Jean Grae

Miscarriages, abortions and botched suicide attempts are not what you expect from a hip-hop song, but Jean Grae has always refused to check her emotional baggage at the gate, and the intimacy she brings to her lyrics pulls the listener in as it singes. 9th Wonder's airy boom-bap production (think mid-period Pete Rock) is both lush and organic, particularly effective when paired with Grae's straightforward flows. This did sit on the shelf for three years before its 2008 release, but in this case the dust only adds character.