There’s no good reason Jean Grae isn’t a superstar (except, you know, rap industry misogyny), and this long-delayed collaboration with ex-Little Brother producer 9th Wonder is the strongest proof yet. Begun years ago, leaked, shelved and now revamped, Jean and 9th are still a perfect, flexible fit. With minimal guest appearances and the perfect balance of variety and consistency in both vocals and production, this is a great rap album in the Illmatic mould. Gone are the over-thought concept songs of Jean’s 2003 EP The Bootleg of the Bootleg, and the directionless filler that weighed 2004’s This Week down in its second half.
9th’s moody, elastic beats sprinkled with soul and funk samples are his best since his 2004 Murs 3:16 The 9th Edition collaboration with L.A. indie-rapper Murs (‘Billy Killer’, meanwhile, is among his best tracks ever). Jean has never sounded this good, with her trademark sense of humor and braggadocio continually twisting her woman-in-a-man’s-game position to her advantage, as on ‘This World’: “I’m entertaining, yes, attacking like Dick Cheney’s chest/but lacking nuts so macadamia fuckers claim the best.” Meanwhile, ‘My Story’ and ‘Love Thirst’ – pain and sex anthems respectively – feel earnest where similar songs on previous albums seemed forced. Finally, one of the best MCs in the game has a classic album to match her talent.
This review will appear in The L Magazine.
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