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Tee Grizzley released a brand new single titled Blow For Blow featuring J. Cole, distributed to all major streaming platforms today, September 26, under an exclusive license to 300 Entertainment LLC.
Cole takes charge in the first verse, introducing the track and referencing K-pop group BTS before lending his vocals for Blow For Blow's hook. Tee also recruited producer Pi'erre Bourne to help with the production and mastering of the new record.
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Although Cole released a highly praised mixtape, Might Delete Later, earlier this year, his legacy seemingly took a hit online after the rapper bowed out of the historic "Big 3" rap beef. He even deleted his Kendrick Lamar diss track, 7 Minute Drill, from all major streaming platforms.
Since then, Jermaine has been actively lending his vocals for features on several records, working with a range of artists across hip-hop and R&B. J. Cole and Tee Grizzley's collaboration on Blow For Blow follows up on his work with A$AP Rocky on the track titled Ruby Rosary.
The consistent features and collaborations have led several fans to believe that Jermaine's highly anticipated seventh studio album, The Fall Off, could be around the corner.
Bar-For-Bar: Breaking down Tee Grizzley and J. Cole's new single 'Blow For Blow'
With a complete runtime of three and a half minutes, Tee Grizzley and J. Cole's new Blow For Blow is a masterfully produced single. It features interesting rhymes, pop culture references, bouncy flows, and charismatic vocal performances.
Pi'erre Bourne's production on the track is stellar, with the producer incorporating menacing loops, thick drum progressions, and bouncy keys, all of which significantly help accentuate the braggadocious vibe of the record.
The duo also released a full music video for Blow For Blow, directed by Jerry Productions, uploaded to Tee Grizzley's YouTube channel today. Notable themes Tee and Cole explore in their new collaboration have been listed below:
- Success
- Wealth
- Luxury
- Excess
- Competition
- Status
- Substance Abuse
- Drug Dealing
- Violence
- Gang Affiliations
- Incarceration
- Death
Disclaimer: This review is rated explicit. Reader discretion is advised.
(Verse 1)
"Blow for blow, Cole flow just prestigious / Sweats and tees, no unnecessary accessories, the GOAT just from features / Proceed with throat-cut procedures / He look rich, but he broke, just egregious / Don't trust rappers, ho, trust in Jesus."
J. Cole opens the song with an electric verse speaking on themes of success, wealth, integrity, loyalty, and violence, with the rapper proclaiming his "feature performances" earned him a GOAT status in hip-hop.
The rapper issues a warning to listeners, citing how most rappers are fake and one should proceed with caution when trusting them. Cole ends the bars by suggesting one is safer putting faith in religion instead.
"Whole team approach Costa Rica / And coast on boats, gettin' throat from top models / They pop s--t, my clique pop bottles / I sip orange juice in the VIP, watchin' the clock tick / Perform a couple of hits and then I dip."
J. Cole then describes his excessive and luxurious lifestyle, recounting instances of yacht rides in Costa Rica, wild parties, and intoxication.
The bar appears deeply layered and more introspective as the rapper highlights how he chooses to remain sober compared to the rest of his team. He cites an instance of sipping on "orange juice" instead of liquor while seated in the VIP section waiting for his turn to perform and leave.
"Six figures richer than when I entered / Cole world, Mr. I Got a Temper / I stay hot, doin' numbers like K-Pop / BTS in the flesh while they flop / And I laugh all the way to the Deutsche bank / Stay the f--k out my lane, avoid the paint / I'm really him, Bruce Jenner, boy just ain't."
J. Cole flexes his growing career in hip-hop, highlighting how his net worth is "six figures" higher than when he started in 2007 with the release of his debut mixtape, The Come Up.
The rapper then shouts out to the K-pop group, BTS, when drawing comparisons between his career and the South Korean boy band's commercial success. Cole humorously cites laughing his way to "Deutsche Bank," seemingly to collect another successful check while his competition continues to flop.
"I'm boisterous, loud boos for crews from mad voices, it's like your team's makin' the choice to take / L after L, I got to laugh / Y'all look like James Todd Smith autograph / Maybe that's why your b---h dropped the math / Go against the squad and get chopped in half."
Cole ends his verse with an aggressive claim of dominance over his competition, with the rapper calling himself "boisterous" while shouting out James Todd Smith, i.e. rapper LL Cool J, in an intricate bar.
J. Cole highlights themes of loyalty and brotherhood in this bar, as the rapper explains why taking a stance against him or his "squad" could result in a severe, possibly violent, interaction.
(Chorus)
"Now, who hot? Who not? (Who?) / Tell me, who flopped? Who sell out the tours? (Me) / Who rap with trap n----s that wet up your doors? / Who go harder than them and never let off before? (Me)."
