Jay Rock, Shit Real | Track Review 🎵

West Coast rapper Jay Rock enlists Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley for his tough, ‘trill’ new addendum to Redemption, “Shit Real.”

Jay Rock released his third studio album, Redemption in mid-June 2018.  Redemption had its fair share of moments, including gems such as “The Bloodiest” and  “WIN”.  Not an LP that’ll change many lives, but Redemption earned a respectable 3 ½ stars out of 5 by our estimation.  The rapper returns with a new single, the colorfully-titled “Shit Real,” featuring rapper Tee Grizzley.

“Shit Real” is respectable enough, without being any sort of ‘second coming.’  Hard to be the second coming when the record is this brief anyways, right? Both Jay Rock and Tee Grizzley bring plenty of toughness to their respective verses, even if it lacks that thing known as transcendence.  Jay makes it clear that he doesn’t play around beginning with the initial lines of the first verse.

“Eastside, BH dub, you know about us
Get shot, or get robbed, we get dollaz
Brick of blow, flip an O, hardly sniff it though
Two for five on a Friday, give and go.”

Likewise, Tee Grizzey keeps it real as well on the second verse.

“Money on the counter, chops on the floor
Besides the holy spirit, I ain’t worried ‘bout a soul
These ni**as got a lot of mouth, ain’t got no money though
And tell these ni**as we can beef but don’t get bloody though.”

Serving as ‘fuel for their fire’ is a groovy, well-rounded backdrop, courtesy of DJ Swish.

Final Thoughts 

All in all, “Shit Real” isn’t ‘shit,’ but nor is it ‘great’ either.  It’s a good record, but it lacks that ‘wow factor’ that makes you want to spin it beyond the initial listen. Jay Rock fans may be more enamored by it, but as for me, it’s merely okay at best.

Jay Rock » Shit Real (Ft. Tee Grizzley) [Single] » Top Dawg / Interscope » Release: 11.28.18

Photo Credits: Top Dawg / Interscope