Born in South Africa to two jazz musician parents, Tisidi Ibrahim began her music career in mid-1990s New York’s vibrant underground hip-hop scene. Under the rap name What? What?, she was part of the Brooklyn-based label Makin’ Records, releasing a string of singles as one half of Natural Resource and producing tracks under the alias Run Run Shaw. After Natural Resource’s breakup in 1998, Ibrahim took the name Jean Grae, releasing her solo debut, ATTACK OF THE ATTACKING THINGS, in 2002. Acclaimed for her intricate wordplay and unflinching approach to deeper subject matter, Jean Grae has raised the bar for female MCs without resorting to sexualized content and remains one of hip-hop’s most talented lyricists.