Janelle Monae's Funky Otherworldly Sounds
Janelle Monae, the 24-year-old singer, songwriter and performer from Kansas City, blends cabaret, soul, funk and rock 'n roll in her music.
Janelle Monae has said she uses her imagination as an escape from a rough childhood, which was marked by her father's addiction to drugs. Scott Gries/Getty Images hide caption
Janelle Monae has said she uses her imagination as an escape from a rough childhood, which was marked by her father's addiction to drugs.
Scott Gries/Getty ImagesHer 2007 debut album Metropolis: The Chase Suite featured a character named Cindi Mayweather, Monae's android alter-ego from the year 2719. "Many Moons," a single off the album, earned the singer a Grammy nomination, and helped Monae catch the ear of Sean "Diddy" Combs, who signed her to his Bad Boy roster and re-released the album.
In 2005, Outkasts's Big Boi included two of her songs on his compilation, Got Purp?, Vol. 2. Monae also performed in Outkast's Idlewild soundtrack.