Jean Grae - The Orchestral Files (Deluxe 2CD Edition)

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.

Disc 1:

01. Trouble Man
02. Soul Clap
03. Mean
04. My Angel Is You
05. What Ya Gonna Do
06. The Story
07. The Band
08. Jean Experience
09. Break
10. It's A Wrap
11. It's Alright

Disc 2:

01. Intro DJ Kay Slay
02. Soda & Soap feat. Masta Ace
03. Power, Money & Influence feat. Guru & Talib Kweli
04. The Jam
05. Nah'mean Nah'm Sayin feat. The Herbaliser
06. Breath Of A Salesman feat. 2Mex aka Sungodsuns
07. Another Day feat. Splash
08. Believe feat. Vordul
09. Fall Back
10. Look Around
11. If You Close Your Eyes feat. The Herbaliser
12. U... Me... All Of Us feat. Da Beatminerz
13. The Darkest Night Ever feat. Black Panther
14. Big Beat Walkthrough feat. 2Mex aka Sungodsuns
15. Controversial Headlines aka Championsound (Pt. 2) feat. Prince Paul & Horror City
16. Pink feat. C-Rayz Walz
17. Under The Hammer feat. Diverse
18. Twice Around feat. The Herbaliser

Download Part 1
Download Part 2