In a new sci-fi book, musician Janelle Monáe expands on themes from her Grammy-nominated album Dirty Computer to tell stories about a community of individuals whose identities are being erased. Jheyda McGarrell hide caption
Janelle Monáe Janelle Monáe artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music
Janelle Monáe
Alabama Shakes (by Autumn de Wilde), Lizzo (by John Vettese/WXPN), Courtney Barnett (by Milk! Records), Ray Lamontagne (by WXPN) Autumn de Wilde hide caption
"How Many More Times?"
Whether you're a tote bag or Telfie babe, the spirit of roséwave lives in us all. Kara Frame/NPR hide caption
Mastodon's "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton" is featured in September's edition of Heavy Rotation. Jimmy Hubbard hide caption
A screenshot from the music video for "Turntables." Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Frank Ocean's song "Nights" is on Gerrick D. Kennedy's Pride playlist, which includes songs he says "remind me to stand in my power as a Black queer man in America." Jason Merritt/Getty Images hide caption
Music speaks truth to anger and frustration, but also provides a sense of hope and beauty. Rashida Chavis for NPR hide caption
Janelle Monae attends the Hollywood premiere of Black Panther in January 2018. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images hide caption
Pussy Riot's performance at SXSW — one of Ann Powers' favorite concert experiences of 2018 — felt like an occupation of the senses. Hutton Supancic/Getty Images for SXSW hide caption
Childish Gambino (left) performs onstage during the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Festival. Rosalía speaks onstage during the 19th annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. Janelle Monae performs in Los Angeles in June and Kacey Musgraves performs at the 2018 Stagecoach Festival in April. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia; David Becker/Getty Images for LARAS; Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Stagecoach hide caption
Beyoncé performs onstage during Coachella on April 14, 2018. Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Coachella hide caption
Janelle Monae performs in 2018 in Los Angeles. Kevin Winter/Getty Images and Angela Hsieh/NPR hide caption
Favorite Albums So Far Angela Hsieh/NPR hide caption
It's hard to deny Cardi B's "I Like It." YouTube hide caption
Stay sauced up and bossed up. Eslah Attar & Samantha Clark/NPR hide caption
Janelle Monáe is the past, present and future. JUCO/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Janelle Monae's Dirty Computer is on our short list of the best new albums out on April 27. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Janelle Monae's third album Dirty Computer arrives April 27. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Janelle Monáe Juco/Courtesy of the artist hide caption