Music >> Artists >> R&B/Soul
Birth Name:
Janelle Monáe Robinson

Born:
December 1, 1985 in Kansas City, KS

Genre:
R&B/Soul

Years Active:
'00s, '10s






Janelle Monáe

Biography

Growing up, Janelle Monáe (born Janelle Robinson) felt constrained by the limited resources offered to her in her greater Kansas City, Kansas home. When she finished high school, she moved to New York to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy with the intention of pursuing musical theater, but in 2004, after performing in a couple of off-Broadway shows and realizing there weren't roles available to her that she wanted, she moved to Atlanta to try her luck there. She soon joined a band and began touring the local college circuit, where she eventually got in touch with her future partners in Wondaland Arts Society (a collective/label that looked to promote experimental arts) as well as OutKast's Big Boi. The rapper was so impressed by what he heard that of her he put two of her songs on his 2005 compilation Got Purp?, Vol. 2. Monáe also showed up on OutKast's 2006 soundtrack, Idlewild, even appearing in the video for "Morris Brown." . Growing up, Janelle Monáe (born Janelle Robinson) felt constrained by the limited resources offered to her in her greater Kansas City, Kansas home. When she finished high school, she moved to New York to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy with the intention of pursuing musical theater, but in 2004, after performing in a couple of off-Broadway shows and realizing there weren't roles available to her that she wanted, she moved to Atlanta to try her luck there. She soon joined a band and began touring the local college circuit, where she eventually got in touch with her future partners in Wondaland Arts Society (a collective/label that looked to promote experimental arts) as well as OutKast's Big Boi. The rapper was so impressed by what he heard that of her he put two of her songs on his 2005 compilation Got Purp?, Vol. 2. Monáe also showed up on OutKast's 2006 soundtrack, Idlewild, even appearing in the video for "Morris Brown."

In August 2007, Monáe debuted with the first of four planned Metropolis installments, or suites, an EP entitled The Chase, a concept piece revolving around a character named Cindi Mayweather and the year 2719. The album — which melded cabaret, hip-hop, rock, and soul — was well received, which helped bring the singer into the radar of Sean "Diddy" Combs. Rumors about a signing were finally confirmed in March 2008, when Diddy announced Monáe as the newest member of his Bad Boy roster. Monáe promised that the move was not going to compromise any of her artistic integrity or creativity. A re-release of The Chase, featuring bonus content, appeared in August 2008. The second and third suites of Metropolis were issued together as components of The ArchAndroid, released in May 2010. It debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Contemporary R&B Album. "Tightrope" was nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Additional Grammy nominations came in 2013 for her guest appearance on Fun.'s "We Are Young." September 2013 brought The Electric Lady. Billed as suites four and five, it featured guest appearances from Prince, Erykah Badu, Esperanza Spalding, Solange, and Miguel. ~ Marisa Brown & Andy Kellman, Rovi

Top Albums

Heroes (Pepsi Beats of the Beautiful Game) - Single, Janelle Monáe
1. Heroes (Peps..
The Electric Lady, Janelle Monáe
2. The Electric..
The ArchAndroid, Janelle Monáe
3. The ArchAndr..
The ArchAndroid (Deluxe), Janelle Monáe
4. The ArchAndr..
Metropolis: The Chase Suite, Janelle Monáe
5. Metropolis: ..
Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Fantastic Edition), Janelle Monáe
6. Metropolis: ..
Lettin Go - Single, Janelle Monáe
7. Lettin Go - ..
What Is Love (Remixes) - EP, Janelle Monáe
8. What Is Love..
Q.U.E.E.N. (feat. Erykah Badu) [Remixes], Janelle Monáe
9. Q.U.E.E.N. (..
iTunes Festival: London 2013 - EP, Janelle Monáe
10. iTunes Festi..
Metropolis Suite I - The Chase - EP, Janelle Monáe
11. Metropolis S..
Tightrope (Remixes), Janelle Monáe
12. Tightrope (R..
Metropolis: Suite I - The Chase - EP, Janelle Monáe
13. Metropolis: ..
Violet Stars Happy Hunting! - Single, Janelle Monáe
14. Violet Stars..
Primetime Remixes - Single, Janelle Monáe
15. Primetime Re..
We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monáe) [Alvin Risk Remix] - Single, Fun.
16. We Are Young..
Tightrope (Solo Version) - Single, Janelle Monáe
17. Tightrope (S..
Tightrope (Wondamix) [feat. B.o.B and Lupe Fiasco] - Single, Janelle Monáe
18. Tightrope (W..

