Jean Grae

As hungry fans eagerly await some big things from Talib Kweli’s latest signee Jean Grae, the venomous New York MC does a little mid-winter vault cleaning with this collection of hot tracks recorded before her big move to her new Blacksmith environs. The Orchestral Files is no less than a heaping of shame on rival rhyme enthusiasts by the indelible firebrand, a loosely connected disc of unreleased second guesses that puts most well-planned studio efforts to shame. As usual, Grae comes correct in all forms, be it through the raw sentimentality of the pensive "My Angel Is You,” the documentarian bio-rhymes of "The Story,” or the ever-present wry wit found on "What You Gonna Do.” Even when playing the self-effacing, grounded artist role that lends jokes to the lounge club interlude "Jean Experience,” Jean gives you something to smile about. At the very least, this record should buy Ms. Grae a few more months before the people start getting restless again.