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."
Style Wars
Jean Grae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Catching the heat, spill
Mash in your grill and potato smash and your caps peeled—feel it?
Like a teen under bleachers
Valley girls, pep rally cheerleaders
Sluts named Sally either
You're brain-dead or your veins pump nothing
If you ain't saying Jean's bumping, name ain't puffing
To the pain like I'm Wesley in the King—say something, nukka
Fuck you and the mayor
Dunk on you like a Rutgers player, cut abrupt your layup
I got a luxury layer that needs bucks to pay up
So when I jux y'all, I'm aiming for the cummerbund layers
Son of a gun, she's a hundred-and-one tons—heavy
Chase paper like my momma done named her hon "Chevy"
Cornflakers. I'll roofie tall
Like I'm handballs and lose you in a booth or stall
You're a lukewarm goof-off with loot galore
And I'll poop scoop your fans and shoot them all
I give a damn, I'll abuse the law
Get Judge Mathis in a blindfold,
Feed him wine, lead him to traffic—awwww
We don't have to bust rounds to shut the club down
She'll come for you, hunt ya punks down like blood hounds
Ayyo, it's Jean to the Grae—we like, "What the fuck now?!?"
Cups up—now chug it down, then spread some love around
Triple-6 soul with a gold wiffle bat
That I hold... and a sickle pole, taped to my back
You fold. Your hands not fucking with mine
It's just sucking your own dick like I'm tucking your spine
Cry me a river, nigga. They'll find you in Ipanema
Tied to a line with a leech in your liver
On a beach with a bitch from the song, grinding limes
And your smashed teeth, laughing, while you're screaming and crying
Loose-lipped, who figured this chick'll be
So obtuse with it to flip it this way (Hey!)
My mind sharper than a fucking switchblade—lick me
Don't fixate on a picture, nigga—switch page
I'm Daft, Punk. Stab you with a catheter
With an open pen, then put the cap right back in ya
You're tappin' a life. You ain't attackin' it right
I go platinum with no dough and half of your life, dummy
We don't have to bust rounds to shut the club down
She'll come for you, hunt ya punks down like blood hounds
Ayyo, it's Jean to the Grae—we like, "What the fuck now?!?"
Cups up—now chug it down, then spread some love around
Listen up: I'm Cisco mixed with whiskey
I know the security—they won't frisk me
I'm made of material that bounces off
Your mouth talks of the foulness, crowds you walk. When it
Deflects back and it hits your limbs
'Til your reflexes slack and you kick up ya tims
It's all personal
Maybe when I'm pulling your purse strings
Cut your life short like nurses at birthings
Curse you with one less finger than Oprah
To Danny Glover in purple, your purpose is over
No soldier could stop it—war's 'bout to be poppin'
I'm like a broken faucet. You should just forfeit—you lost it
Stick a fork into you—you're done
Niggas with a spork in they lungs, walk awkwardly—I'm warning you
Before you could step to the death of you
Nerve of you—talking shit with Jean right next to you
I'm restless. In one second, I could arrest you
Wait, I'm giving lessons on what the best can do
Catch you hiding in a darkened vestibule
Slit your neck open from your chest—who's next to duel?
We don't have to bust rounds to shut the club down
She'll come for you, hunt ya punks down like blood hounds
Ayyo, it's Jean to the Grae—we like, "What the fuck now?!?"
Cups up—now chug it down, then spread some love around
Aight, one last shot
Goddamn Giuliani
Shuttin' down clubs at four o'clock in the morning
Can't get no alcohol
Bitch!
The lyrics to Jean Grae's "Style Wars" are complex and multifaceted, featuring imagery and wordplay that evokes a sense of rebellion and aggression. The opening lines establish a confrontational tone, with Jean praying that her listeners are still catching the heat and able to feel the intensity of her words. The rest of the verse continues in this vein, using vivid language to describe violence and sexual aggression in a way that is meant to shock and provoke. Jean declares her dominance over other rappers, dismissing anyone who isn't saying she's the best as brain-dead or impotent.
