Posted on 07/14/2008
Jeanius finds Jean Grae in a surprisingly confessional mood. From making no qualms about wanting dough for her skills on “Don’t Rush Me,” an admission considered a crime by conscious rap extremists, to revealing in detail the mental and emotional trauma behind her teenage abortion on “My Story,” Grae pulls no punches and still manages to tell these stories with impeccable lyricism and a more energized delivery than usually showcased.

The powerful “My Story” deserves attention, not as a token ‘message’ song (as many emcees do albums full of booty songs, then save a special place for a song about their dead mother), but as a genuine depiction of real life. Grae walks us through the loneliness of keeping her pregnancy a secret from her parents to what it felt like sitting in the clinic as protesters raged on outside, intensifying her shame, and finally the guilt she felt even years later that led to an attempt at suicide. But it’s not simply that relating all that in four and a half minutes is a feat, which it is, but the fact that she can express the survival and growth from that experience within three little verses is an extraordinary accomplishment unlike anything put to wax before.

Understandably, the rest of the album pales in comparison to such a display of verbal craftsmanship, but Grae still aims for the jugular and rarely misses for the rest of Jeanius. Her punchlines are precise as she challenges the industry’s expectations of her on “This World” (“Damn, y’all scared of change like some nickels chasing you”) and “Smashmouth” (“Man, I’m the Eric Cartman of this rap sh*t (I hate you guys)”) and her self-awareness is on full display on “#8” (“You don’t like the way I flow/ ‘She needs more emotion’ – no. I’ll give you emotion/it’s you holding your broken nose”).

The honorable mention goes to her accomplice on Jeanius, 9th Wonder, for creating a sonic tapestry that would make Ennio Morricone proud with its soulful, cinematic accompaniment to Grae’s narratives. It would be easy to overwhelm an artist like Grae, who receives criticism for her sometimes staid flow, but 9th’s beats, sullen, then lush and hopeful, provide the perfect complement. In his hands, Jeanius is more than a barrage of well-placed words. He allows Grae’s tales of personal and professional battles to breathe, helping Grae strike a rare balance of hard and thoughtful hip-hop. That takes real genius.

- Candace L.