Jean Grae, A Voice of Anger and Hope

A native South African, Jean Grae moved to New York City in her early adulthood to join a modern dance company. From there, Grae launched a career as a hip hop artist. Grae is a successful outspoken woman in the hip hop industry. She boldly condemns violence against women, but at the same time, does not shy away from violent threats herself. Jean Grae's songs are complicated paradoxes, worth unpacking. In "What Would I Do" on the 2002 album "Attack of the Attacking Things," Grae incites her listeners to work for social change, comments on the conditions of American women, and makes fun of male colleagues in her field. In the song, Grae laments the reality of injustice. She acknowledges suffering, threatens to smash offenders, but also raps hopefully about the possibility of change. The song is a bewildering combination of anger, toughness, humility, and hope.

In Jean Grae's music, she is not afraid to express anger. In the hip hop industry, Grae competes with many misogynist artists. Grae acknowledges in the song that others want to test her especially, perhaps because she is a woman. She responds with a threat of violence, "For all my peoples in NY and SA who blessed me / A gas face to all those who still wanna test me / 3 for the fans who already know the name / 4 smacks to all wack niggaz in the game." While many Americans on the political left are anti-violence. It is particularly fashionable for women to speak out against violence or to be uncompromisingly anti-war. While I respect the contributions of such groups as Code Pink (organized American women against the war in Iraq), I think Jean Grae is onto something with her unapologetic aggression. Violence will always be a part of human society. I admire courageous women who will defend themselves and who will engage in combat with predators.

Like many political artists, Jean Grae challenges her audience to get involved. Most activist media includes a section encouraging the consumers to do something. A call to action is typical of all progressive art. Grae asks her listeners, "You want a change?" and continues, "Let's stop complaining, make it happen, everybody step up your game." Grae then declares what she sees most people do, "'Cause everybody's stuck in park or reverse / Letting the media choose your path and rape you, market you less than you worth." Grae perceives that the general population allows the media to wash over them and to control their actions.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Hip-hop revolution: The African connection?
We want to hear your view. Write now!