Platinum Hip-Hop Star Tee Grizzley’s Manager Murdered in Detroit

Scott Legato/Getty Images – Tee Grizzley
Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley performs during the Big Show at Little Caesars Arena on December 28, 2017 in Detroit.

Detroit hip-hop artist Tee Grizzley’s manager and aunt, Jobina “JB” Brown, was shot down in a car that both were passengers in Aug. 20 on the city’s east side, according to the Detroit News.  

The 25-year-old rapper, born Terry Sanchez Walker, Jr. was in the car with Brown when shots were fired at the vehicle, killing the 41-year-old. 

Detroit police place the time of the fatal shooting at 9 p.m on Three Mile Drive.

According to police, Grizzley, Brown and one other man were in a black Chrysler 300, which was stopped on Three Mile Drive. When the driver left the vehicle, shots were fired from an unknown location.

Brown was shot on her left side in the rear seat. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead of multiple gunshot wounds, ruled a homicide by Wayne County Medical Examiner.

Police have no other information, and are investigating whether the shooting was an ambush

Tee Grizzley is a former Michigan State University student best known for the platinum singles “First Day Out” and “From the D to the A,” a collaboration with Lil Yachty. 

Grizzley had a rough upbringing. In 2012, his mother was sentenced to 15 years in prison on drug charges, and his father was killed a year later. Although he also spent 18 months in prison for several robberies, his passion for music helped him turn his life around.

The month after he came out of prison, he released his track, “First Day Out.” In less than three weeks, it had gained more than 2 million views on YouTube, and he was co-signed by Jay-Z and LeBron James, who got him a deal with 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records, which led to the release of “Second Day Out.”

In 2017, Grizzley released the mixtapes My Moment and Bloodas. My Moment was nominated for a BET Hip Hop Award for Best Mixtape. He was also nominated for Best New Hip-Hop Artist.

Grizzley also booked dozens of shows.  One of his most noteworthy performances was at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Chris Brown introduced him on stage where he performed “First Day Out” in front of 20,000 people. 

His most recent album, Scriptures, was released in June on Grizzley/300 Entertainment, peaking at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 after his debut, Activated, debuted at No. 10 in May 2018.