HHDX: What do you think led to you leaving Babygrande for Blacksmith?

Jean Grae: I’ll plead the fifth on that one.

HHDX: You just came back from overseas – where’d you go and how was it?

Jean Grae: Yes. I went overseas. I went to Barcelona and it was absolutely beautiful. The people, the sights, and the food – it was all gorgeous.

HHDX: So… when it’s all said and done – Barcelona is the place that you want to lay your head at?

Jean Grae: Umm… I’m not sure. I visited Australia and a few other places and thought that they were beautiful. My favorite would have to be Japan, right now. They absolutely love the Hip-Hop culture out there. We [Hip-Hop artists] affect the world.

HHDX: What do you think might be holding back the successes of such artist’s like yourself, Kweli, and others?

Jean Grae: I think that different people measure success in different ways. If I was looking at my career and thinking of my successes as purely financial, then I haven’t been necessarily as successful. But I think that I am successful as to the point that I’ve been able to get my music out there and that people do buy into it. A lot of people don’t get to go on tour or go to places such as Barcelona. My mom says that she’s proud of me, so I’m happy with that right now. Not to say that I don’t want the things that come with this game – the money, cars, yachts, fancy cars, and such. I think that I measure success differently than most.

HHDX: You’ve been doing this for quite some time – ever thought about putting down the mic and doing something else?

Jean Grae: I’m thinking of doing something else right now.

HHDX: It doesn’t have anything to do with any contents in a bottle, does it? [laughs]

Jean Grae: [Laughs] Not so much now. I wasn’t trying to be as creative as much as I used to be. There are going to be days when you’re not going to be as gung-ho as you usually are. I would never want to start out from scratch. So, I am enjoying what I have now. I have voice-overs and I still want to continue writing. I have done a few radio spots and commercials – you may think that it’s me and not believe it… but it’s me doing it.

HHDX: There seems to be a change of the Hip-Hop climate in the air – what are your thoughts of the Roots signing to Def Jam [Left]…?

Jean Grae: Yay!!! Let me say that again – YAY!!! I’m proud of The Roots. I don’t think that they’ll change their styles. They change with every album. I respect them for stepping out and being visionaries for their own work – collectively. They don’t do anything formulaic. They’re incredibly respectable in the game and abroad. Continued on page 3 »