You know how some songs just stick in your brain like industrial-strength glue? You’re brushing your teeth, and suddenly you’re humming a melody you haven't heard in three years. It happens. But specifically, the wake up in the morning then i dab song—officially known as "First Day Out" by Tee Grizzley—is a whole different beast. It isn't just a catchy tune. It’s a cultural marker of the late 2010s.
Let’s be real for a second. If you were on Vine (RIP) or early TikTok, or even just scrolling through Instagram in 2017, you couldn't escape it. The track starts with this slow, almost cinematic piano build-up that feels like a movie score. Then, the beat drops. Hard. That’s usually where the "dab" comes in, or at least where the energy shifts from zero to one hundred.
Why Tee Grizzley’s First Day Out Became the Wake Up in the Morning Then I Dab Song
Music is weirdly democratic now. People don't always remember the artist's name or the official title. They remember the lyrics that define the "moment" in a viral video. For most, this is the wake up in the morning then i dab song because of how perfectly it soundtracks a sudden burst of confidence.
Tee Grizzley wrote this while he was incarcerated. Honestly, that's what gives it that raw, desperate, but ultimately triumphant energy. It’s a "starting over" anthem. When he says he wakes up and dabs, it’s a shorthand for feeling himself after a long period of being held down. It resonated because everyone has their own version of a "first day out," whether that's leaving a bad job, finishing finals, or literally just getting out of bed on a Tuesday.
The song actually peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100. That’s impressive for a debut single from a Detroit rapper who, at the time, didn't have a massive marketing machine behind him. It grew organically. LeBron James posted a video of himself working out to it, and that was essentially the gasoline on the fire. When the greatest basketball player alive is nodding his head to your bars, you’ve made it.
The Anatomy of a Viral Beat Drop
The structure of the song is actually pretty fascinating if you look at it from a producer's perspective. It doesn't have a traditional hook or chorus that repeats every thirty seconds. It’s a narrative. It builds tension for over a minute.
Most pop songs give you the "good part" within the first fifteen seconds to satisfy our collective ADHD. Tee Grizzley made us wait. By the time he gets to the line about waking up and dabbing, the listener is practically begging for the bass to kick in. Hell, it's satisfying. That specific tension-and-release is why it became a meme staple.
The Dab: A Brief History of a Dead (But Not Forgotten) Dance
We have to talk about the dab. It’s sort of a "cringe" relic now, isn't it? But back then, it was the only way to celebrate. Originating in the Atlanta hip-hop scene—shout out to Migos and Skippa Da Flippa—it was everywhere.
By the time the wake up in the morning then i dab song was peaking, the dance had moved from the streets to the suburbs to the local news anchors. That’s usually the death knell for any trend. However, Tee Grizzley’s track gave it a bit more longevity because the song was so genuinely gritty. It balanced out the silliness of the dance move.
It’s funny how we categorize music by the movements we associate with them. You hear a certain synth, and you think "Floss." You hear a certain bassline, and you think "Renegade." For this specific era, the dab and Tee Grizzley are forever linked in the digital archive.
Why People Still Search for It Today
Nostalgia cycles are getting shorter. We used to wait twenty years to miss a decade. Now, we miss 2017 because it feels like a simpler time before the world went completely sideways. People search for the wake up in the morning then i dab song because they want to recapture that specific feeling of invincible energy.
There’s also the "muffled" or "distorted" versions of the song that circulated in "deep fried" memes. You’ve probably seen them. The audio is blown out, the visuals are shaky, and the irony is layered so thick you can barely see the original video. This sub-culture of internet humor kept the song alive long after it left the radio charts.
Beyond the Meme: Tee Grizzley’s Impact on Detroit Rap
It would be a mistake to treat this as just a meme song. Honestly, it changed the trajectory of the Detroit rap scene. Before Tee Grizzley, Detroit had Eminem and Big Sean, but the "Detroit sound"—that off-beat, fast-paced, storytelling style—wasn't mainstream yet.
"First Day Out" proved there was a massive audience for authentic, long-form storytelling in rap. It wasn't about a catchy phrase; it was about a man telling you exactly what happened to him and how he felt about it. The wake up in the morning then i dab song served as a gateway drug for fans to discover artists like Sada Baby, 42 Dugg, and Babyface Ray.
Common Misconceptions About the Lyrics
A lot of people actually get the lyrics wrong. Because of the way he flows, the "wake up in the morning" line is often misquoted or mashed up with other songs. Some people confuse it with Migos tracks or even iLoveMemphis (the "Hit the Quan" guy).
But the actual verse is a rapid-fire sequence of events. He’s talking about his routine, his mindset, and his newfound freedom. If you actually listen to the whole four minutes, it’s a pretty heavy story about robbery, prison time, and loss. It’s a stark contrast to the lighthearted videos of kids dabbing in their bedrooms.
How to Find the Song on Streaming Platforms
If you’re looking to add this to your "Hype" playlist, don’t search for the "dab song." You’ll get a thousand knock-offs and "Type Beats."
Look for:
- Artist: Tee Grizzley
- Track: First Day Out
- Album: My Moment (2017)
There are also several remixes, most notably one featuring Meek Mill. While the remix is good, it lacks the raw, lonely energy of the original solo version. The original is where that specific "wake up" line hits the hardest.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Morning Routine
Look, if you want to use the wake up in the morning then i dab song to actually improve your day, there's a way to do it without being stuck in 2017.
First, use it as a "beat the snooze" alarm. The first sixty seconds of the song are quiet and melodic. It won't give you a heart attack when it goes off. But if you don't get out of bed by the time the beat drops, you're going to be blasted with bass. It's a natural incentive to move.
Second, understand the psychology of the "Dab." Even if you don't literally do the move, the song is about "The Pivot." It’s about moving from a bad situation to a better one.
Steps to utilize the song's energy:
- Start the track while you’re still in the "contemplating life" phase of waking up.
- Use the slow piano intro to stretch or just breathe.
- When the tempo picks up and he starts rapping about his release, that’s your cue to start your actual tasks.
- Ignore the "meme" status and focus on the lyrics about resilience.
The song works because it’s a transformation. It’s a Caterpillar-to-Butterfly story, just with more bass and Detroit grit. Whether you call it the wake up in the morning then i dab song or "First Day Out," its place in the Hall of Fame of internet culture is secure. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best way to handle a tough situation is to wake up, find your rhythm, and move forward with an almost obnoxious amount of confidence.