Jean Grae
Encyclopedia
Jean Grae born November 26, 1976 is an American
hip hop
artist
who hails from South Africa
. She rose to prominence in the underground hip-hop scene in New York City, and has since built an international fanbase.
, South Africa
on November 26, 1976, the daughter of South African jazz
musicians (her father and mother are the celebrated musicians Sathima Bea Benjamin
and Abdullah Ibrahim
), she studied Vocal Performance at the LaGuardia School of Music & Art before majoring in Music Business at New York University
.
group called Natural Resource in the mid-1990s, along with rapper Ocean and DJ James "AGGIE" Barrett. In 1996 they released a pair of 12-inch single
s called Negro League Baseball b/w "Bum Deal" b/w "They Lied," and "Bum Deal (remix)" b/w "They Lied (remix)" b/w "I Love This World" on their own label Makin' Records. She also appeared on singles by fellow Makin' Records artists Pumpkinhead and Bad Seed, and on the O.B.S. (Original Blunted Soldiers) double 12-inch single
alongside crew members Pumpkinhead, Bad Seed, and Meat-pie, and produced much of the material released on the label under the pseudonym Run Run Shaw. During this period she established strong ties with the Brooklyn Academy crew, with which she would appear throughout her career.
character Jean Grey
. Under her new moniker, she released her first LP—Attack of the Attacking Things—in 2002, and followed it in 2004 with This Week. Throughout her career she has also recorded tracks with numerous major hip hop artists, Atmosphere
, The Roots
, Talib Kweli
, The Herbaliser
, Da Beatminerz
, Phonte
, Mr. Len
, Masta Ace
, Vordul Mega
, C-Rayz Walz
, Mos Def
, Styles P
, Pharoahe Monch
and Immortal Technique
among them.
Jean has recorded an unreleased album with celebrated North Carolina
producer 9th Wonder
, of Little Brother fame, entitled Jeanius
. This unfinished record was leaked on the internet, and subsequently work was stopped on this album. However, at the release party for 9th Wonder's Dream Merchant Volume 2 album she stated that Jeanius was still going to be released. This album was eventually released first through Zune Live Marketplace two weeks before its disc release on July 8, 2008. Her rapping on the album was described by Robert Christgau
as "remarkable for its rapidity, clarity and idiomatic cadence. The writing has a good-humored polysyllabic literacy." Elsewhere, it's been reported that her proposed fourth album, provisionally titled Phoenix has gone into production. It has been reported by several camp insiders that 9th Wonder
will handle the lion's share of the production duties with unknown UK producer Passion hifi, Up and coming English producer Kid Sik and NY resident Clinikal providing a beat each.
, she signed a deal in 2005 with Talib Kweli
's Blacksmith Records
. On 28 April 2008, Jean Grae posted a blog on her MySpace page saying goodbye to her fans. She later cited disenchantment with the music industry and desire to start a family as the reasons behind the 'retirement' and said that she was working on new material and still wanted to continue in music: "You know what? I need that Grammy. I think I might be able to stop after that". In July 2008, Talib Kweli posted a blog explaining Grae's album, mentioning that she was not retiring. The blog ends encouraging fans to purchase the album, referring to Grae as "one of the last true MCs left." Grae returned to doing live performances later that year.
On September 18, 2008, Jean Grae posted a Craigslist
ad offering her creative services for $800/16 bars. On her MySpace
blog entry, she states, "I don't wanna complain anymore, I just wanna change some things about the way artists are treated and the way you guys are allowed to be involved, since it IS the digital age." On June 23, 2011, after an almost 4 year hiatus, Jean released a free mixtape titled "Cookies or Comas" which features guest appearances from Styles P, Talib Kweli and Pharoahe Monch, it also includes the highly praised tracks "Assassins" from Monch's W.A.R.
album and "Uh Oh" From Talib Kweli's Gutter Rainbows
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
who hails from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. She rose to prominence in the underground hip-hop scene in New York City, and has since built an international fanbase.
Early life
Born in Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
on November 26, 1976, the daughter of South African jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musicians (her father and mother are the celebrated musicians Sathima Bea Benjamin
Sathima Bea Benjamin
Sathima Bea Benjamin , is a South African vocalist and composer born in Johannesburg, raised in Cape Town, and now based in New York City.-Early life:...
and Abdullah Ibrahim
Abdullah Ibrahim
Abdullah Ibrahim , born Adolph Johannes Brand, 9 October 1934 in Cape Town, South Africa, and formerly known as Dollar Brand, is a South African pianist and composer...
