Throughout her music career, her distinctive style and lyricism gained recognition, with artists such as Talib Kweli, Jay-Z, and Black Thought of The Roots expressing admiration for her work.

Jean Grae was born Tsidi Ibrahim, in Cape Town, South Africa, on November 26, 1976.

The child of South African jazz musicians Sathima Bea Benjamin and Abdullah Ibrahim, Grae was raised in The Hotel Chelsea, Manhattan where the family moved after her birth.

[2][4] Grae joined a hip hop group called Natural Resource[3] along with rapper Ocean and disc jockey James "AGGIE" Barrett.

[5] She has recorded with major hip-hop artists such as Atmosphere, The Roots, Phonte, Mr. Len, Pharoahe Monch, The Herbaliser, Masta Ace and Immortal Technique.

[12] Grae branched out from music, releasing audiobook The State of Eh in January 2014,[13] and writing, directing and starring in the online sitcom Life with Jeanie.

[14] In 2013, Grae had a supporting role in indie film Big Words[15] and in 2015 appeared on the And The Crime Ring[15] episode of CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls.