Detroit emcee Tee Grizzley becomes the latest artist to join the march against racism and police brutality on wax with his single “Mr. Officer,” which features assistance from fellow Motor City artist Queen Naija and members from the Detroit Youth Choir. Produced by Helluva Beats, the booming track sees Tee Grizzley rapping about the Black lives lost at the hands of law enforcement:
“Y’all supposed to be the heroes though, you know, protect and serve, not takin’ us off of the Earth, I see the police and it f*** with my nerves/
They pullin’ me over, I’m showin’ ‘em both of my hands, and watchin’ my words, I got insurance, no warrants, he pointin’ his gun like he wanna blow it/
Tell me why we gotta die? He went for his wallet, reach for a gun, you think that some s*** he’d try? On a cop?/
He can’t breathe and you still chokin’ ‘em, man, why would he lie? Your knee in his neck, you ain’t gotta do all that, it’s one against five, RIP…/”
Grizzley also adds an additional message in the song’s description:
“I got a million experiences I can touch on in my music, but I couldn’t make another song without speaking on what’s going on… I’m not a politician or activist but right now it’s everybody’s job to speak up because the pain, the struggle for equality and the brutality is real.”
“Mr. Officer” may or may not appear on Tee Grizzley’s forthcoming album The Smartest, and follows the recently released visuals for “I Spy,” “Robbery,” and the Payroll Giovanni-assisted “Payroll.” The single also arrives at a time when resistance against the powers that be is at an all time high, with protests taking over several cities following the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others.
Press play on “Mr. Officer” below.