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."
Swing Blades
Jean Grae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everyday caught in the whirlwinds
Back in the studio, Belief just earled in
Still trying to get my pen on
Write scripts and light splifs
Until we high as light bills
Watching for those that might switch
To the dark, we over here remaining righteous
And hype kids
Make them want to hold open their eye lids
Dangers and missed origins from way back since
The presence of Genesis and Osirus
Life is such a stress
But in the coldest storms I let them off in the Phoenix
[Jean Grae]
Over a thousand miles of public housing
Lounging on beaches in the Riviera, tan and doused in
Coconut scented lotion
Wish I was there the story rare enough to merit an endangered species
Tagging velvet ropes surrounding every path
Tighter than some virgin pussy
Don't ever push me
I balance on the edge of cliffs for fun
And some are hanging crooked
I never look down, I look to the sky
And envision the place that everybody go when they die
They say that bright lights and angels some and get you
If that's the truth than I expect the black night blocking the sun I got issues
Another day with myself
Another day without wealth
There's gotta be anther way I need help
And so I pray like I'm a Pentecostal, Sufi, Buddhist, strict agnostic
Hoping one will hit its target
Take another sip of hypnotic
And lay my head on the pillow and dream erotic scenes
Of killers spilling endless rounds and all of them shooting at me
[Vast Aire]
You know Can Ox got that Phoenix wing span
And love hovering over the ghetto wasteland
I got rap just as fat as my waist band
You got a rap that belongs in a waste can
Yo, Jean you gotta change Grae to Hackman
'cause when we fight we swing them blades
And when we rap we swing them blades
And then we slide on them like the escapades
I knew the ending of this book since the first page
Rap sucks but we still get paid
We smoke trees at the highest grades
I spit a line that'll fix your fades
So don't go there, you cannot hold Aire
Look at them, reaching and shit
If you touch my jersey I'll bust your lip
Open your face then break your hip
The lyrics of "Swing Blades" by Jean Grae are filled with powerful imagery and personal reflections. The first verse by Vordul captures the struggles of trying to make it as a rapper while staying true to oneself. He talks about getting high on light splifs and remaining righteous in the face of those who might switch to darkness. The reference to Genesis and Osirus suggests a deeper understanding of spirituality, and he ends the verse by reclaiming strength from tough times by referencing the Phoenix bird, which rises from ashes and embodies renewal.
Jean Grae's verse offers a sharp contrast to Vordul's. While he talks about struggle and resilience, she offers a dreamlike fantasy of being far away from the public housing projects where she grew up, lounging on a beach in the Riviera with coconut-scented lotion. However, her experienced eye also notices the exclusivity of velvet ropes and draws a clever analogy to tightness of virginity. The idea of balancing on the edge of cliffs for fun suggests a deeper sense of thrill-seeking and risk-taking, which is tempered by the reflection on mortality and what happens after death.
