Jean Grae (real name Tsidi Ibrahim, also known as What? What? & Da Easter B… Read Full Bio ↴Jean Grae (real name Tsidi Ibrahim, also known as What? What? & Da Easter Bunny, born November 27, 1976) is a hip hop artist from New York.

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."

Not Like Me
Jean Grae Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

$1 not $2 tips at open bar
Keep it that way
There's nothing wrong with partying
Keeps the drinks going

who's that?
Is that your girl? you with her
She looks like everyone else here

C'mon
They're not like me
(that's a shame)
Baby they're not like me
And anyway you know it's not easy
Just to come across a girl like jean
Oh no

C'mon it's not like me
And anyway you know they're not like me (so what's up)
And baby you know it's not easy (uh huh)
Just to come across a girl like jean
Oh no (got a light y'all?)

part of my composure
Saw ya
Had to approach ya, move closer
Confidence or the courtesy of the moses (?) framed perfect
Like a picture with the sharpest image
From the lips of a cherub cherry red
Henny breast
Let me guess

queenters(?), yeah?
See jean can read by the lean
And the tilt of the cap in your drink, I'll be filling that
I need some good conversation
Love
These hood rats be making up the game
Plus they ain't even fully developed
Insane

see if we could start a challenge
And balance most delicate matters
Involving plans
Including sitting in carriages
Wait
Too far
Maybe we could shoot a little hoop
Or just chill on my stoop
I don't like a lot of hoop-la

me and you sedude deuces and spike juices
And stove some backwards roll backwards
And keep it that good
So write your name
Oldschool
Pen on the back
There was a good time tomorrow
I don't stall
I look back

C'mon it's not like me
And anyway you know they're not like me (so what's up)
And baby you know it's not easy (uh huh)
Just to come across a girl like jean
Oh no (got a light y'all?)

C'mon it's not like me
And anyway you know they're not like me (so what's up)
And baby you know it's not easy (uh huh)
Just to come across a girl like jean
Oh no (got a light y'all?)

You see I walk up different on em
Talk slang off him
Bought dinner on dutch
While most women do the wallet clutch

Never ask ? question
Make jokes interestin
Wear more clothes and let their eyes do the undressin
A little sarcasm ? tar ?
Argue about reasonable doubt and Illmatic
Car traffic iron
We can walk in summer laughing
Cry when they giggle
Splitsizing and curse
The magic that's in between us boy

Jean a fiend for the love-feeling
We crush dream and after lush green
And a sun shinin and enough beach for a lifetime
Or maybe that's just mine

poppin in at hathaway
Wandering gay and rewind
Play a little chess strip
See but nothing
I read a lot
Beam you a little sixteen or something
I cook well
Sip on drinks and just chill
A malt liquor and MOP
Tell me what you feel

C'mon it's not like me
And anyway you know they're not like me (so what's up)
And baby you know it's not easy (uh huh)
Just to come across a girl like jean
Oh no (got a light y'all?)

C'mon it's not like me
And anyway you know they're not like me (so what's up)
And baby you know it's not easy (uh huh)
Just to come across a girl like jean
Oh no (got a light y'all?)

See we could be for life even
For nights freed and heavy and steaming
From polite greetins to late at night face smashin
Taste passion and race plays baggage
My faith placed back in maybe marriage
I hate slackers
Jean love the chillin
Leg out, sometimes stick out

We'll find an open bar
I'm not impressed by payouts or starters
Play out your cards
We can splay out on the top of cars
And pick the consolations
While playing the Best of the Bards y'all

Making me not agreein
Patience is all I'm needing
Face it, I'm not your average girl
Or close to it even
Most original and trance like a physical plant(?)
I've got a lot
But we could chill

It's all I ask
(It down)

Overall Meaning

The song “Not Like Me” by Jean Grae is an expression of uniqueness and individuality. Grae raps about how she’s one-of-a-kind and cannot be compared to anyone else. In the first verse, she talks about how she’s different from other girls and how it’s not easy to find someone like her. She urges the man she’s talking to not to confuse her with other women at the party because they’re just like everyone else. The second verse sees Grae herself making a move on a man she’s interested in. She expresses her confidence and charm, highlighting that she’s not one to ask “guy questions” but rather engages in interesting conversation.

The third verse is a continuation of Grae’s earlier sentiments about how different she is from other people. She notes how most women use their eyes to undress a man, while she prefers wearing more clothes and using her words. She also touches on her love for intellectual conversations while sipping on drinks and just chilling. Ultimately, in all three verses, Grae reaffirms that she’s not like anyone else, but unique in her way, and she’s content with who she is.

