Posted by Hip Hop has grown into an industry where people can branch out and make money elsewhere based off their star power. Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley makes a comfortable amount of money from video games — and it’s a hustle that has created lucrative opportunities for those around him, too.
During a recent visit to the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast, the Detroit rapper spoke about Grizzley World, a Grand Theft Auto V server he launched that allows players to do whatever they want with various customizable options. According to Grizzley, he monetized the game through a network of subscribers, who are also using it to stay out of trouble.
“It represents the trenches, so you can really be in the streets without having to really be in the streets,” he said. “I got a lot of n-ggas that’s really from the trenches that got a PC, now they ain’t in the streets no more. Now they making $20-25,000 a month playing this shit.”
He added, “I get paid from the server because you gotta pay to get in. We got like 90,000 members … Then you got sponsorship, you got ads … When these people do pay the $100 up to $400 a month, they turn around and start making $20[K] a month … That made a lot of people say, ‘I ain’t fucking with that shit no more. This my full-time job now.’”
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As if inspiring people to stay out of the streets wasn’t enough, the development of Grizzley World came at zero cost, with Tee Grizzley explaining his team did everything for free.
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In fact, Grizzley’s gaming hustle is so lucrative he revealed he actually makes the “same amount” of money from video games as he does from music. That doesn’t mean he has plans to hang up his mic anytime soon, though.
“I got people who really support me and I got people who my music really do something for and really just fuck with my shit, so just off the strength of them, I’ll never stop doing it,” he promised.
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In April, Tee Grizzley announced he was teaming up with gaming company XSET to provide ex-inmates with personal gaming consoles.
“Being able to combine my passion for gaming with my passion for helping people who have faced similar challenges is such a great feeling,” Grizzley told HipHopDX. “I’m proud to join the XSET team and partner with them on this initiative to help change lives for the better.”