Born in Cape Town, 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. She also did some modelling during her teen years.
Ibrahim initially worked under the names Major Woody & Da Easter Bunny because she thought it would be funny to hear those names announced at shows. After working with groups including Ground Zero, she joined a hip hop music group called Natural Resource in the mid-1990s, along with rapper Ocean. In 1996 they released a pair of 12-inch singles 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.
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-Men 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, 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. The album features the track "My Story", about the abortion she had as a teenager. 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 and NY resident Clinikal providing a beat each.
Blacksmith Music (2005-present)
Previously signed to Babygrande Records, 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.[9] 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."
Everything's Fine
Jean Grae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Time to meet our contestants! Let's welcome back last week's champion:
Frank. Frank is currently flying high on every drug imaginable
Just to cope with the day-to-day stresses of surviving in modern times
How are you doing, Frank?
"Everything's fine."
That's just super! Our next contestant is Jess
Jess cries herself to sleep every night, has just adopted twenty-seven cats
Jess, you look great, but more importantly—how you doing today?
"Everything's fine."
Okie-dokies. And last but not least, we have Eltron 8000
Eltron has been sent from the future to warn us of impending war
Controlled genocide, disease, famine, drought, natural disasters
Technological takeover, and the ultimate destruction of the planet Earth
I'm so glad you could join us. Just one question before we start today's show
How are you doing today, Eltron?
"Everything is fine."
The lyrics of the song "Everything's Fine" by Jean Grae & Quelle Chris present a game show where contestants are asked about their lives and how they're doing, and the only acceptable answer is "Everything is fine". The first contestant we are introduced to is Frank, who is using drugs to cope with the stresses of modern life. Despite this, he claims that everything is fine. The second contestant is Jess, who has adopted 27 cats, has a Master's degree in Fine Arts, and has been unemployed for 15 years. Again, despite these hardships, she claims that everything is fine. Lastly, Eltron 8000 is a time traveler sent to warn us about the future of the planet. Despite the gravity of their mission, Eltron's answer remains the same: "Everything is fine".
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome back to Everything's Fine—the game show where there's only one answer to everything
Welcome to Everything's Fine, where everyone is expected to say they're doing fine regardless of their current situation.
Time to meet our contestants! Let's welcome back last week's champion: Frank. Frank is currently flying high on every drug imaginable
Meet Frank, last week's winner who is heavily medicated on drugs to cope up with life.
Just to cope with the day-to-day stresses of surviving in modern times
Frank takes drugs to handle the day to day pressure of modern life.
How are you doing, Frank?
Asking Frank how he feels today.
"Everything's fine."
Frank is expected to say everything is okay even if it's not.
That's just super! Our next contestant is Jess
After hearing that Frank is doing fine, the host is excited to introduce the next contestant Jess.
Jess cries herself to sleep every night, has just adopted twenty-seven cats
Jess is lonely and has adopted many cats to take care of, but still cries herself to sleep every night.
Has a Masters degree in Fine Arts, and has been unemployed for 15 years
Jess has a Master's degree in Fine Arts but has been unable to find a job for 15 years.
Jess, you look great, but more importantly—how you doing today?
The host compliments Jess on her appearance and asks how she is doing today.
"Everything's fine."
Jess is expected to say everything is okay even if it's not.
Okie-dokies. And last but not least, we have Eltron 8000
The host introduces the last contestant, Eltron 8000, who is from the future.
Eltron has been sent from the future to warn us of impending war
Eltron traveled from the future to warn humanity about a coming war.
Controlled genocide, disease, famine, drought, natural disasters
Eltron warns of future events that will lead to widespread destruction, including controlled genocide, disease, famine, drought, and natural disasters.
Technological takeover, and the ultimate destruction of the planet Earth
Eltron also warns of a technological takeover that will result in the complete destruction of the planet Earth.
I'm so glad you could join us. Just one question before we start today's show
The host thanks Eltron for joining the show and asks a question before starting.
How are you doing today, Eltron?
The host asks Eltron how they are doing today.
"Everything is fine."
Eltron is expected to say everything is okay, despite warning about the impending doom of humanity.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Gavin Christipher Tennille, Tsidi Ibrahim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind