The Orchestral Files (Deluxe)

Jean Grae | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 10, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Babygrande
• ASIN: B0016ORPRU
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #340,990 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Trouble Man

2. Soul Clap

3. Mean

4. My Angel is You

5. What Ya Gonna Do

6. The Story

7. The Band

8. Jean Experience

9. Break

10. It's A Wrap

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. DJ Kay Slay Intro

2. Soda & Soap - Masta Ace feat. Jean Grae

3. Power, Money & Influence - Guru feat. Talib Kweli & Jean Grae

4. The Jam - Jean Grae

5. Nah'mean Nah'm Sayin - The Herbaliser feat. Jean Grae

6. Breath of a Salesman - Songodsuns (aka 2Mex) feat. Jean Grae

7. Another Day - Splash feat. Jean Grae

8. Believe - Vordul feat. Jean Grae

9. Fall Back - Jean Grae

10. Look Around - Jean Grae

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Jean Grae may be the most talented female rapper at large. Her penchant for merciless, R-rated flow both explains her inability to paddle into the mainstream and seems to fuel much of the anger girding her style. Nevertheless, she shovels volumes of fun for those with an appreciation for pure skills and/or the stomach for lines like "I’ll stab you in the aortic valve with a 12-inch blade and f***in’ rub salve in it." Despite the fact that The Orchestral Files was originally released in 2007, this deluxe, double-disc re-issue packs the real punch. Its second disc, "The Definitive Collaboration Collection," collects 18 tracks featuring Grae and such hip-hop notables as Masta Ace, Prince Paul, Diverse, and Talib Kweli (the energizing, marimba-laden "Power, Money & Influence"). The take-you-to-school-style highlight is the Herbaliser’s "Nah'mean Nah'm Sayin" (from 2005’s Take London). Herb’s robust horn section splits in two, with the low brass driving the riff and the trumpets piercing the resultant groove with the same percussive angst that Grae has taken as her modus operandi since her last name change, at least. What’s more, fans who have been scouring CDs--from labels like Ninja Tune, M3, 7 Grand, Decon, Up Above, Nature Sounds, BBE, Copter, Third Earth Music, Razor & Tie, and Def Jux--just for their Jean Grae tracks can finally shuck the whole pile and make some new room on the shelf. --Jason Kirk

Product Description

Unearthed recordings by Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Recordings artist Jean Grae aka What? What? and Run Run Shaw, given name Tsidi Ibrahim, daughter of jazz musician Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand). As a member of the late '90s Hip Hop group Natural Resource, she helped define the independent NY Hip Hop scene as an MC alongside Pumpkinhead and Bad Seed, and maintains ties with Hip Hop crews BROOKLYN ACADEMY, LITTLE BROTHER, JUSTUS LEAGUE, and has worked with NICOLAY, 9th WONDER, SKYZOO and many more. Currently touring with Kweli, after being featured on his album that debuted at #1 on the charts, Jean Grae has been on the cover of Urb and has articles in Spin, Fader, Maxim, along with many other periodicals. MTV has given an Advanced Warning about Grae, and Rolling Stone called her the Next to Blow . Heralded as a mix of Lauryn Hill with a little MC Lyte, her last album entitled This Week moved over 30k units. This collection documents pre-Blacksmith recordings, a snapshot of her raw skills and memorable delivery, never before available.

Now, packaged in an exclusive Deluxe 2 CD edition, Jean offers rare never before available collaborations with some of hip-hop's finest, including: TALIB KWELI, GURU, MASTA ACE, THE HERBALISER, SONGODSUNS (AKA 2MEX), SPLASH, VORDUL (OF CANNIBAL OX), DA BEATMINERZ, BLACK PANTHER, PRINCE PAUL, HORROR CITY, C-RAYZ WALZ, DIVERSE and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Jeanius Strikes Again, January 23, 2008

By 

Q. Pair "Shaman" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Orchestral Files (Audio CD)

The Jeanius strikes again. As far as I'm concerned, this is her 3rd album, even though this is supposed to actually be "previously unreleased material". Even if that happens to be the case, this work is no less then great, and STILL better then all current female rappers, and better then 80% of male rappers in the game right now.

For those who don't know about Jean Grae, she isn't your average female rapper. There hasn't been a female rapper of this caliber since Lauryn Hill back in the Fugees days. Despite this, she is heavily underrated and constantly overlooked despite her unbelievable talent on the mic. This CD, while not her best work, is still great to listen to, and is a fitting addition to any good hip hop collection.

Listen to the preview tracks and see what I mean, although they cant do her justice. If you like REAL hip hop and have an appreciation for creativity and good music, check this lady, she'll blow your mind.

Standout Tracks:

My Angel Is You
What You Gonna Do
The Story
Break
Its A Wrap

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My girl On point!, March 13, 2011

By 

Thomas Tymstone (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Orchestral Files (Audio CD)

They should start calling her Duchess or your Highness or something because whatever she bring out whatever she spits on is always Royally on point. You might not like it the first time you hear it, but by the time you listen to her the second, third or fourth time you'll be like, this chick is a monster! She hits soo hard, she should stop playin', for reals. like.

She's the kind of rapper that makes many, many fellas do rewrites and many females decide that naked is the way to go. I'm just sayin'.
I kind of understand why she is not bigger. She scares people and then their small minds have trouble categorizing her. People love boxes and she rarely fits in one.

I hope she continues to shine and make the other MoFo's blind. I wear shades so I', cool to see her. I hope she finds a good home with Talib Kwali.
Brother you have gold in your hands spend it wisely...

Peace/ One.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice collection, December 17, 2007

By 

Y. Gonzalez (Central Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Orchestral Files (Audio CD)

Great collection of Jean's "unreleased". However, when you hear tracks like track 3, it reminds you how undeniable her talent is and it makes a person like me a little dissappointed in some of the material because it pales in comparison. But, for the most part it is a nice bunch of tracks that will satisfy a true Jean Grae fan in the meantime.

I'm very much looking forward to her next complete album that will hopefully resemble the Jean Grae that she started out as: raw and undeniably talented ...and unafraid.

P.S. Check out "The Story" on this album which resembles a "Taco Day". Great the way she uses images to bring you into her world.