Shades of Grae
Today I just wanted to give a shout out to someone who I think is one of my favourite MCs currently out there doing their thing. Not one of the greatest female MCs (as many might have it) but one of the best, point blank. The woman in question is none other than Jean Grae, not only a super-talented lyricist, but with a killer flow, abounding in intelligent subject matter and inventive wordplay. Funny as hell when she needs to be, aggressive and biting when the time is right, and criminally slept on. I am hoping with her recently increased profile through various collaborations with Talib Kweli and his Blacksmith label, not to mention the much anticipated 9th Wonder-helmed "Jeanius" long player, that her time may at last be coming. But this hope comes not from a worry that without it the rap game risks losing a great talent, but simply from a desire to see her get her true props, and the commercial awareness and rewards that her consistently quality output deserves.
It is undoubtedly the case that even if she does not blow up in the fickle realms of the music industry, judged by sales, video play and brand potential, that Ms Grae will keep pumping out masterful rhymes for those who do appreciate her brilliance to keep enjoying. Why? Because this is what she has been doing for years anyway, and because the internet means that the business models of artist-to-consumer have changed, and so the music can keep flowing without major label backing. Now don't get me wrong, Blacksmith is a subsidiary of Warner after all, but I am sure you know what I mean. I'm talking primarily about the so-called underground artists, or those multitudes who don't get play on MTV or other major outlets and yet are the very life-blood of real hip-hop. The internet has become like one big Lyricist's Lounge compilation and no longer do you need to worry if your favourite rapper can strike a deal, you can just go direct to their MySpace to find out what is up.
I'm sure that many of you reading this will already be a fan from way back, but I was personally unaware until recently that Jean Grae was previously incarnated as rapper What? What? who I first came across on UK group The Herbaliser's brilliant 1997 release "Blow Your Headphones". I'd always been curious as to who this wicked but seemingly short-lived rapper was, and waht became of her. And now that I know it simply serves to underline my admiration further. She has also produced under the moniker Run Run Shaw, but however you may know her, the product is always on point. Another long-player, "Pheonix", is on the way also, and like the mythological beast, Jean Grae is definitely, at long last, rising. The future's bright, the future is Grae.
It is undoubtedly the case that even if she does not blow up in the fickle realms of the music industry, judged by sales, video play and brand potential, that Ms Grae will keep pumping out masterful rhymes for those who do appreciate her brilliance to keep enjoying. Why? Because this is what she has been doing for years anyway, and because the internet means that the business models of artist-to-consumer have changed, and so the music can keep flowing without major label backing. Now don't get me wrong, Blacksmith is a subsidiary of Warner after all, but I am sure you know what I mean. I'm talking primarily about the so-called underground artists, or those multitudes who don't get play on MTV or other major outlets and yet are the very life-blood of real hip-hop. The internet has become like one big Lyricist's Lounge compilation and no longer do you need to worry if your favourite rapper can strike a deal, you can just go direct to their MySpace to find out what is up.
I'm sure that many of you reading this will already be a fan from way back, but I was personally unaware until recently that Jean Grae was previously incarnated as rapper What? What? who I first came across on UK group The Herbaliser's brilliant 1997 release "Blow Your Headphones". I'd always been curious as to who this wicked but seemingly short-lived rapper was, and waht became of her. And now that I know it simply serves to underline my admiration further. She has also produced under the moniker Run Run Shaw, but however you may know her, the product is always on point. Another long-player, "Pheonix", is on the way also, and like the mythological beast, Jean Grae is definitely, at long last, rising. The future's bright, the future is Grae.
posted by Twelve Bar at 5:26 PM
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