), she studied Vocal Performance at the LaGuardia School of Music & Art before majoring in Music Business at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
Early career (1996-1998)
After working with groups including Ground Zero, she joined a hip hop musicHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group called Natural Resource in the mid-1990s, along with rapper Ocean and DJ James "AGGIE" Barrett. In 1996 they released a pair of 12-inch single
12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
s called Negro League Baseball b/w "Bum Deal" b/w "They Lied," and "Bum Deal (remix)" b/w "They Lied (remix)" b/w "I Love This World" on their own label Makin' Records. She also appeared on singles by fellow Makin' Records artists Pumpkinhead and Bad Seed, and on the O.B.S. (Original Blunted Soldiers) double 12-inch single
12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
alongside crew members Pumpkinhead, Bad Seed, and Meat-pie, and produced much of the material released on the label under the pseudonym Run Run Shaw. During this period she established strong ties with the Brooklyn Academy crew, with which she would appear throughout her career.
Solo career (1998-2004)
Natural Resource dissolved in 1998, after which Ibrahim changed her stage name from What? What? to Jean Grae, a reference to the X-MenX-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
character Jean Grey
Jean Grey
Jean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
. Under her new moniker, she released her first LP—Attack of the Attacking Things—in 2002, and followed it in 2004 with This Week. Throughout her career she has also recorded tracks with numerous major hip hop artists, Atmosphere
Atmosphere (music group)
Atmosphere is an American hip hop group from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group is composed of rapper Slug and DJ/Producer Ant...
, The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
, Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
, The Herbaliser
The Herbaliser
The Herbaliser is a jazz rap band formed by Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba London, England during the early 1990s. Although currently signed to !K7 Records, they were one of the best-known acts from the Ninja Tune independent record label...
, Da Beatminerz
Da Beatminerz
Da Beatminerz are a hip-hop production crew from Bushwick, Brooklyn, and are known for their dark, gritty sound that is very popular with the underground hip-hop scene.-History:The crew, originally composed of brothers Mr...
, Phonte
Phonte
Phonte Coleman, better known as Phonte, is a Grammy nominated American rapper, formerly of the now defunct North Carolina trio Little Brother and one-half of the duo The Foreign Exchange. He has also recorded R&B-flavored output as a singer...
, Mr. Len
Mr. Len
Mr. Len is a hip hop DJ from Bronx, New York. He was a member, with Bigg Jus and El-P, of the underground hip hop trio Company Flow, which disbanded in the late-1990s. Presently he is in a group with Kimani Rogers from The Masterminds named Roosevelt Franklin...
, Masta Ace
Masta Ace
Duval Clear , known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is a rapper from Brownsville, Brooklyn. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut "The Symphony"...
, Vordul Mega
Vordul Mega
Rapper Vordul Mega is one-half of underground hip hop duo Cannibal Ox and a member of the hip hop group Atoms Family. Vordul's debut solo album, Revolution Of Yung Havoks, was released in 2004...
, C-Rayz Walz
C-Rayz Walz
Waleed Shabazz, better known by his stage name C-Rayz Walz, is an MC from The Bronx, New York. He is currently a member of the Legendary NY hip hop Syndicate Stronghold. C-Rayz Walz has been a fixture in the New York hip-hop scene for years. He hosts many hip-hop shows and events, has appeared on...
, Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, Styles P
Styles P
David Styles better known by his stage name, Styles P, is an American rapper, author, and entrepreneur. He is prominently known as a member of Hip Hop group The LOX and is also a part of the Ruff Ryders hip-hop group, and in addition has released multiple albums and mixtapes as a solo...
, Pharoahe Monch
Pharoahe Monch
Pharoahe Monch is an American hip hop artist. He is known for his complex lyrics, complex delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.-Biography:...
and Immortal Technique
Immortal Technique
Felipe Andres Coronel , better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is an American rapper of Afro-Peruvian descent as well as an urban activist. He was born in Lima, Peru and raised in Harlem, New York. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics...
among them.
Jean has recorded an unreleased album with celebrated North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
producer 9th Wonder
9th Wonder
Patrick Douthit , better known as 9th Wonder is a hip hop record producer, record executive, DJ, professor, and lyricist from Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. He began his career as the main producer for the hip hop group Little Brother, and has also worked with Mary J...
, of Little Brother fame, entitled Jeanius
Jeanius
Jeanius is a collaboration album by female rapper Jean Grae and former Little Brother producer 9th Wonder. Scheduled for release as early as 2004, the album was delayed for unknown reasons and has since been heavily bootlegged on the internet. The album was released on July 8, 2008, on Talib...
