Artist of the Month: The Genius of Jean Grae
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RuffDraft
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When discussing the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) female emcee's we tend to discuss the likes of the gifted Fugee - Lauryn Hill, the birth of female emcee's in Queen Latifah (who inspired the likes of Salt-N-Pepa) to the likes of the soulful Bahamadia and MC Lyte. Other artists maybe mentioned such as the funky bounce maestro, Missy Elliot to 90's sexually explicit artists like Foxy Brown, Lil Kim and co.
Although, in recent years, it's become a supposed 'forgotten art' amongst hip hoppers not in the know (there are in fact many female emcee's who I'll cover in the weeks to come...) but on our TV Screens, there is a supposed lack of these gifted lyricists with an overdose of oestrogen.
The mainstream looks at Nikki Minaj as the saviour for the so-called 'femcee's' but there's an artist that dropped quality music consistently through the 00's and will continue to do so into the 10's. She has acclaimed hip hop albums, great story-telling and battle raps with the ability to craft a great track with talented producers. 2011 is set to grace her presence again and we can't wait for that present to arrive....
Of course, the artist I'm talking about is none other than Blacksmith Recording artist Jean Grae who has had a long slew of acclaimed releases starting with 'Attack of the Attacking Things', which received warm reviews following collaborations with New York's unsung hero, Masta Ace. Shining on such tracks as the Marvin Gaye sampled 'Love Song', with it's detailed description of a girl growing up believing in love naively. Jean shone on the track flowing with ease between first and third person narrative. Continually, she showed off a more uplifting side on 'Block Party' which urged people 'to get out the house, get off your block' and 'go and travel the world,' only to return with a story.
The South African born emcee followed up with her sophomore release 'This Week', which chronicled a week in the life of Jean Grae. 'Whatever', is a nice track from the album, which follows a dreaming girl in love and shows the softer side of What What who is ready for love... but the lyrics on the album switch at times, aggressively rhyming about what she can do to you if you aren't on her best of sides:
However, Jean is best known for Jeanius, an album that took 5 days to record and was completely produced by the then in-form Little Brother member, 9th Wonder. 9th's production shines on tracks such as My Story, a narrative of abortion and the three children she's carried but 'never met'... with thoughts to her potential and eventual passage to hell. A relatable topic for many women, Jean handles her deeper thoughts and retraces her steps pondering her choices and if she would change them. Jean doesn't stay with the darker subject matter throughout though, as she discusses her need for love on "Love Thirst".
A highly acclaimed album that came if I remember correctly, with four different covers... each one with Jean replicating a famous hip hop album cover.
Blacksmith Records are set to release Cookies & Coma in 2011, which will feature the two following tracks:
Hopefully Jean will show off her 'Jeanius' or 'Slick Rickness' (forgive me!) with more storytelling rhymes and release another great album for us in 2011.
Although, in recent years, it's become a supposed 'forgotten art' amongst hip hoppers not in the know (there are in fact many female emcee's who I'll cover in the weeks to come...) but on our TV Screens, there is a supposed lack of these gifted lyricists with an overdose of oestrogen.
The mainstream looks at Nikki Minaj as the saviour for the so-called 'femcee's' but there's an artist that dropped quality music consistently through the 00's and will continue to do so into the 10's. She has acclaimed hip hop albums, great story-telling and battle raps with the ability to craft a great track with talented producers. 2011 is set to grace her presence again and we can't wait for that present to arrive....
Jean Grae A.K.A. What? What?
Of course, the artist I'm talking about is none other than Blacksmith Recording artist Jean Grae who has had a long slew of acclaimed releases starting with 'Attack of the Attacking Things', which received warm reviews following collaborations with New York's unsung hero, Masta Ace. Shining on such tracks as the Marvin Gaye sampled 'Love Song', with it's detailed description of a girl growing up believing in love naively. Jean shone on the track flowing with ease between first and third person narrative. Continually, she showed off a more uplifting side on 'Block Party' which urged people 'to get out the house, get off your block' and 'go and travel the world,' only to return with a story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_EW1Iek7C4The South African born emcee followed up with her sophomore release 'This Week', which chronicled a week in the life of Jean Grae. 'Whatever', is a nice track from the album, which follows a dreaming girl in love and shows the softer side of What What who is ready for love... but the lyrics on the album switch at times, aggressively rhyming about what she can do to you if you aren't on her best of sides:
Jean Grae wrote:Verbally hang thee with these third-degree burns
Upon your fannies
And your ? ripped off
Course it's all talk
I'll lick off the potshots and cut your d*ck off
And sell it like it's porn to the ? shop
I try to stop the bad things but they stay on top.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pIuYi2_ClAHowever, Jean is best known for Jeanius, an album that took 5 days to record and was completely produced by the then in-form Little Brother member, 9th Wonder. 9th's production shines on tracks such as My Story, a narrative of abortion and the three children she's carried but 'never met'... with thoughts to her potential and eventual passage to hell. A relatable topic for many women, Jean handles her deeper thoughts and retraces her steps pondering her choices and if she would change them. Jean doesn't stay with the darker subject matter throughout though, as she discusses her need for love on "Love Thirst".
