Janelle Monáe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Janelle Monáe
Monáe at the 2019 Paris Fashion Week
Born	Janelle Monáe Robinson (1985-12-01) December 1, 1985 (age 40) Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
Other names	Cindi Mayweather
Occupation	Singer songwriter rapper actress
Years active	2003–present
Organization	The Wondaland Arts Society
Works	Discography filmography
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	R&B pop funk psychedelic soul hip-hop progressive soul
Labels	Wondaland Epic Bad Boy Atlantic

Janelle Monáe Robinson (born December 1, 1985) is a talented American singer, songwriter, rapper, and actress. She is known for her unique music style and powerful performances. Janelle has been nominated for ten Grammy Awards. She also won a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Children's and Family Emmy Award. Billboard magazine recognized her with the Rising Star Award in 2015 and the Trailblazer of the Year Award in 2018.

Janelle started her music journey in 2003. She released her first official music, an extended play (EP) called Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) in 2007. Her first full album, The ArchAndroid, came out in 2010. It was very popular and reached number 17 on the music charts. She also sang on the hit song "We Are Young" by the band fun. in 2011. This song became a huge success worldwide. Her second album, The Electric Lady (2013), reached number five on the charts.

Her third album, Dirty Computer (2018), was praised by many critics. It was even called one of the best albums of the year by several publications. Her most recent album, The Age of Pleasure (2023), was nominated for Album of the Year.

Janelle is also a successful actress. She gained attention for her roles in the 2016 films Moonlight and Hidden Figures. In Hidden Figures, she played engineer Mary Jackson. She also starred in Harriet (2019) and Glass Onion (2022). In 2022, she won an Emmy Award for her role in the TV series We the People. She also started her own record label, Wondaland Arts Society.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Janelle Monáe Robinson was born on December 1, 1985. She grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, in a community called Quindaro. Her mother worked as a janitor and hotel maid. Her father was a truck driver. Janelle's parents separated when she was very young.

Janelle was raised in the Baptist faith. She learned to sing in her local church. Many of her family members were also musicians and performers. From a young age, Janelle dreamed of becoming a singer. She was inspired by characters like Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz. The album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill also greatly influenced her. She won talent shows three years in a row performing songs from it.

As a teenager, Janelle joined the Coterie Theater's Young Playwrights' Round Table. Here, she started writing musicals. One musical she wrote at age 12 was inspired by Stevie Wonder's album Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants".

After high school, Janelle moved to New York City. She studied musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She was the only Black woman in her class. Janelle enjoyed the experience but wanted to create her own unique music. She felt she might lose her special style if she only played existing characters.

After a year and a half, Janelle left the academy. She moved to Atlanta and attended Georgia Perimeter College. There, she began writing and performing her own songs. In 2003, she released her own demo album called The Audition. She sold copies from her car. During this time, she worked at an Office Depot. She was fired for using a company computer to email a fan. This event inspired her song "Lettin' Go," which caught the attention of musician Big Boi.

Career Highlights

Early Career and First Albums (2005–2011)

Janelle Monáe first appeared on other artists' albums in 2005 and 2006. She was featured on the Purple Ribbon All-Stars album and OutKast's album Idlewild. Musician Big Boi introduced her to Sean Combs, who was impressed by her unique style.

Monáe signed with Bad Boy Records in 2006. The label helped her reach a wider audience. They wanted to build her career carefully, allowing her music to grow naturally.

Monáe performing at the Austin Music Hall in 2009

In 2007, Monáe released her first solo work, Metropolis. It was planned as a series of four parts. The first part, Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase), was released officially in 2008. This EP (Extended Play) received great reviews. It earned Monáe a Grammy nomination for her song "Many Moons". She also opened for the band No Doubt on their 2009 tour.

Monáe created an alter ego named Cindi Mayweather for her music. She described Cindi as an android. Janelle explained that androids represent "the other," or people who feel different. She wanted her music to connect with anyone who felt like an outsider.

Her debut studio album, The ArchAndroid, was released on May 18, 2010. This album combined the second and third parts of her Metropolis story. Cindi Mayweather became a hero for the android community in this story. Monáe planned to make videos for each song and create a film and graphic novel based on the album. The Metropolis concept was inspired by many things, including the 1927 silent film Metropolis.

In 2010, Monáe received the Vanguard Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. She performed at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011 with Bruno Mars and B.o.B. Her performance received a standing ovation. In September 2011, Monáe was a guest singer on fun.'s hit single "We Are Young". This song became a huge international success. It earned Monáe three Grammy nominations.

The Electric Lady and New Ventures (2012–2014)

In 2012, Monáe performed new songs from her upcoming album, The Electric Lady. She appeared at the Toronto Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Monáe performing at Way Out West in Gothenburg, Sweden, on August 8, 2014

In August 2012, Monáe became a spokesperson for CoverGirl makeup. The Boston City Council declared October 16, 2013, "Janelle Monáe Day." This honored her artistic talent and leadership in the community.

Her first single from The Electric Lady was "Q.U.E.E.N.", featuring Erykah Badu. It was released in April 2013. Monáe explained that "Q.U.E.E.N." was inspired by talks with Erykah Badu. It was about how marginalized people, especially African-American women, are treated. The album The Electric Lady continued her futuristic themes. It also explored new music styles like jazz, pop-punk, and gospel. The album featured famous artists like Prince and Solange Knowles. It was released to great reviews on September 10, 2013.

