The Smartest

No small part of Tee Grizzley’s enduring appeal comes from his ability to shift gears while staying authentic. Whether joking about fast food preferences on the Scott Storch-produced “Picture of My City” or mourning his tragically departed aunt on “Satish,” the versatile Detroit spitter always presents himself with an unvarnished authenticity that can feel quite rare in a genre where posturing proves rewarding. He demonstrates both a knowledge of rap record label history and a gift for thematic commitment on the cleverly referential “Rap a Lot,” with executives and imprints name-dropped with ease. On the piano-led “Trenches,” Big Sean calls back to his Detroit neighbor’s breakthrough “First Day Out” with Grizzley more than happy to revisit that same energy. Backed by a youth choir and aided by the potent pipes of Queen Naija, he taps into a national fury and anguish on the unflinching “Mr. Officer.”