Listeners are then introduced to Blow For Blow's hook, where Cole performs most of the chorus with Tee Grizzley supporting him with adlibs and backing vocals.
"Who got your wh-re pokin' her head out the door? / Gettin' paid every week like he did all his chores (Me) / Life's a b---h, I'm rich 'til I divorce (Yeah) / If the s--t go left, I'm pullin' bread out the floor (GG)."
The entire hook seemingly revolves around the idea of consistency and hard work paying off in the long run, with Cole highlighting his forward-thinking mindset. The rapper also cites keeping money safe and secure in case life "goes left."
(Verse 2)
"Okay, chain nastier than cow manure, bust down my shooter, saw more wires than a bomb defuser / Take a jet to the jungle, was healin' my soul, I done seen my n----s froze, filled up with embalmin' fluid / I still did numbers in this game (I did) / Only thing changed is the tail numbers on the plane (Jet)."
Listeners are then introduced to Tee Grizzley's verse on Blow For Blow, where the rapper comes out swinging with a strong bravado, impressive cadence, and consistent flows.
A majority of his verse appears to revolve around themes of success, struggle, loss, gang affiliations, violence, and incarceration. Grizzley highlights his luxurious, yet honest lifestyle, citing how nothing changed but the "tail numbers" on his jet.
"Retired drug dealer, bust chain, watch plain / I don't do drugs, but, baby, I don't judge, do your thing (That's all you) / I'm a king, you won't see me drop no tears (Uh-uh) / Back-to-back white coupes, b---h, it's lookin' like veneers (White) / Came in this game thinkin' n----s was my peers."
Grizzley then revisits his younger days, seemingly recounting his days as a "drug dealer," stating he's now retired and no longer fascinated by the excessive lifestyle he was once a part of.
The rapper ends his bar by explaining that before he was introduced to people within the industry and began working closely with them, Grizzley falsely believed everyone around him had good intentions and were his "peers."
"S--t damn near broke my heart, I ain't know they was that weird (Lame a-- n----s) / N----s give you they word, they be breakin' that so easily (Damn) / Can't do that in streets 'cause eventually, you seein' me (What's up?) / That's why I be in the crib, gamin' on DND / 'Cause you can't play with me and I not let you see the beast in me (F--k)."
The rapper proceeds to explain why he feels betrayed by his peers and friends within the industry, highlighting moments where someone close to Grizzley broke his trust.
Tee explains how although this is accepted as normal behavior within the industry, this type of conduct would have resulted in a violent retaliation had this been the "streets." This is also why the rapper hints at his growing intention to build a distance between himself and others within the industry.
"Cole say in Fayetteville they go, "Ayy, ayy, ayy" (What up?) / Fact he f--k with me like that, it make up for them rainy days (No cap) / Can't be on the court, NBA coach'll take my game away (Which one?) / Catch you on that freeway, we reenacting Training Day (Brrt)."
Tee Grizzley then shouts out J. Cole and Fayetteville, North Carolina, the city both rappers grew up in, highlighting how Cole's trust and belief in him helped the then-upcoming rapper get through rough periods in his life.
Grizzley also makes a cultural reference to Denzel Washington's "Training Day," with the rapper drawing comparisons between the extreme situations in the movie and the everyday life of people he remains affiliated with.
"You hear me? Who ain't rockin' with me? / Tell 'em to start from zero, then make it out of the D (Go do that) / Remember bein' young, seein' pops rockin' up kis (Bricks) / Saw bodies on streets, now I'm tryna put bodies in seats (Let's go on tour) / You hear me? Hold up, who ain't rockin' with me? (Who?)."
Tee Grizzley spends the bar recounting his tough come-up and rough childhood, highlighting instances of his father, presumably, pushing bricks of cocaine and witnessing people close to him lose their lives to gang violence.
While reflecting on why certain people don't "rock with" him, Grizzley highlights how, unlike his past and current environment, he remains dedicated to his craft and to providing value for his audience.
"Tell 'em to play with they life, fumble they college degree (Go do that) / Tell 'em to face all that time and still be solid as me (Go do that) / Do years in prison and drop a hit the day I release (Go do that, n---a) / You hear me? Ayy, unc', I got ahead of them n----s / I should've listened, I turned back and tried to rescue them n----s (Should've listened)."
Tee Grizzley ends the bar by referencing one of his career's biggest records, First Day Out. The song was released in 2016, a day following the rapper's release after spending three years incarcerated for robbery at Michigan State Prison.
The hook returns for another run before Tee Grizzley and J. Cole's Blow For Blow ends.
Tee Grizzley's personal lyricism and aggressive bars, matched with Cole's fiery introduction to Blow For Blow, make for an enticing listening experience.
Pi'erre Bourne's masterfully crafted production elevates the vocal performances, placing them at the forefront of the record, resulting in every line sticking with the listener.