Top Songs

NameAlbumTimePrice
1.
PrimeTime (feat. Miguel)Electric Lady4:40$1.29
2.
What Is LoveRio 2 (Music From the Motio..3:31$1.29
3.
Tightrope (feat. Big Boi)ArchAndroid (Deluxe)4:22$1.29
4.
Dance ApocalypticElectric Lady3:25$1.29
5.
Q.U.E.E.N. (feat. Erykah Badu)Electric Lady5:10$1.29
6.
Heroes (Pepsi Beats of the Beautiful..Heroes (Pepsi Beats of the ..3:19$1.29
7.
Electric Lady (feat. Solange)Electric Lady5:08$1.29
8.
What Is Love (Walden Radio Edit)What Is Love (Remixes) - EP3:12$1.29
9.
Tightrope (feat. Big Boi)ArchAndroid4:22$1.29
10.
Primetime (feat. Miguel) [Chloe Mart..Primetime Remixes - Single4:54$1.29
11.
Givin Em What They Love (feat. Princ..Electric Lady4:26$1.29
12.
Tightrope (Solo Version)Tightrope (Solo Version) - ..4:24$1.29
13.
Cold WarArchAndroid3:23$1.29
14.
We Were Rock n' RollElectric Lady4:19$1.29
15.
What Is Love (DJ Obscene Remix)What Is Love (Remixes) - EP4:48$1.29
16.
What Is Love (Elephante Remix)What Is Love (Remixes) - EP4:05$1.29
17.
Dance Apocalyptic (Chocolate Puma Re..Atlantic Records Miami 20145:32$1.29
18.
What An ExperienceElectric Lady4:41$1.29
19.
Dorothy Dandridge Eyes (feat. Espera..Electric Lady4:15$1.29
20.
Can't Live Without Your LoveElectric Lady3:54$1.29
21.
What Is Love (Chooky Remix)What Is Love (Remixes) - EP4:08$1.29
22.
What Is Love (Poupon Remix)What Is Love (Remixes) - EP4:14$1.29
23.
What Is Love (Giuseppe D Remix)What Is Love (Remixes) - EP3:31$1.29
24.
Q.U.E.E.N. (feat. Erykah Badu) [Trad..Atlantic Records Miami 20145:25$1.29
25.
Primetime (feat. Miguel) [Kastle Rem..Primetime Remixes - Single4:40$1.29

Top Music Videos

Tightrope (feat. Big Boi), Janelle Monáe
1. Tightrope (fe...
Many Moons (Extended Version), Janelle Monáe
2. Many Moons (E...
Q.U.E.E.N. (feat. Erykah Badu), Janelle Monáe
3. Q.U.E.E.N. (f...
Open Happiness, Cee Lo Green, Brendon Urie, Patrick Stump, Janelle Monáe & Travis McCoy
4. Open Happines...
Primetime (feat. Miguel), Janelle Monáe
5. Primetime (fe...
Tightrope (Wondamix) [Feat. B.o.B & Lupe Fiasco], Janelle Monáe
6. Tightrope (Wo...
Cold War, Janelle Monáe
7. Cold War
Dance Apocalyptic, Janelle Monáe
8. Dance Apocaly...
Sincerely Jane (Live from The Blender Theater), Janelle Monáe
9. Sincerely Jan...
Violet Stars Happy Hunting! (Live from The Blender Theater), Janelle Monáe
10. Violet Stars ...
Be Still (feat. Janelle Monáe), Big Boi
11. Be Still (fea...
Open Happiness (Making of), Brendon Urie, Cee Lo Green, Janelle Monáe, Patrick Stump & Travis McCoy
12. Open Happines...


Comments



US iTunes, App Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store
US iTunes, App Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store

Become a fan of the Show Up Music on Facebook for exclusive offers, the inside scoop on latest and most exclusive music albums, singles and videos.