Best Music of July, 2008: "The Orchestral Files (Deluxe)" by Jean Grae

Why it’s significant: For my money, Jean Grae is the most talented female rapper working today. Born Tsidi Ibrahim and formerly known as What? What?, Grae specializes in the graphic violence best exemplified in her 2003 single, “Hater’s Anthem,” which garnered high praise from no less than the self-professed “Dean of American Rock Critics,” Robert Christgau. Grae’s 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 month’s 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” from Guru's Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures).

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, those of us 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. Or else, maybe I should finally get an iPod.

    --Jason Kirk