Jean Grae has had one of the most tumultuous careers in hip-hop, filled with album leaks, retirement threats, and instances of loss of creative control that are stunning, even by music industry standards. The most famous example: The MC told the Village Voice in 2008, that she had little say in the video treatment for "My Story," an autobiographical track, designed by Grae as a political pro-choice statement, that details an abortion she had as a teenager, a later miscarriage, and a suicide attempt. Still, the South African-born, NYC-raised artist has pushed through her professional difficulties and continues to share her masterful verses with the world. She's currently readying a new project, Cookies or Coma, and is opening up for Talib Kweli tonight at Black Cat.