. This unfinished record was leaked on the internet, and subsequently work was stopped on this album. However, at the release party for 9th Wonder's Dream Merchant Volume 2 album she stated that Jeanius was still going to be released. This album was eventually released first through Zune Live Marketplace two weeks before its disc release on July 8, 2008. Her rapping on the album was described by Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
as "remarkable for its rapidity, clarity and idiomatic cadence. The writing has a good-humored polysyllabic literacy." Elsewhere, it's been reported that her proposed fourth album, provisionally titled Phoenix has gone into production. It has been reported by several camp insiders that 9th Wonder
9th Wonder
Patrick Douthit , better known as 9th Wonder is a hip hop record producer, record executive, DJ, professor, and lyricist from Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. He began his career as the main producer for the hip hop group Little Brother, and has also worked with Mary J...
will handle the lion's share of the production duties with unknown UK producer Passion hifi, Up and coming English producer Kid Sik and NY resident Clinikal providing a beat each.
Blacksmith Music (2005-present)
Previously signed to Babygrande RecordsBabygrande Records
Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:...
, she signed a deal in 2005 with Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
's Blacksmith Records
Blacksmith Records
Blacksmith Music is a record label headed by Harlem born Corey Smyth and Talib Kweli of Black Star. Signees include Jean Grae, Strong Arm Steady and Idle Warship and Kweli has stated he hopes to sign Camp Lo and had expressed interest in Rakim. Talib Kweli announced that there will be a 'BlackSmith...
. On 28 April 2008, Jean Grae posted a blog on her MySpace page saying goodbye to her fans. She later cited disenchantment with the music industry and desire to start a family as the reasons behind the 'retirement' and said that she was working on new material and still wanted to continue in music: "You know what? I need that Grammy. I think I might be able to stop after that". In July 2008, Talib Kweli posted a blog explaining Grae's album, mentioning that she was not retiring. The blog ends encouraging fans to purchase the album, referring to Grae as "one of the last true MCs left." Grae returned to doing live performances later that year.
On September 18, 2008, Jean Grae posted a Craigslist
Craigslist
Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities featuring free online classified advertisements, with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, résumés, and discussion forums....
ad offering her creative services for $800/16 bars. On her MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
blog entry, she states, "I don't wanna complain anymore, I just wanna change some things about the way artists are treated and the way you guys are allowed to be involved, since it IS the digital age." On June 23, 2011, after an almost 4 year hiatus, Jean released a free mixtape titled "Cookies or Comas" which features guest appearances from Styles P, Talib Kweli and Pharoahe Monch, it also includes the highly praised tracks "Assassins" from Monch's W.A.R.
W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
W.A.R. is the third studio album of American hip hop artist Pharoahe Monch released on March 22, 2011 under Duck Down Records...
album and "Uh Oh" From Talib Kweli's Gutter Rainbows
Gutter Rainbows
Gutter Rainbows is the fourth solo album from American hip hop artist Talib Kweli. The album will be the first to be released by his imprint Talibra. The album was originally intended to be released in only a digital format. However, on November 16th, 2010, it was announced that Duck Down Records...
.
Albums
- Attack of the Attacking ThingsAttack of the Attacking ThingsAttack of the Attacking Things is the debut album by rapper Jean Grae.-Track listing:...
(2002) - The Bootleg of the Bootleg EPThe Bootleg of the Bootleg EPThe Bootleg of the Bootleg EP was released as Jean Grae's second album in 2003. After this album was released, The Roots as well as others realized Jean Grae's talent and gave her guest appearances on their albums...
(2003) - This WeekThis Week (album)This Week is the third album by Jean Grae, released September 21, 2004 on the Babygrande Records.-Track listing:# "Intro" # "A-Alikes"# "Cuervo Loco "# "Going Crazy"# "Skit"# "Style Wars"...
(2004) - The Orchestral Files (2007)
- JeaniusJeaniusJeanius is a collaboration album by female rapper Jean Grae and former Little Brother producer 9th Wonder. Scheduled for release as early as 2004, the album was delayed for unknown reasons and has since been heavily bootlegged on the internet. The album was released on July 8, 2008, on Talib...
with 9th Wonder9th WonderPatrick Douthit , better known as 9th Wonder is a hip hop record producer, record executive, DJ, professor, and lyricist from Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. He began his career as the main producer for the hip hop group Little Brother, and has also worked with Mary J...
