There are many labels that one can associate with Janelle Monáe. A singer, actor and activist, the Kansas City native has been in the entertainment industry since the early 2000s, forging an impressive path as a non-binary black entertainer.
Monáe’s career breakthrough began in 2005, at just 20 years old. Performing a cover of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song” at an open mic night, she was noticed by Big Boi, the other half alongside André 3000 in Outkast. After watching her performance, the rapper was impressed, and a year later, they collaborated on songs like “Time Will Reveal” and “Lettin’ Go” by The Purple Ribbon All-Stars.
From there, the singer was signed by Bad Boy Records, Sean Combs’ label. Monáe also joined forces with Outkast, featured on its songs “Call The Law” and “In Your Dreams” from its critically acclaimed album “Idlewild.”
After working with iconic leaders in the hip-hop genre, Monáe finally began releasing her own music. Three years after being discovered, she released her first album, “Metropolis: The Chase Suite.” With only seven songs, it allowed the singer to keep creating at a rapid speed, leading to even more successful triumphs.
In 2010, Monáe dropped the follow-up to her first album, “The ArchAndroid,” featuring collaborations with artists such as Saul Williams and Big Boi again. It rose to No. 17 on the U.S. Billboard album chart, receiving two Grammy nominations for “Urban/Alternative Performance” and “Contemporary R&B Album.”
The album’s breakout single “Tightrope (feat. Big Boi)” would grab the attention of alternative band fun., who would later ask Monáe to join them two years later on their biggest hit, “We Are Young.” To this day, everyone remembers this song even after 11 years, and it helped the singer receive the recognition she deserved in the media.
The following year, Monáe was riding the high of her success with fun., but this didn’t stop her from evolving as an artist. Serving as the sequel to her previous album, the singer released “The Electric Lady,” an album centered around reinventing her sound. Working with artists from the past and present such as Prince, Miguel and Erykah Badu, Monáe proved yet again that she was only getting better as an artist, leading her down unexpected paths.
One of these paths was the film industry, acting as unknown territory for the singer, but it was a challenge that Monáe conquered with ease. Featured in two of 2016’s biggest films “Hidden Figures” and the Oscar-winning “Moonlight,” the singer played roles that symbolized the strength and determination of black women, as well as allowed her fan base to see her not just as a musician but as a storyteller.
Yet, Monáe’s hiatus from music would come to an end in 2018, teasing new music for her “Dirty Computer” era. Returning to her hip-hop roots, the singer dropped “Django Jane,” a song that saw her rap for the first time to audiences everywhere. Later on, she also dropped the queer anthems “Make Me Feel” and “Pynk (feat. Grimes),” launching Monáe into iconic status in the music industry.
Because of its wide range, introspective lyrics and themes focused on racial injustice, gender norms and power dynamics, Monáe’s fourth album would attain mass appeal. The following year, she was nominated at the Grammy’s Awards again for arguably the best prize of the ceremony, “Album of the Year” and “Music Video.”
Now almost five years old, “Dirty Computer” is still an album that has not lost any of its relevance, nor has Monáe’s range as an artist. Since its debut, the singer has dropped an array of singles for movies and television shows such as “All In: The Fight for Democracy” and “We The People.”
Additionally, the singer recently dropped a new single this year called “Float (feat. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80),” possibly acting as a hint to her next project. Besides music, Monáe was also in last year’s “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” alongside Daniel Craig and Kate Hudson.
All in all, it seems like Janelle Monáe can do just about anything in and outside of the music industry, making her a powerhouse in the world of entertainment. From music to movies, people will remember the singer for years to come, not just for their art but for their endurance as well.
