Janelle Monáe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Janelle Monáe
Monáe at the 2019 Paris Fashion Week
Background information
Birth name	Janelle Monáe Robinson
Born	(1985-12-01) December 1, 1985 (age 39) Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
Genres	R&B pop funk psychedelic soul hip hop progressive soul Indie soul
Occupations	Singer songwriter rapper actress
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Wondaland Epic Bad Boy Atlantic

Janelle Monáe Robinson (born December 1, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and actress. She is known for her creative music and powerful performances. Monáe has been nominated for ten Grammy Awards and has won a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Children's and Family Emmy Award. She has also received special honors for her unique talent, like the Rising Star Award in 2015 and the Trailblazer of the Year Award in 2018 from Billboard Women in Music.

Monáe started her music career in 2003. Her first official release was an extended play (EP) called Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) in 2007. Her first full album, The ArchAndroid (2010), was a hit and reached number 17 on the Billboard 200 chart. She became even more famous after singing on the song "We Are Young" by the band fun.. The song was a massive success and went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Her second album, The Electric Lady (2013), was also very popular. Her third album, Dirty Computer (2018), was praised by critics as one of the best albums of the year. It came with a science fiction film of the same name. In 2022, she co-wrote a book of stories called The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer, based on the album. Her fourth album, The Age of Pleasure (2023), was nominated for the Album of the Year award.

Monáe is also a talented actress. She received praise for her roles in the movies Moonlight and Hidden Figures (both in 2016). She has also starred in films like Harriet (2019) and Glass Onion (2022). In 2015, she started her own record label, Wondaland Arts Society, to help other artists.

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Janelle Monáe Robinson was born on December 1, 1985, in Kansas City, Kansas. She grew up in a working-class community called Quindaro. Her mother, Janet, worked as a janitor and hotel maid, and her father, Michael, was a truck driver.

Monáe was raised Baptist and started singing in her local church. Music was a big part of her family life. From a young age, she dreamed of being a performer. She was inspired by characters like Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz. She also loved the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and would perform its songs at talent shows, winning three years in a row.

As a teenager, she wrote musicals, including one inspired by a Stevie Wonder album. After high school, she moved to New York City to study musical theater. She enjoyed it but wanted to create her own unique style.

After about a year, Monáe moved to Atlanta and started writing her own music. In 2003, she made a demo album called The Audition and sold copies from her car. During this time, she worked at an Office Depot but was fired for using a company computer to email a fan. This experience inspired her song "Lettin' Go," which caught the attention of the rapper Big Boi from the group OutKast.

Music and Acting Career

Career Beginnings

Monáe first appeared on albums with the music group Purple Ribbon All-Stars and on OutKast's 2006 album Idlewild. Big Boi told his friend, the famous music producer Sean Combs, about Monáe. Combs was very impressed with her unique style and dancing.

In 2006, Monáe signed with Combs's record label, Bad Boy Records. They wanted to help her grow as an artist without rushing her. They believed she had something new and fresh to offer the music world.

Metropolis and The ArchAndroid (2007–2011)

Monáe performing at the Austin Music Hall in 2009

In 2007, Monáe released her first EP, Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). It was a concept album, which means the songs tell a story. The story was about an android (a robot that looks human) named Cindi Mayweather who was on the run for falling in love with a human. The EP was a success with critics and earned Monáe a Grammy nomination for the single "Many Moons".

Her first full-length album, The ArchAndroid, came out in 2010. It continued the story of Cindi Mayweather, who becomes a hero for the android community. The album was inspired by many things, including the classic 1927 science-fiction film Metropolis. Through her sci-fi stories, Monáe explored ideas about prejudice and being treated as an "other."

In 2011, Monáe was featured on the song "We Are Young" by the band fun.. The song became a worldwide hit, reaching number one in over ten countries. It brought Monáe to a much wider audience and earned her three more Grammy nominations.

The Electric Lady and Other Projects (2012–2014)

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

In 2012, Monáe became a spokesperson for CoverGirl cosmetics. She also performed at events supporting President Barack Obama. The city of Boston, Massachusetts, even named October 16, 2013, "Janelle Monáe Day" to honor her art and social leadership.

Her second album, The Electric Lady, was released in 2013. It continued the story of her android character but also explored new music styles like jazz and pop-punk. The song "Q.U.E.E.N.", featuring Erykah Badu, was inspired by conversations about how society treats people who are seen as different. The album featured famous artists like Prince and Miguel.

In 2014, Monáe voiced a character, Dr. Monáe, in the animated movie Rio 2. She also performed at the White House for a special event called "Women of Soul," which celebrated influential female artists.

Wondaland Records and Acting Debut (2015–2016)

Monáe at the premiere of Moonlight in 2016

In 2015, Monáe launched her own record label, Wondaland Records. The label's first release was an EP called The Eephus, which featured Monáe and other artists from her label. That same year, she and her Wondaland artists performed the protest song "Hell You Talmbout" to raise awareness for Black lives lost to violence.

In 2016, Monáe made her movie debut in two highly praised films. She played Teresa in Moonlight, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. She also starred as NASA engineer and mathematician Mary Jackson in Hidden Figures. Both roles showed that she was a talented actress as well as a musician.

Dirty Computer and Film Success (2017–2022)

Janelle Monáe performing at the Dirty Computer Tour

While filming her movies, Monáe was also working on her third album. In 2018, she released Dirty Computer, another concept album that came with a short "emotion picture" film. The album was a huge success and was named the best album of the year by The New York Times and NPR. It was also nominated for the Album of the Year Grammy.

Monáe continued to act in major films and TV shows. She starred in the fantasy film Welcome to Marwen (2018) and the historical drama Harriet (2019). In 2020, she took the lead role in the second season of the Amazon series Homecoming and starred in the horror film Antebellum.

In 2022, she starred as twin sisters in the hit mystery movie Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, earning great reviews for her performance. That same year, her book The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer was published.

The Age of Pleasure (2023)

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

In 2023, Monáe released her fourth studio album, The Age of Pleasure. She described the album as a "soundtrack to a lifestyle" that is all about finding joy. The album has a fun, summery sound and continues to explore themes of love and acceptance. It was nominated for two Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.

Artistry and Image

Musical Style

Monáe has a powerful mezzo-soprano singing voice. Her music blends many styles, including R&B, funk, pop, and jazz. She has been compared to legendary artists like James Brown, Prince, and David Bowie. A big part of her art is Afrofuturism, which combines science fiction and African culture to imagine a different future.

Her android character, Cindi Mayweather, is a key part of her storytelling. Cindi is a hero who fights for those who are oppressed or considered "the Other." Monáe's music often connects these futuristic stories to real-world issues and her own experiences growing up in Kansas City.

Public Image

Monáe is known for her unique style.

Monáe is famous for her signature style, especially her black-and-white tuxedo outfits. She has said that the tuxedo is like a uniform for her. It helps her stay balanced and allows her to be a "canvas." She wears it to honor her parents and other working-class people.

Her fashion choices are meant to challenge ideas about how men and women should dress. She believes people should be free to express themselves however they want. Her bold style has made her a fashion icon, and she has been honored for her creativity by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

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

Tours

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Janelle Monáe para niños