(2008) - The Evil JeaniusThe Evil JeaniusThe Evil Jeanius is an album by Blue Sky Black Death using the vocals of Jean Grae, released on September 30, 2008. The album is produced entirely by Blue Sky Black Death, with vocals provided by Jean Grae...
(with Blue Sky Black DeathBlue Sky Black DeathBlue Sky Black Death is a production duo based in Seattle, Washington. The duo consists of Kingston and Young God . They are known principally for their hip hop and instrumental music, made with a mix of live instrumentation and sampling...
) (2008) - Cake or Death (2011)(Coming Soon)
Other song appearances
- CormegaCormegaCory Mckay , better known as Cormega, is an American emcee best known for his vivid and poignant narratives about inner-city life.- Early life :...
- The Bond (ft. Jean Grae) - Immortal Technique- The Illest (ft. Jean Grae and Pumpkinhead)
- Immortal Technique - You Never Know (ft. Jean Grae)
- AkirAkirAkir is an African-American hip hop artist, producer and songwriter known for his complex lyrics and social-political content. His name is an acronym for Always Keep It Real. He is also the co-founder of One Enterprises.- Biography :...
- Tropical Fantasy (ft. Jean Grae) - The High & Mighty - Hands On Experience (ft. What?What?, Kool Keith and Bobbito)
- Tek 9 - Keep It Hot (Ft. What?What?)
- Tek 9 - Bruklon (Ft. What?What?)
- Mr. LifMr. LifMr. Lif is an American hip hop artist from Boston, Massachusetts. Often noted for his political lyrics, he has released two studio albums on El-P's Definitive Jux label and one on Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises. Mr...
- Post Mortem - AtmosphereAtmosphere (music group)Atmosphere is an American hip hop group from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group is composed of rapper Slug and DJ/Producer Ant...
- Insomnia 411 (ft. Roosevelt Franklin and Jean Grae) - The HerbaliserThe HerbaliserThe Herbaliser is a jazz rap band formed by Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba London, England during the early 1990s. Although currently signed to !K7 Records, they were one of the best-known acts from the Ninja Tune independent record label...
- Blow Your Headphones - The Blend - The Herbaliser - Blow Your Headphones - New + Improved
- The Herbaliser - Blow Your Headphones - Bring It
- The Herbaliser - Very Mercenary - Mission Improbable
- The Herbaliser - Very Mercenary - Let It Go
- The Herbaliser - Take London - Nah' Mean, Nah'm Sayin
- The Herbaliser - Take London - Generals
- The Herbaliser - Take London - Close Your Eyes
- The Herbaliser - Take London - Twice Around
- The Herbaliser - Take London (second edition's bonus disc) - More Tea, More Beer
- The Herbaliser - Take London (second edition's bonus disc) - How To Keep A Girlfriend
- The Herbaliser - Same As It Never Was - Street Karma (A Cautionary Tale)
- Talib Kweli - New York Shit (ft. Jean Grae)
- Talib Kweli - Say Something
- Cannibal OxCannibal OxCannibal Ox, also known as CanOx, is an abstract hip hop duo from Harlem, New York City. Its members include Vast Aire and Vordul Mega. They are often accompanied by DJ Cip-One...
- Swing Blades (ft. Jean Grae) - Soul Daddy - No Drank (ft. Jean Grae)
- Ski Beatz - Prowler 2 (ft. Jean Grae, Jay Electronica, Joell Ortiz & Mos Def)
- WaleWale (rapper)Wale Victor Folarin , better known by his stage name Wale , is an American rapper from Washington, D.C. Wale was born to Nigerian parents. He rose to prominence in 2006, when his song "Dig Dug " became popular in his hometown. Wale became locally recognized and continued recording music for the...
- Goodbye (ft. Jean Grae) - DiverseDiverseDiverse is an American rapper. An underground hip-hop artist, he has received critical acclaim "from knowledgeable heads worldwide".-Career:...
- Under the hammer (ft. Jean Grae) - Joell OrtizJoell OrtizJoell Ortiz is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York, and a member of the group Slaughterhouse.-Biography:Joell Ortiz was born to Puerto Rican parents. Ortiz grew up in the Cooper Park Houses in the East Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York formerly signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath...
- So Wrong (ft. Talib Kweli, Brother Ali & Jean Grae) - Lil BLil BBrandon McCartney , known by his stage name Lil B or "The BasedGod", is a rapper from Berkeley, California. He has recorded both solo and with the Pack. In addition, Lil B is noted for his extensive use of social media Web sites such as MySpace and Twitter to build an online following.-Early...
- Base 4 Ya Face (ft. Jean Grae & Phonte)