Jean Grae was initially aligned with the independent hip-hop scene of the mid-'90s, where she was continually labelled a "femcee" (like it’s all high heels and a Jansport), she’s since blown that framework apart. After suffering years of music industry machinations, these days Jean simply drops new projects with an acerbic tweet or a post to her Instagram. Sometimes it’s a song, or a record, sometimes it’s an audiobook. Here are five highlights of Jean Grae’s undercover second act.
Jean Grae Has A Sitcom
Last December Grae released four episodes of “Life With Jeannie”, her DIY sitcom that she wrote, produced and directed. These four mini-episodes revealed that she is, technically speaking, really fucking funny. Filmed in Grae's native New York, rapper and comedy pal cameos abound [look, it’s Mr. Len!], as Grae “celebrates” Christmas and mulls the misery of her love life. It’s funny, bleak and earnest—the actual rap-game “Louie”. Four episodes are not even sort of enough.
Jean Grae Just Dropped a Sensual R&B EP via Instagram
On Monday, Jean posted a picture to Instagram of her throwing the finger. The accompanying caption read: "Hi. I just dropped this new EP. I don't just do one type of thing. This is another type of thing." The ‘nother thing is titled #5 and instead of rhyming, Grae is singing. She’s officially a triple threat now. The self-produced tracks muse on sex and relationships; "underneathu" includes the lyric, "Make me wanna take days off work/ You know we can/ Make me wanna take off this skirt." Maybe she is just changing into her sweats?
Jean Grae Released An Audio-Book
In January Grae released The State of Eh, an audiobook that she wrote and scored. It begins with our protagonist realizing that recently she's lost her game—"Sometime last year I lost the shit out of that shit," she laments of her missing verve—before detouring into chapters like “Top 5 Things For Evil Masterminds”. Think a slicker version of the “De La Soul Read-Along Story Book” from De La Soul Is Dead, but recited in the mellifluous timbre of Grae.
Jean Grae Coined Rap's True 30-Something Anthem
Forget Jay Z's languid "30 Something"—Jean Grae's "37" is hip-hop's ultimate mid-life anthem. Initially showing up on her Jeannie album back in February, the song opens with Grae lamenting over her lots in love and life against deliciously melancholy production, later quipping, wearily, "I don't wanna watch World Star." Then the track closes out with Grae literally playing her own therapist. It’s the perfect rap song for when you’re wallowing over your slackening fate halfway through $5 bottle of Gato Negro you bought at the gas station.
Jean Cares
Which other rapper would take time out of their day to organize and conduct a Hug Station during the middle of the day at Union Square ("opposite Forever 21"), hand out free candy and pizza and balloons, and have a tiny rescue kitten make a guest appearance? Just Jeannie, that's who.