Credit
Snapshot from Tee Grizzley’s “Blow For Blow” video
Alt
J. Cole and Tee Grizzley
Size
This past Friday (Sept. 27), J. Cole expanded his impressive catalog with a collaboration on Tee Grizzley’s track “Blow For Blow.” The song, produced by Pi’erre Bourne, marked their first creative partnership, and they certainly brought the heat.
“I stay lit, racking up figures like K-Pop/ BTS in person while they fizzle,” Cole delivered, referencing the popular South Korean band, whose j-Hope he previously collaborated with on “on the street.” A few lines further, the artist known for Born Sinner made a clever allusion to Caitlyn Jenner’s transition in 2015: “Stay the heck out my lane, dodge the paint/ I’m truly him, Bruce Jenner, the boy just ain’t.”
Additionally, the hook sampled The Notorious B.I.G.’s iconic 1997 track “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems.” Cole rhymed, “Now, who’s hot? Who’s not?/ Tell me, who failed? Who’s filling up the tours?” As noted by fans on various social media platforms, Drake used a similar technique in his 2014 hit “Worst Behavior.”
“Cole states in Fayetteville they go, ‘Ayy, ayy, ayy’/ The fact that he vibes with me like that makes up for those gloomy days/ Can’t be on the court, or the NBA coach might take my game away,” Grizzley articulated in his verse.
“Blow For Blow” continues Cole’s prolific feature streak, which he embarked on in 2023 with tracks like Lil Yachty’s “The Secret Recipe” and Drake’s “First Person Shooter.” In the current year, the North Carolina artist was also featured on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Red Leather,” following April’s collaboration-loaded project Might Delete Later.
Subsequently, Cole contributed his talents to Cash Cobain’s “Grippy” and Tems’ “Free Fall,” the latter showcasing the Nigerian artist’s distinct Afropop vibe. As September rolled in, the founder of Dreamville Records teamed up with ASAP Rocky and Daylyt for “Ruby Rosary” and “A PLATE OF COLLARD GREENS,” respectively.
Check out the responses to “Blow For Blow” below.