The studio album “The ArchAndroid” and the artist Janelle Monae, an up-and-coming American singer, songwriter, and actress, make her stand out from the crowd. In the US, her EP “Metropolis: Suit I (The Chase)” topped the charts. She founded “Wondaland Records” to support like-minded musicians popular in the US. Additionally, Janelle performed as herself in a number of television serials and the film “Moonlight.” She received two awards: “Outstanding Breakthrough Performance: Female” at the Black Reel Awards and the “Rising Star Award” at the Billboard Women Music Awards. She has starred in several ads and served as a brand ambassador for “Cover Girl,” the top cosmetic company in America. Her Kansas City upbringing had a significant influence on her attitude toward life, which is evident in her songs. Although she hasn’t officially become gay, she supports the LGBTQ community. She identifies as a “funkstress.”
Early Childhood & Life
In Kansas City, Missouri, on December 1, 1985, Janelle Monae was born. Her mother was a janitor and her father drove a truck. Her father’s drug addiction and bad financial situation made her first few days in Kansas City challenging.
Janelle had aspirations of being a singer and desired to escape the rut she was born into. She began to believe in her dream as a child by creating a make-believe world around herself. She pursued her dream of becoming a singer in part because the imaginary character from the musical “The Wizard of Oz” served as inspiration.
She began writing songs and stories at a young age and was a member of the choir at the Baptist church nearby.
When she was twelve years old, she composed the play’s script.
Janelle relocated to New York City to enroll in the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and participated in a performing arts camp at the Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia, the nation’s first African-American theater.
She relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2001, when she met Big Boi from the American hip-hop group “Outkast” and became a member of the “Wondaland Arts Society,” a group of up-and-coming artists. In 2003, she proceeded to release her first EP, which was a limited edition CD called “The Audition.”
The career of Janelle Monae
Janelle Monae made her debut in 2006 when she collaborated with the group OutKast on the songs “Call the Law” and “In Your Dreams” from their album “Idlewild.” Big Boi and his friend Sean Combs saw her skill and worked with her to raise her status as a vocalist.
She originally released a solo album in 2007 called “Metropolis,” which was then re-issued in 2008 under the name “Metropolis: The Chase Suit” with a few extra tracks. She received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Urban / Alternative Performance as a result of the EP.
Her song “Many Moons” reached the top of the charts, and in 2009, the final season of American Idol featured her song “Open Happiness.” She then released the song “Tightrope,” which was included in the 2011 American Idols LIVE! Tour.
Jazz enthusiasts loved her studio album “The Electric Lady,” which was performed in 2012 at the Toronto Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, and Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Over 31,000 digital copies of her single “Q.U.E.E.N.” from the album were sold after it debuted on SoundCloud and iTunes.
She performed at the festival in favor of President Obama after being chosen as the spokesperson for the American cosmetics company “Cover Girl.” She has appeared in several advertisements, such as the one for Sonos Wireless HiFi home audio systems.
Janelle has performed live on numerous occasions, most notably at the Global Citizens Festival in Central Park alongside musicians like Stevie Wonder. She additionally made a cameo on Saturday Night Live, which had Edward Norton as the host.
Her career as a vocalist reached a high point in 2014 when she received the award for Achievement in Arts and Media from the Harvard College Women’s Center.
She founded the independent label Wondaland Records in 2015. She began attending different fashion events, including the 2015 London Fashion Week, as her famous reputation expanded.
She made her screen debut in the 2016 film “Moonight,” costarring Andre Holland and Naomie Harris. This was followed the same year by a part with Octavia Spencer in the movie “Hidden Figures.”
With the release of the song “Venus Fly” and the soundtrack for the Netflix series “The Get Down,” she continued to be active in the music industry throughout this time. She contributed to the music for her movie “Hidden Figures.” She is currently developing her part for the upcoming film “The Women of Marwen.”
Bigger Works of Janelle Monae
17 singles, 3 EPs, 13 music videos, and 3 albums by Janelle have all been released.
The Audition (2003), The ArchAndroid (2010), and The Electric Lady are some of her studio albums (2013).
Her EPs include “Wondaland Presents: The Eephus,” “iTunes Festival: London 2013,” and “Metropolis: Suit I (The Chase)”.
Additionally, she appeared in the 2016 motion pictures “Hidden Figures” and “Moonlight.”
In the television series “Stargate Universe” (2009), “Dancing With The Stars” (2010), and “Saturday Night Live,” Janelle has made appearances as herself (2013).
Recognition & Achievements
Janelle Monae has been nominated for and won many honors at different award shows, including Best R&B/Pop Album of 2010 for her album “The ArchAndroid,” the Rising Star Award at the Billboard Women Music Awards, the Black Women in Music Award, and Best Art Director at the MTV Awards.
She has also received numerous acting honors, including Best Ensemble at the African-American Film Critics Association Awards and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance: Female at the 2017 Black Reel Awards.
Personal Legacy & Life
Atlanta, Georgia, USA, is where Janelle currently calls home. She affirms that she only dates androids that she can identify with and is a supporter of the LGBTQ community. Although she hasn’t officially come out, she has said that she enjoys it when people of both sexes appreciate her.
She has been described as a science fiction nerd by some critics. Her musical style has been characterized as enigmatic with hints of jazz and pop from the 1960s. Michael Jackson, James Brown, and Stevie Wonder are some of the musicians who have had an impact on her.
She has frequently been referred to be a defender of the oppressed and a middleman between the wealthy and the poor. Her Kansas City upbringing had a significant influence on her attitude toward life, which is evident in her songs. She identifies as a “funkstress.”
She has made wearing tuxedos her signature look and claims she doesn’t care what people think of her appearance or sense of style as long as she is comfortable. She links to her early years when she worked as a maid with her characteristic black and white color scheme.
Janelle Monae Net Worth
American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, producer, and actor Janelle Monáe has a $12 million dollar net worth. In 2003, Monáe released her debut independent album, “The Audition,” and three years later, she landed a deal with Bad Boy Records. Janelle received a Grammy nomination for her 2007 EP “Metropolis Suite I: The Chase.” The studio albums “The ArchAndroid” (2010), “The Electric Lady” (2013), and “Dirty Computer” were subsequently released by Monáe (2018). In addition to lending her voice to “Rio 2” (2014), “UglyDolls” (2019), and “Lady and the Tramp,” Janelle has acted in the movies “Moonlight” (2016), “Hidden Figures” (2016), “Welcome to Marwen” (2018), “Harriet” (2019), “The Glorias” (2020), and “Antebellum” (2020) as an actress (2019). She joined the “Homecoming” cast of the Prime Video series in 2020.
Trivia
The Academy Award for Best Picture was nominated for both of her films, Moonlight and Hidden Figures.
She favors tougher gun regulations and opposes black people being subjected to police brutality.