Popular Detroit hip-hop artist Tee Grizzley pays tribute to his late aunt and manager in a newly released music video.
Forty-one-year-old Jobina Brown was shot and killed in Detroit on Aug. 20.
The rapper was with Brown but unharmed.
There are strong emotions in the song by the Billboard artist expressing his feelings, even rapping that he fears for his own life.
Dr. Kim Logan-Nowlin, a family counselor, reacted to the rapper's lyrics.
"You've lost your aunt. Let's not lose another family member," Dr. Logan-Nowlin added, "Let's not lose you."
Rapper @Tee_Grizzley pays tribute in a new song to his aunt & manager who was murdered in #Detroit .
Tonight, on @wxyzdetroit . A professional counselor says he should redirect his lyrics. Also, a community activist talks about ending gun violence. pic.twitter.com/YywPYKdOp0
— Rudy Harper (@RudyHarperWXYZ) September 25, 2019
The song lyrics seemingly encourages violence including a bounty on the head of his aunt's killer.
Dr. Logan-Nowlin said she's had first-hand experience deescalating gun violence in the hip-hop community.
"Rudy, we want to redirect the anger. we want to redirect the pain," Dr. Logan-Nowlin said. " I had an opportunity to counsel a young rapper and he lost a loved one through gunfire. What will bring honor? Lets redirect the lyrics to something productive."
While declining to speak specifically about the artist, a community activist with New Era Detroit said his group is pushing forward to end the cycle of gun violence starting with children.
"The kids are the future," Zeek said with New Era Detroit. "Everything we do has to be directed towards the youth."
Zeek said their group focuses on education, providing resources and preventive interventions.
Action news reached out to Tee Grizzley's team and did not immediately hear back.
A Detroit police spokesperson said his aunt's murder case is an active and open investigation.
If you have information about the crime, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP.
This article was written by Rudy Harper for WXYZ .