In 2014, Monáe voiced Dr. Monáe in the animated movie Rio 2. She also sang the song "What Is Love" for the soundtrack. She performed at the White House for the "Women of Soul" event. This event celebrated American women artists who made a big impact on music.

Film Roles and The Eephus (2015–2016)

In 2015, Monáe's independent label, Wondaland Arts Society, partnered with Epic Records. The label was renamed Wondaland Records. This partnership helped promote artists like Jidenna, Roman GianArthur, and St. Beauty.

In March 2015, Monáe released the single "Yoga" from the album The Eephus. The album was successful, reaching number 22 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In August 2015, Monáe and her Wondaland Arts Society collective performed the protest song "Hell You Talmbout". This song raised awareness about social justice and remembered lives lost. She spoke on NBC's Today Show, saying, "We will not be silenced."

In March 2016, First Lady Michelle Obama created a song called "This Is for My Girls." It featured Monáe, Kelly Clarkson, Zendaya, and Missy Elliott. The song promoted the First Lady's educational initiative, Let Girls Learn.

In October 2016, Monáe made her acting debut in the acclaimed film Moonlight. She also starred in Hidden Figures (2016). In Hidden Figures, she played the real-life engineer Mary Jackson.

Dirty Computer and Recent Work (2017–Present)

Janelle Monáe performing at the Dirty Computer Tour

While filming her movies, Monáe continued to work on music. She was featured on Grimes' album Art Angels. She also contributed to the soundtrack for the Netflix series The Get Down.

Monáe put her third studio album on hold to focus on her acting roles. On February 16, 2018, she announced her album, Dirty Computer, with a teaser video. The album was released on April 27, 2018. It was accompanied by a narrative film project. Monáe shared that Prince had helped her with some sounds for the album before he passed away.

Dirty Computer was highly praised and debuted at number six on the Billboard 200. Many publications, including the Associated Press and New York Times, named it the best album of the year. It was nominated for Album of the Year.

In 2018, Monáe received the Trailblazer of the Year award from Billboard Women in Music. She also co-starred in the film Welcome to Marwen. In 2019, she inducted Janet Jackson into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She also starred in the film Harriet, about abolitionist Harriet Tubman. In 2020, Monáe had her first lead role in the horror film Antebellum. She also appeared in the biopic The Glorias.

In February 2020, Monáe opened the 92nd Academy Awards with a memorable performance. In September 2020, she released the music video Turntables. This song was part of a voter registration campaign. It was also used in the film All In: The Fight for Democracy.

On July 4, 2021, We The People premiered on Netflix. This animated music video series was created by Chris Nee and produced by Barack and Michelle Obama. Monáe performed several songs for the series. She won a Children's and Family Emmy Award for her work on the show.

In 2022, Monáe played twin sisters Helen and Cassandra "Andi" Brand in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Her performance received critical acclaim. In April 2022, she published her first book, The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer. This book explores themes of freedom, identity, and love in a futuristic setting.

The Age of Pleasure (2023)

Janelle Monae performing during 'The Age of Pleasure' tour in 2023

In December 2022, Atlantic Records' CEO Craig Kallman mentioned that Monáe had new music planned for 2023. On February 16, 2023, Monáe released the single "Float". On May 11, she announced her fourth album The Age of Pleasure, which was released on June 9.

In a July 2023 interview, Monáe described her new album as "a movement" and "a soundtrack to a lifestyle." She emphasized the pursuit of joy and self-expression. The songs and music videos for tracks like "Water Slide" and "Lipstick Lover" continued to explore themes of love and acceptance.

The album was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Progressive R&B Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

Artistry and Style

Musical Styles and Influences

Janelle Monáe has a powerful mezzo-soprano singing voice. Journalists have described her music as "a soaring orchestral trip." It is filled with strong vocals, mysterious images, and sounds from 1960s pop and jazz. She has been compared to artists like James Brown, Judy Garland, and Annie Lennox.

Monáe's musical influences include Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Prince, Outkast, Erykah Badu, and Stevie Wonder. Her dancing style in the "Tightrope" music video is often compared to James Brown's. Many people place Janelle Monáe within the Afrofuturism movement. This movement combines African culture with science fiction.

Monáe often uses an alter ego named Cindi Mayweather, who is from the year 2719. In her first EP, Cindi was on the run for falling in love with a human. In her second album, Cindi Mayweather returned to Earth to help the android community. Monáe sees Cindi as a mediator between different groups of people. She represents those who feel like "the other."

Her music style is often called "psychedelic soul with a sci-fi twist." Monáe uses the idea of androids to talk about how Black female musicians are seen in funk music. Funk music from the 1960s to 1980s is a big influence on her. Her Wondaland Arts Society Collective believes there are "only three forms of music; good music, bad music, and funk." Monáe also calls herself a "funkstress."

Janelle Monáe's hometown of Kansas City, Kansas, is important in her lyrics and style. In her song "Ghetto Woman," she sings about her working-class mother. She also addresses how working-class Black women are shown in American culture. Monáe feels a strong connection to her community. She expresses concern about letting them down. On The ArchAndroid album, she connects the futuristic cities in Metropolis to the poorer areas of Kansas. Kansas City is not just her home, but also a key inspiration for her songs and science fiction stories.

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

• The ArchAndroid (2010)
• The Electric Lady (2013)
• Dirty Computer (2018)
• The Age of Pleasure (2023)

Tours

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

• 

  Monáe at the premiere of Moonlight in 2016

See also

In Spanish: Janelle Monáe para niños