“Everything’s fine.” It’s what people tell a casual acquaintance in the midst of personal or professional turmoil. Everyone puts on a mask, to some degree, to get through a rough day (or days). This reality of life is the basis of Jean Grae and Quelle Chris’ Everything’s Fine album.
The longtime collaborators and soon-to-be-married couple completely shatter this facade on their new LP, challenging it with a mix of satire and biting commentary. They even use some comedy pros to aid in shaping the album’s sardonic attitude.
Hannibal Buress — the man who famously put Bill Cosby on blast over sexual assault allegations — appears early on in the album to spit a ridiculous verse. Later, they employ a hook based around the “Cosby tried to buy NBC” conspiracy. The audaciousness makes it all the better.
The epitome of the duo’s wit is heard on “My Contribution To This Scam.” The opening salvo mocks everything from the music industry and social media vanity to disingenuous hipsters and YouTube vloggers.
Lyrically, each artist brings something different to the table and plays off the other’s strengths. Chris relies on being more direct while Grae’s wordplay is flashier. This dynamic results in her delivering many of the most dazzling rhymes.
“Zero,” for instance, features one of the finest verses in her entire career, unleashing a barrage of jaw-dropping bars to kick off the track.
“Parker Posey, Peter, New York elements/Par irrelevance, Smithsonian twice, pardon your feigned ignorance/Bitch pardon your life/Cotta terra color, Botticeli body, mind a mile minute, the pedagogy’s for no fucks/Infinite,” she spits.
In addition to the rhyming gymnastics, there’s also plenty of raw and honest reflections. The emotional toll of America’s lack of respect for black life and constant police shootings is palpable on “Breakfast Of Champions.” Grae’s closing verse perfectly lays out the draining actuality of never seeing justice get served.
“I need veteran racists off pay, and in jail, but the bastards seem to linger some chemtrails/As children calm their mamas while they stare at daddy’s entrails,” she raps.
Everything’s Fine is a tandem effort on the production end too, though Chris handles most of the beatmaking duties. His boom bap sensibilities are a constant presence thanks to drum patterns straight out the basement, but there are plenty of twists and turns for sonic diversity.
On “House Call,” Chris’ soundscape evolves into modern-day P-Funk, adding to the Parliament-Funkadelic vibes with Anna Wise and Jonathan Hoard’s disparate vocals. Grae’s production credits, such as the intro and “River,” are easy to recognize due to more relaxed tones.
Although Everything’s Fine is well-crafted from front to back, there are a few hiccups. The most glaring is “Doing Better Than Ever,” a jarring solo cut from Das Racist’s Ashok Kondabolu. The overlayered vocals and spoken word style get old quick, begging for the return of Grae and Chris. A handful of tracks also drag to a conclusion and could benefit from some trimming.
Despite the duo’s general dismay for what’s going on in the world, there is a sense of hope on Everything’s Fine. “Waiting on the Moon,” in particular, is downright inspirational. Even in the face of depressing circumstances, Grae and Chris still see a light at the end of the tunnel and appreciate the good in their lives. Everything’s not fine, but the future husband and wife know the bright moments are worth enjoying.
I am a big Jean Grae fan but to be honest DX y’all on some bullshit! “Everything Isn’t Fine” with this album, and it aint even a 3.0. Its a poor offering and a disorganized unbalanced sonic mess. The bars and the lyrics are incoherent and somewhat sound like two emcees just having fun making a mumbled mess just to prove a point that they would be rated favorable not coz of what they are saying but becoz of the beats, who they are and who they know!
Jean Grae is the female GOAT
Shit sounds like random noise. Disappointed.
This album was the best album that i ever heard. Jean Grae & Quelle Chris delivered an amazing LP from start to finish. album of the year along with Roc Marciano – RR2: The Bitter Dose.
I like both artists, but only the singles they released were dope. I only heard about half the album so far and wasn’t really feeling it.
One of the best hip hop releases of 2018 so far
Love this album, especially when a little baked.
Great concept that’s worth investing some headphone time too.
“Chris relies on being more directer” lol bruh can we get some editing here, what is this
I suspect that as albums like these gain in general popularity, Negroes the world over will continue shouting “Hodee do’! Hodee do’! Conebread! Conebread!!!” at the top of their lungs while shucking, jiving, eating watermelong & fried chicken.
Lmao!
I approve
This kind of rap music is over. The days of driving around smoking blunts and listening to true school, are long gone. We have all moved on. You should have dropped this 15 years ago.
It’s like Chubby Checker putting out new music in the 70’s. Nobody’s checking for this anymore
Lmao worst production i ever heard on an album, EVER. It was difficult to listen to even one song
What the fuck is wrong with your ears. Oh, you don’t understand lo-fi art rap. It’s either trap instrumentals or nothing.
Whatever man, the production is trash in my opinion, i love hip hop to death but im not about to kiss someones ass just because they got bars, yeah these two can rap, theres no doubt about that but the production is corny and it’s trash. Fuck your disagreement
this is avant garde rap…like john coltrane or ornette coleman back in the jazz days…the more you put into listening to it the more you get out of it…but it takes work…alot of good shit on this
Ish is dope, dig the concept, both have bars, variation in music is nice…
This album is awful. No doubt Jean Grae can spit but the bars just seem random, almost freestyle like. Sonically its also very difficult to digest, yeah i get they going for some low fi type sound but it just dosent really work with her flow. I’m sorry Jean you gonna have to take a massive L on this one.
I was late on this one. Classic!!!! 5/5
“Zero” is hands down the illest song on the album. Followed by the chill vibe of “Peacock”. The beats are intentionally weird and i dig that ish too. Production style reminds me of Blu’s No York a couple years ago. Off kilter time signatures, minimal but hard beats. Its def not for everyone (haters have the entire radio to listen to anyway). Rap as art is what this is about.