee Grizzley released his third studio album The Smartest, which debuted at number 32 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album featured guest appearances from Big Sean, Lil Baby, Lil Keed, Meek Mill, and more. The album contained the singles “Satish”, “I Spy”, “The Smartest Intro” (featuring DJ Mustard), and “Mr. Officer” (featuring Queen Naija and members of the Detroit Youth Choir).
Awards and Achievements
Tee Grizzley has received several nominations and awards for his music. He was nominated for Best New Hip Hop Artist at the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards and Best Mixtape for My Moment at the 2018 BET Hip Hop Awards. He won the Impact Track award for “First Day Out” at the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards and the Best New Artist award at the 2018 BET Awards. He was also named as one of the XXL Freshmen in 2017.
Tee Grizzley’s Net Worth
Sources of Income
Tee Grizzley’s main source of income is his music career. He earns money from his record sales, streaming royalties, touring, merchandise, and endorsements. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he has a net worth of $4 million as of 2023.
According to Forbes, Tee Grizzley earned $1.5 million in 2018 from his music and other ventures. He also signed a lucrative deal with Puma in 2018, becoming one of the brand ambassadors for the company. He has also partnered with other brands like Ethika, Fashion Nova, and Beats by Dre.
Assets and Investments
Tee Grizzley owns several properties and vehicles. He bought a mansion in Detroit for $1.4 million in 2018. He also owns a condo in Los Angeles that he bought for $800,000 in 2019. He has a collection of luxury cars, including a Bentley Bentayga, a Rolls-Royce Wraith, a Lamborghini Urus, a Ferrari 488 Spider, and a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon.
Tee Grizzley has also invested in some businesses and ventures. He launched his own record label called Grizzley Gang Music in 2017, which is distributed by 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records. He has signed artists like Sada Baby, Baby Grizzley, and Payroll Giovanni to his label. He also owns a clothing line called Grizzley Gang Apparel, which sells hoodies, t-shirts, hats, and accessories.
Growth in Net Worth
Tee Grizzley’s net worth has grown significantly since he started his rap career in 2016. He had a net worth of $100,000 in 2017. His net worth increased to $1.5 million in 2018 after the success of his debut album Activated and his endorsement deals. His net worth rose to $3 million in 2019 after the release of his second album Scriptures and his condo purchase. His net worth reached $4 million in 2020 after the release of his third album The Smartest and his car collection.
Personal Life and Controversies
Personal Relationships
Tee Grizzley is not married but has a son named Deuce Wallace, who was born in April 2020. The identity of his son’s mother is not publicly known. Tee Grizzley has been linked to several women in the past, including Instagram models Ayana Charm and Heather Rose.
Tee Grizzley is close to his family members, especially his mother Latoya Perry, and his brother Marcellus Wallace Jr., who raps under the name Baby Grizzley. His mother was released from prison in late 2020 after serving nine years for drug trafficking. His brother was also released from prison in early 2020 after serving five years for robbery. However, his brother was indicted again in January 2021 for conspiracy to possess firearms by a felon.
Tee Grizzley is also friends with many fellow rappers and celebrities, such as Lil Yachty, Meek Mill, Young Thug, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and more. He has expressed his admiration for Jay-Z as his role model and mentor.
Controversial Incidents
Tee Grizzley has been involved in some controversial incidents throughout his career. In August 2019, he was involved in a shooting that resulted in the death of his aunt and manager Jobina Brown. She was shot by an unknown assailant while sitting in the back seat of Tee Grizzley’s Cadillac Escalade. Tee Grizzley and another passenger were unharmed. The motive and the identity of the shooter are still unknown. Tee Grizzley paid tribute to his aunt in his song “Satish” and thanked her for supporting his career.
In October 2019, Tee Grizzley was arrested for parole violation after he failed a drug test. He tested positive for marijuana, which was prohibited by his parole conditions. He was released from custody after posting a $10,000 bond.
In June 2020, Tee Grizzley faced backlash for his song “Mr. Officer”, which addressed police brutality and racial injustice in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. Some critics accused him of being insensitive and hypocritical, as he had previously rapped about violence and crime in his songs. Tee Grizzley defended his song and said that he was speaking from his own experience and perspective.
