Color me confused. Isn't Tee Grizzley supposed to be rejoicing over his newfound civic responsibility? "Locked Up" aka "First Day Back" comes to us in a flashback sequence, with Grizzley locked in his thoughts. Kidding aside, "Locked Up" isn't meant for a literal interpretation, but as an expression of regret - not a look into an impoverished mind, but that of an ex-felon who used his downtime for introspective healing.
No one could have predicted such a forthright display from Tee Grizzley given his track record. "Locked Up" is as confessional as you'd like him to be before losing the point - which he hasn't as of yet.
Within the first three lines of the song's pre-chorus, Tee Grizzley confesses to a series of personal tragedies: losing his father due to gun violence, and the degrees of separation between him and his mother due to her incarceration. If only, more rappers would apply their experiences in such a self-effacing manner, there wouldn't be a need for exploitative hip-hop journalism.
Quotable Lyrics:
My mama locked up, my pops got popped up
Lil' bro still locked up, and they got me fucked up
And when they see you without no cheese, they ain't gon' coach you
But they gon' hate and call you fake soon as you come up.
- Tee Grizzley