Line by Line Meaning

not $2 tips at open bar
Don't tip $2 at the open bar

Keep it that way
There's no harm in partying and keeping the drinks flowing

who's that?
Identifying someone

Is that your girl? you with her
Questioning if someone's with their significant other

She looks like everyone else here
Observing that the girl in question doesn't stand out in a crowd

C'mon
Come on

They're not like me
They're not like Jean Grae

(that's a shame)
Expressing dismay at the fact that they're not like her

Baby they're not like me
Reiterating that they're not like Jean Grae

And anyway you know it's not easy
It's not easy to come across someone like Jean

Just to come across a girl like jean
Reiterating that finding someone like her is difficult

Oh no
Expressing disappointment

C'mon it's not like me
Emphasizing that others are not like Jean Grae

And anyway you know they're not like me (so what's up)
Suggesting that the person in question thinks about why they're interested in someone else, if that person isn't like Jean

And baby you know it's not easy (uh huh)
Again, emphasizing how difficult it is to find someone like Jean Grae

From the lips of a cherub cherry red
Describing a person's lips as red like a cherry

Henny breast
Implying a woman who drinks Hennessy

Let me guess
Asking a rhetorical question

See jean can read by the lean
Jean can tell things about a person from their posture

And the tilt of the cap in your drink, I'll be filling that
Jean can tell a person's mood or demeanor from the way they hold their drink or tilt their cap

I need some good conversation
Jean wants engaging conversation

Love
Affection

These hood rats be making up the game
Commenting on the immaturity of many people when it comes to relationships

Plus they ain't even fully developed
Suggesting that many people are not mature enough for a relationship

Insane
Crazy

see if we could start a challenge
Seeing if the person can rise to Jean's expectations

And balance most delicate matters
Balancing the complexities and challenges of relationships

Including sitting in carriages
Liking to do things like ride in carriages

Wait
Hold on

Too far
Realizing an idea was too over-the-top

Maybe we could shoot a little hoop
Suggesting a more low-key activity to do

Or just chill on my stoop
Suggesting that just hanging out would also be nice

I don't like a lot of hoop-la
Preferring simple things over flashy, over-the-top things

me and you sedude deuces and spike juices
Suggesting a casual, fun night out

And stove some backwards roll backwards
Possibly suggesting smoking marijuana

And keep it that good
Keeping the positive vibes going

So write your name
Hoping to establish a connection with someone

Oldschool
In the way things used to be done

Pen on the back
Writing someone's name or phone number on a piece of paper

There was a good time tomorrow
Looking forward to spending time together again

I don't stall
Not wasting time

I look back
Looking back at past good times

We crush dream and after lush green
Enjoying success and the rewards that come with it

And a sun shinin and enough beach for a lifetime
Enjoying leisure time spent in the sun

Or maybe that's just mine
Suggesting that different things make different people happy

poppin in at hathaway
Going out to events and having fun

Wandering gay and rewind
Casually enjoying oneself

Play a little chess strip
Indulging in a fun, flirtatious game

See but nothing
Not wanting anything more than casual fun

I read a lot
Enjoying spending time reading

Beam you a little sixteen or something
Sharing a rap or two

I cook well
Enjoying cooking and preparing meals

Sip on drinks and just chill
Relaxing with a drink

A malt liquor and MOP
Possibly referring to drinking malt liquor while listening to the hip hop group MOP

Tell me what you feel
Starting a conversation and being curious about the other person's thoughts and feelings

See we could be for life even
Suggesting a long-term future together

For nights freed and heavy and steaming
Enjoying steamy, passionate nights together

From polite greetins to late at night face smashin
Going from being polite to being passionate

Taste passion and race plays baggage
Experiencing different things together, both positive and negative

My faith placed back in maybe marriage
Looking for a long-term commitment

I hate slackers
Disliking people who don't put in effort

Leg out, sometimes stick out
Hanging out and relaxing, sometimes letting a leg dangle outside

We'll find an open bar
Enjoying nights out together

I'm not impressed by payouts or starters
Not being impressed by flashy shows of wealth or status

Play out your cards
Being honest and straightforward with each other

We can splay out on the top of cars
Enjoying a fun and carefree moment together

And pick the consolations
Finding the silver linings in difficult situations

While playing the Best of the Bards y'all
Listening to good music and enjoying each other's company

Making me not agreein
Encountering disagreements or differences

Patience is all I'm needing
Recognizing that patience is important in relationships

Face it, I'm not your average girl
Being unique and different from other women

Or close to it even
Being exceptionally unique

Most original and trance like a physical plant(?)
Being creative and unique, like a plant that has its own distinct features

I've got a lot
Having a lot to offer

But we could chill
Keeping things casual and enjoying each other's company

It down
Chillin out

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIK DYLAN, LEE MILLER, RANDY MONTANA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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