The chorus of the song features a call-and-response structure, with Jean shouting out a command to "shut the club down" and her listeners responding with enthusiasm. This creates a sense of camaraderie between Jean and her audience, with both parties united in a desire to disrupt the status quo and upset authority. The subsequent verses continue the theme of defiance, with Jean asserting her superiority over other rappers and using violent imagery to reinforce her message. The final verse of the song takes aim at former New York City mayor Giuliani, who famously implemented strict policies aimed at curbing nightlife and party culture in the city.
Line by Line Meaning
Man, I pray y'all still
I hope you guys can still handle the heat even though it gets rough.
Catching the heat, spill
The tensions are high and ready spill over.
Mash in your grill and potato smash and your caps peeled—feel it?
You feel the beat and the lyrics punching through you.
Like a teen under bleachers
Hiding and lurking away from everything else like a teen under the bleachers.
Valley girls, pep rally cheerleaders
Referring to the popular kids in high school that don't deal with the same things.
Sluts named Sally either
People who put themselves in harmful situations.
You're brain-dead or your veins pump nothing
Either you don't have a brain or your heart pumps nothing but blood.
If you ain't saying Jean's bumping, name ain't puffing
If you're not saying my music is bumping, you're not worth anything.
Suckas rain-ducking. You'll be running, your frame tucked in
You're running in fear and hoping to go unnoticed.
To the pain like I'm Wesley in the King—say something, nukka
Just like Wesley Snipes in the movie King Of New York, I'm here for a fight.
Fuck you and the mayor
Disregard the people in high power.
Dunk on you like a Rutgers player, cut abrupt your layup
I'll slam dunk you with the force of a Rutgers player and put a stop to your nonsense.
I got a luxury layer that needs bucks to pay up
I need to keep up with the luxury lifestyle that requires a lot of money.
So when I jux y'all, I'm aiming for the cummerbund layers
When I rob you, I'm going right for the fancy waistbands.
Son of a gun, she's a hundred-and-one tons—heavy
This is one big problem.
Chase paper like my momma done named her hon "Chevy"
Pursue money and wealth like she is a car brand.
Cornflakers. I'll roofie tall
I'm using drugs to take advantage of others, just like cornflakes are a quick breakfast that leave a bland taste.
Like I'm handballs and lose you in a booth or stall
Just like a handball, I'll bounce you around and lose you in tight spaces.
You're a lukewarm goof-off with loot galore
You have money, but you're not making the most of it because you're lazy.
And I'll poop scoop your fans and shoot them all
I'll get rid of your fans and show everyone who the real deal is.
I give a damn, I'll abuse the law
I don't care and I'm willing to break the law.
Get Judge Mathis in a blindfold, Feed him wine, lead him to traffic—awwww
I'll even go as far as to get Judge Mathis drunk and lead him blindly into traffic.
We don't have to bust rounds to shut the club down
We don't need to fight to make it clear that we run this club.
She'll come for you, hunt ya punks down like blood hounds
She'll hunt down anyone that tries to step up to her like bloodhounds do.
Ayyo, it's Jean to the Grae—we like, "What the fuck now?!?"
I'm coming in strong and unapologetically asking what everyone wants to do.
Cups up—now chug it down, then spread some love around
Get ready to chug down and party, but also be sure to spread the love.
Triple-6 soul with a gold wiffle bat
This is some dark and demonic stuff going on with a hint of humor to it.
That I hold... and a sickle pole, taped to my back
A violent and formidable image of her being prepared to fight.
You fold. Your hands not fucking with mine
You give up because you can't compete with my strength.
It's just sucking your own dick like I'm tucking your spine
You're trying to show off, but really you're just getting in your own way and wasting everyone's time.
Cry me a river, nigga. They'll find you in Ipanema
Crying won't help you, and I'm going to make it hard for you to survive.
Tied to a line with a leech in your liver
I'm even going to attach an actual parasite to you.
On a beach with a bitch from the song, grinding limes
You'll have to suffer alongside someone else, grinding it out on a lonely beach.
And your smashed teeth, laughing, while you're screaming and crying
You're getting laughed at, ridiculed, and physically hurt all at once.