A highly acclaimed album that came if I remember correctly, with four different covers... each one with Jean replicating a famous hip hop album cover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9gE4ybCp_cBlacksmith Records are set to release Cookies & Coma in 2011, which will feature the two following tracks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lmYn-LtWo0Jean Grae wrote:This Ain't Funny, So Don't You Dare Laugh!
Hopefully Jean will show off her 'Jeanius' or 'Slick Rickness' (forgive me!) with more storytelling rhymes and release another great album for us in 2011.
Comments
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Her rapping skills make her so sexy to me tbh..
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Lou Cypher wrote: »Her rapping skills make her so sexy to me tbh..
She's incredible, props on posting :tu What's some of your favourite tracks? -
no doubt Jean is nice. I know this thread is for Jean to get shine but have you ever checked out Rhapsody? She is signed to 9th's label. she has a mixtape coming out soon. check this song out with Big Remo Cipher Kid Remix http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwOBWBWTHzQ
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Rapsody is pretty ill. still prefer Jean to her.
Favorite album is Jeanius with 9th.
love her verse on the hot thing remix with talib kweli and ne yo
Smash Mouth, Time is Now, Dont Rush Me, ? 's Gift, Lovesong, Live 4 U, all great songs. -
no doubt Jean is nice. I know this thread is for Jean to get shine but have you ever checked out Rhapsody? She is signed to 9th's label. she has a mixtape coming out soon. check this song out with Big Remo Cipher Kid Remix http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwOBWBWTHzQ
Yeah, I've been listening to Rapsody :tu She's dope and she's definitely making moves with 9th even if I am not feeling his production as of late... the fact that he's worked with Jean Grae and made arguably a classic album in terms of female releases in the 00's, she can't be making a bad move there, at all.Lou Cypher wrote: »Rapsody is pretty ill. still prefer Jean to her.
Favorite album is Jeanius with 9th.
love her verse on the hot thing remix with talib kweli and ne yo
Smash Mouth, Time is Now, Dont Rush Me, ? 's Gift, Lovesong, Live 4 U, all great songs.
Agreed, but Jean has been doing it a lot longer, would you put any current female emcee above Jean? -
that's a hard one. I've been rocking with Jean since 06 but i think Rhap is a new and improved version of Jean. and yes, 9th's production has been kind of slipping. his roster is nice though. gotta admit i'm a lil biased b/c i'm from NC. i might to go Rhap's mixtape release party.
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One of my favorites. Jean and Phonte - The Time is Now
Jean - Take me
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that's a hard one. I've been rocking with Jean since 06 but i think Rhap is a new and improved version of Jean. and yes, 9th's production has been kind of slipping. his roster is nice though. gotta admit i'm a lil biased b/c i'm from NC. i might to go Rhap's mixtape release party.
Nice, I'd love to be able to do stuff like that, you should definitely go! :tu
I just have her 9th Wonder Presents Rapsody Again tape... any others I should check out?
I noticed you were from NC! Lol. You only into your local scene or do you like other independent artists? -
on the independent i keep it local. i use the IC to learn about most of the artist out there.
Rhap's new mixtape drops on 6-21 titled thank her now. that's the release party i was talking about. already started making calls trying to find a place to crash. the only release i can think of from her is called return of the b-girl. it could be the same thing.
have you checked 9th's website? http://www.iwwmgroup.com his stable is growing and all are pretty good.
i listen to more underground rather than independent artist. meaning the artists that have a following but are not mainstream. some of my favs are killer mike, masta ace, talib, the roots, phonte, and plenty more. i saw you mention vakill in another thread. i remember one album that was really good a few years back (forgot the name of it). there is another guy out of texas named k-rino that used to spit hard. -
on the independent i keep it local. i use the IC to learn about most of the artist out there.
Rhap's new mixtape drops on 6-21 titled thank her now. that's the release party i was talking about. already started making calls trying to find a place to crash. the only release i can think of from her is called return of the b-girl. it could be the same thing.
have you checked 9th's website? http://www.iwwmgroup.com his stable is growing and all are pretty good.
i listen to more underground rather than independent artist. meaning the artists that have a following but are not mainstream. some of my favs are killer mike, masta ace, talib, the roots, phonte, and plenty more. i saw you mention vakill in another thread. i remember one album that was really good a few years back (forgot the name of it). there is another guy out of texas named k-rino that used to spit hard.