The third and final verse by Vast Aire shifts the focus to the power of words and rap itself. He boasts about having a "Phoenix wing span" and flying over the "ghetto wasteland," using his rap as a way to escape and transcend the struggles of the real world. He takes a swipe at other rappers who he deems unworthy ("You got a rap that belongs in a waste can") and playfully suggests changing Jean's name to Hackman (a reference to the actor Gene Hackman, who played tough characters in many famous movies). The threatening imagery of "swinging blades" is juxtaposed with the fluid movement of "sliding on them like escapades," suggesting a playful but deadly skill. The verse ends with an aggressive warning not to mess with him, described in vivid detail that hints at both physical strength and poetic prowess.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyday caught in the whirlwinds
Dealing with the chaos of daily life
Back in the studio, Belief just earled in
Belief has just arrived in the studio
Still trying to get my pen on
Trying to get back in the creative flow
Write scripts and light splifs
Writing lyrics and smoking marijuana
Until we high as light bills
Continuing to smoke until extremely high
Watching for those that might switch
Keeping an eye out for people who may betray
To the dark, we over here remaining righteous
Choosing to remain morally upright despite temptation
Though we spark the soul purpose to spit
Although we have a passion for rap music
And hype kids
Exciting fans with our music
Make them want to hold open their eye lids
Making fans pay attention and stay awake
Dangers and missed origins from way back since
The history of humanity's mistakes and tragedies
The presence of Genesis and Osirus
The beginning of humanity and the afterlife
Life is such a stress
Life is full of difficulties and tension
But in the coldest storms I let them off in the Phoenix
The singer thrives in difficult situations and rises above them
Over a thousand miles of public housing
Referring to how the singer grew up in a disadvantaged area
Lounging on beaches in the Riviera, tan and doused in
Contrasting the artist's current life of luxury with their upbringing in poverty
Coconut scented lotion
A detail of the artist's luxurious lifestyle
Wish I was there the story rare enough to merit an endangered species
Desiring to be a part of something unique and special
Tagging velvet ropes surrounding every path
Commenting on the exclusivity of certain places
Tighter than some virgin pussy
Describing the strictness of exclusive areas
Don't ever push me
Warning others not to provoke the artist
I balance on the edge of cliffs for fun
Enjoying thrilling experiences
And some are hanging crooked
Some people are morally unbalanced
I never look down, I look to the sky
Optimistically looking towards the future
And envision the place that everybody go when they die
Imagining what happens after death
They say that bright lights and angels some and get you
Referring to the idea of an afterlife
If that's the truth than I expect the black night blocking the sun I got issues
Questioning the idea of an afterlife and expressing personal struggles
Another day with myself
Another day of feeling lonely
Another day without wealth
Another day of financial insecurity
There's gotta be anther way I need help
Expressing a desire for a more fulfilling life
And so I pray like I'm a Pentecostal, Sufi, Buddhist, strict agnostic
Showing the diverse range of religions the singer is interested in
Hoping one will hit its target
Desperately seeking spiritual guidance
Take another sip of hypnotic
Drinking alcohol to cope with stress
And lay my head on the pillow and dream erotic scenes
Having sexual fantasies
Of killers spilling endless rounds and all of them shooting at me
Having violent dreams
You know Can Ox got that Phoenix wing span
Referring to the group's success and resilience
And love hovering over the ghetto wasteland
The group connects with their roots and the struggles of their community
I got rap just as fat as my waist band
The rapper is confident in their skills
You got a rap that belongs in a waste can
Insulting another rapper's skills
Yo, Jean you gotta change Grae to Hackman
A play on words, with the artist suggesting Jean Grae change her name to Gene Hackman
'cause when we fight we swing them blades
The artist is not afraid of physical conflict
And when we rap we swing them blades
Metaphorically, their lyrics are sharp and confrontational
And then we slide on them like the escapades
Easily moving past their opposition
I knew the ending of this book since the first page
They are confident in their success
Rap sucks but we still get paid
Acknowledging the flaws in the rap industry but still making money from it
We smoke trees at the highest grades
Smoking particularly high quality marijuana
I spit a line that'll fix your fades
Confident in their abilities as a rapper
So don't go there, you cannot hold Aire
Warning others not to mess with the artist
Look at them, reaching and shit
Others trying, and failing, to compete
If you touch my jersey I'll bust your lip
The singer will react aggressively if provoked
Open your face then break your hip
Threatening violence towards anyone who challenges them
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pcbh167
Love this song! Jean Grae is a beast!
Dice G
MEMORIES TO THIS SONG!!!!....... amazing... before i used to hit the club
Nunzia Cifalino'
fire pure !
Roland B
That 1 dislike is pissing me off
ti amo francoforte
Episch !
Tástro LDR
❤
David Simpson
Dope
Verzaudio
I miss listening to this EP and This Week...stupid thieves
Jordy Franciscus
birds feathers flown away stayin in the patern flown , rewinded everyday , daily routine loop gettin up and still pray , where the revo at and where my death lays , i can still get up even when death plays wishin on this knive in hand so it can just slay slaught and build a bridge and its still pain?
is rap dying? did it stood in front? or is it still playing
Kaone Smiley
jeeeeeeeeean greeeeeeeeasy