JEAN GRAE: Boundless Grae Matter

This poetic polymath was born in Cape Town, South Africa. The daughter of jazz musicians Sathima Bea Benjamin and Abdullah Ibrahim, she was raised in New York City and studied vocal performance at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. Jean was destined to be an entertainer from her earliest days dancing with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. She is a versatile writer, musician, director, producer, actor, and lightning rod lyricist who enjoys expression in all mediums. Jean put rap music behind her in 2018, but has since self-released her music through her website and Bandcamp. Her latest album, Everything’s Fine, was a collaboration with partner Quelle Chris, with cameos from Hannibal Buress, Nick Offerman, Michael Che, and John Hodgman.  Jean developed an online sitcom, wrote an audiobook, and created the non-denominational ministry called the Church of the Infinite You as a way of connecting and motivating people who don’t do church. In this episode, she reminds young artists of the importance of getting yourself a good lawyer, and we discuss the power of the “F” word. If you haven’t figured it out, Jean is a creative force; if she can dream it, she can deliver it. (Photo Credit: Mindy Tucker)