Cool, cool... I think most posters here know the underground artists such as Masta Ace, Talib and the like...
There's a lot of other artists out there that are really nice though, you been checking The Essence for a while? If not, should go through the pages as there a lot of other artists talked about here...
I'll be getting that mixtape, if you do get to go, be good if you could drop some pics in a thread here :tu
Probably The Darkest Cloud? He had an album before that which was called Worst Fears Confirmed, I preferred that one, but that was still his sophomore LP, I've never heard his debut.
K-Rino is nice, he was popular on the board about 5 years ago, I never really dug his style though, the likes of k-rino and Chino XL were never artists that I appreciated to the level of going and getting their albums because their styles are different to what I enjoy. That's why it's good to see other posters coming and talking about them as I know my tastes don't cover the entire underground, so it's great to see new posters! -
Jean is a great Emcee. her albums are pretty solid aswell. i have the following:
Jeanuis
This Week
Bootleg of the Bootleg
But to be honest, i think i got enough to hold myself over on her....
Any other cd's she got worth giving a listen? -
stupot0607 wrote: »Jean is a great Emcee. her albums are pretty solid aswell. i have the following:
Jeanuis
This Week
Bootleg of the Bootleg
But to be honest, i think i got enough to hold myself over on her....
Any other cd's she got worth giving a listen?
You're going to ask when I posted that lengthy ass post on her?! Seriously Stupot?! LOL.
Nah, if you check through my first post, you can check out the different videos of songs from each of her albums... she was not happy with releases such as The Evil Genius because they were released using her vocals and she got no royalties towards them.
The only release you're missing is her debut, 'Attack of the Attacking Things,' but as you say you've got enough there to hold you over!! Jeanius is great, I can't wait for her next album, posted the two videos from her next album at the bottom of my first post :tu
As a future reference, are the artist of the months too long for you all to read? -
You're going to ask when I posted that lengthy ass post on her?! Seriously Stupot?! LOL.
Nah, if you check through my first post, you can check out the different videos of songs from each of her albums... she was not happy with releases such as The Evil Genius because they were released using her vocals and she got no royalties towards them.
The only release you're missing is her debut, 'Attack of the Attacking Things,' but as you say you've got enough there to hold you over!! Jeanius is great, I can't wait for her next album, posted the two videos from her next album at the bottom of my first post :tu
As a future reference, are the artist of the months too long for you all to read?
Hahahaahaha
Sorry man, i just woke up and im lazy so i didnt read it. i will though now.....
Yeah i heard that she doesnt consider the evil genius as one of her releases cause she never got paid for it. -
stupot0607 wrote: »Hahahaahaha
Sorry man, i just woke up and im lazy so i didnt read it. i will though now.....
Yeah i heard that she doesnt consider the evil genius as one of her releases cause she never got paid for it.
Don't blame her, I think that's a joke by Blue Sky Black Death. They should have paid her.
haha @ just getting up, SMH! -
Jean grae is a great artist, and great live.
Her stuff it truly thought provoking and entertaining. -
My favorite Jean Grae line....
"I raise Havoc, like giving Mobb Deep a booster chair." -
my other fav lyrics by jean:
"Light up the room like jay hova's birthday candles" -
stupot0607 wrote: »My favorite Jean Grae line....
"I raise Havoc, like giving Mobb Deep a booster chair."
that was a good line -
IMO Jean been the GOAT since Ms. Hill.....
Funny as ? on twitter too....
Here go her blog page.
http://jeangraesblog.blogspot.com/ -
I like her better then I like talib foreal though she don't hold punches
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I like her better then I like talib foreal though she don't hold punches
Can't really knock you for that, be sure to check her new tape that's out, it's nice from what I've heard so far, thread is in The Essence front page. -
Jean grae is one of those rappers that I like, but have difficulties listening to for a full album or mixtape. Just kinda gets dull or annoying after a while.
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ty the great wrote: »Jean grae is one of those rappers that I like, but have difficulties listening to for a full album or mixtape. Just kinda gets dull or annoying after a while.
Do you feel the same way about Kweli?
Good to see you back posting Ty :tu -
Do you feel the same way about Kweli?
Good to see you back posting Ty :tu
Not at all, altho I have heard that about Kweli.
I actually forgot my password for the last month or so and didn't get it all straightened away until today lol. I'll be back posting here in the Essence until next time I forget my password lol. -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a1OxZOx85U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS5Ea9F4lZs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao0uKGeKaY0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEYFr0ekIWk