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."
I Do What I Like
Jean Grae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
2 for the real
Right cats who never doubted I was dropping the skill
For all my peoples in NY and SA who blessed me
A gas face to all those who still want to test me
3 for the fans who already know the name
4 smacks to all wack niggaz in the game
'Ey yo Len, drop it to zero, this is how the story goes..
Drama, so close to not completing the missing piece of the puzzle
Quit again, in again, drop suit be following
Swallowing prod like porn stars and money shots
I'm hitting ya blocks, spinning as heavy as SUVs doing 360
I'm ready as ever, over due like the rain in New York
Sustained a steady fan base, but you still don't know me
Hold me in your highest regards, I'm your homie
I relate it's personal, nothing fake, read me - wait, I'd rather dictate it
Relay it to you on a deeper level
Kick off your shoes and light your Ls and talk and get to know each other
I'm Jean, honorable team player for years
Emceeing on the low, in videos devoid of the hoes
For sho' it's crunch time, I'm the one they sent to piss your label off
They won't fuck with me, unless I'm parading and taking it off
Nah man, executives, con mans
This record is too hot to get pushed back another minute
It would burn a set control well admit
You liked it when the first bar dropped
In less than one second she's already spitting
I need ya'll, you want a change? well here it is
Let's stop complaining, make it happen, everybody step up your game
'Cause everybody's stuck in park or reverse
Letting the media choose your path and rape you, market you less than you worth
I was gonna throw your towel in
But honestly you cats deserve some better music
Plus, come on, what else would I be doing? Shit..
[Chorus]
(What, what, what would I do?) If, like my people said, "I left it to you"
(Tell me what, what, what would I do?) If I didn't try a verse, if I didn't rhyme
(Tell me what, what, what would I do?) If I just hated and did nothing to change it
(Tell me what, what, what would I do?) Hell no, that could never happen
There's so much further to go
I feel like Mindy Cohen doing the One To Grow On
Yeah I'm old school, 40s and high tops
Triple Gooses and Travel Fox
Huaraches and Blow Pops
I'm down to earth but still dreaming
Peace to Skeme Team and all of my niggaz on the come up
Apani and Lyric, we gon' take it there
The rest of ya'll just taking up space, and you don't even care
It's like you started eating Thanks Giving dinner without saying grace
I whisper a prayer for you
'cause you cats are lost and probably not gon' make it back
Fuck it, it's more for me I guess
So please don't stress it
The best is yet to come
This is just an introduction
I'm 'bout to have niggaz madder than big titty girls who getting breast reductions
The purpose of my function is to smash, simply put - trash you
Until you cry "Uncle mercy", wander aimless in this concrete jungle and curse me
There ain't a need for verse three I can feel it
That would rob you of your man hood, and I'm not into stealing
So tell me..
[Chorus]
Ha-ha, yeah man... And it's only the beginning...
Better choose sides now..
The lyrics to Jean Grae's song "What Would I Do" are a proclamation of her skill and dedication to the rap game. Through clever wordplay and metaphors, Grae proves that she can hold her own against any competition. The numbers at the beginning of the verse represent different elements of her rap style, with "1 for the beat" and "2 for the real" emphasizing her musical skills while "3 for the fans" and "4 smacks to all wack niggaz" show her appreciation for her fan base and disdain for lesser artists. The rest of the verse is filled with references to her struggles in the industry and her desire to change the game.
The chorus acts as a call to action for her fellow rappers and listeners to step up and make a change in the industry. Grae believes that too many artists are stuck in park or reverse, letting the media choose their path and market them for less than they are worth. She challenges everyone to stop complaining and make something happen.
Overall, "What Would I Do" is a powerful statement from Jean Grae about her dedication to her craft and her desire to see changes in the rap industry.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lilrog51
Jean Grae has some of the most deadliest punchlines in her raps. She can hold her own against any rapper.
@flower321channel6
FACTS THAT'S 100 PERCENT TRUE!!!
@NickCTaylor
Yep. She is vicious
@marcelldavis666
*Big L joined the chat*
@p.r.h.7283
She sounds so East coast. There was so many people at that time. He comes out of that era. It was much bigger than him. He wasn’t the only one with razor sharp flows.
@WuBrother1No
Probably the most underrated MC of her generation.
@Donnomercy
WuBrother1No of her generation????...she transcends time....the most underated..underappreciated Female MC of all time...but she has used YouTube to counter the Radio and mainstream cockblocking.....
@bellatru92
@@sarahdoddingtonclark2258 EXACTLY
@XXXTHREAT
@@sarahdoddingtonclark2258 duhh, but female MC means she represents us women..... which she does..... and a mighty goood fucking job too. yep wayy better then males like you added xo
@ryanfonseca5750
A melhor música do midnigth club 3 nostalgia do caralho