Loose-lipped, who figured this chick'll be
Everyone thought they could take her down because she talks a lot.
So obtuse with it to flip it this way (Hey!)
She's so unpredictable and versatile that she'll turn everything around in her favor.
My mind sharper than a fucking switchblade—lick me
Her mind is quick, precise, and lethal.
Don't fixate on a picture, nigga—switch page
Don't get too fixated on one thing, because she's going to change up the game.
I'm Daft, Punk. Stab you with a catheter
She's playing a role, and it's not a gentle one.
With an open pen, then put the cap right back in ya
She'll even use an everyday object to hurt you.
You're tappin' a life. You ain't attackin' it right
You're wasting your time and not making the most out of life.
I go platinum with no dough and half of your life, dummy
She's succeeding without needing money and doing it better than you.
Listen up: I'm Cisco mixed with whiskey
You need to pay attention, because she's feeling powerful.
I know the security—they won't frisk me
She has connections and no one can hold her down.
I'm made of material that bounces off
Everything bounces back off of her because she's invincible.
Your mouth talks of the foulness, crowds you walk. When it
You spread toxic energy everywhere you go and it's making everyone dislike you.
Deflects back and it hits your limbs
Your negative energy comes back to you and gets in your way.
'Til your reflexes slack and you kick up ya tims
You're so overwhelmed that you can't even keep your shoes in check.
It's all personal
This isn't about anyone else but you.
Maybe when I'm pulling your purse strings
She'll mess with you when she has a hold over you.
Cut your life short like nurses at birthings
She'll end your life abruptly like a nurse who helped deliver a baby.
Curse you with one less finger than Oprah
She'll curse you hard like Oprah would.
To Danny Glover in purple, your purpose is over
She's calling the end to your existence, like Danny Glover would.
No soldier could stop it—war's 'bout to be poppin'
You can't back out now, because the fight is about to start.
I'm like a broken faucet. You should just forfeit—you lost it
The water won't stop coming out and you're just going to keep losing.
Stick a fork into you—you're done
This is it, you're over.
Niggas with a spork in they lungs, walk awkwardly—I'm warning you
You're going to get seriously hurt and have to deal with the repercussions.
Before you could step to the death of you
She's warning you that the next move you make could be a deadly one.
Nerve of you—talking shit with Jean right next to you
You have a lot of nerve talking badly while she's right here with you.
I'm restless. In one second, I could arrest you
She's on the move and ready to stop you in your tracks.
Wait, I'm giving lessons on what the best can do
Just watch and learn, I'm going to show you how to be the best.
Catch you hiding in a darkened vestibule
She's going to catch you when you least expect it.
Slit your neck open from your chest—who's next to duel?
She's ruthlessly taking down everyone around her and challenging them to a fight.
Aight, one last shot
She's taking this one last shot before she's done.
Goddamn Giuliani Shuttin' down clubs at four o'clock in the morning
She's criticizing Giuliani for closing down the clubs early.
Can't get no alcohol
Not being able to drink is a real problem for her.
Bitch!
She's fed up with everything and everyone.
Writer(s): Ibrahim Tsidi A, Davis William J
Contributed by Julia B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@titionitch
This girl is fire on the mic
@jevol9155
Anybody in 2020?
@josephkennedy6188
Ya boy right here doing it in 2022! You?
@jayceinfinitealgharhythmns9814
Whoa... She does go hard on this!!! This is some legendary-ness (I know it's not a real word) There are few dudes who could handle a beat like this and she's making it sound easy!... they may need to take notes!
@blaquenoise
Shadow: Dead Riot with Tony Todd
@TheOldskool2009
few beats can only wish to go this hard! dammmnnnnn...
@TheOldskool2009
This one goes hard..she got the same beat with a Talib Kweli song it goes hard too!!!!
@transkeirooibaart
TheOldskool2009 Yes, I was quite addicted to that song, but got lost of it at some point. Do you know where I can find it? Thanks.
@smoothlyrugged
Strong!
@thanushtipx3362
i dnt comment, sick flow babe..keep up..;)