Janelle Monáe - Seen and Heard.

 Ever since the BET awards I've been wondering Who the heck is Janelle Monáe? Everyone was so busy talking about Chris Brown crying and Patti LeBelle killin' it on stage! That i thought hmm...who was that chick in the suit performing "Let's Get crazy" during the Prince Tribute? They said her name but I didn't really know WHO she was. After doing a lil research it turns out she has been doing music for a while along with Big Boi of Outcast and Sean P-Diddy Combs (or whatever his name is this week). She has her own label Wondaland Arts Society, and is signed with Bad Boy and Atlantic Records.


Janelle Monáe was born in Kansas City, Kansas to a working class family. She says her iconic suit and tie are her uniform paying homage to her family. Upon my research I've found out that she is quite talented. The girl can sing. And truly sing! Her style reminds me of Grace Jones with a dance inspired by James Brown. There is also a David Bowie and Lena Horne feeling to her. What you hear on the recorded album is what you hear live! her album The ArchAndroid has come out this year and from different various reviews it is a very good album. It tells a story. Metropolis: The Chase Suite (her first EP) tells a story of Monáe's alter-ego, Cindi Mayweather the protagonist of Metropolis: The Chase Suite is like a messiah-esque figure to the android community of Metropolis. A lot of people may not get it at first but her music is nothing less than spectactular and a good time.

 The main reason why I'm talking about Ms. Monáe is because she is a great artist. She says she wants to bring art back into popular music. Her songs arent all about dissing some old boyfriend or partying out in the club. Her style of music shouldn't be categorized or put into a box so other people can understand it. Her music has a pop, hip hop, old classical rock and roll type or feeling. She said "My music is for the people... It is meant to uplift and motivate."

And motivate it does! She has given me a new look on the music I listen to, and what other more popular well-known artist today look like. She's not a Rihanna or a Beyonce (who I love). She does doesn't strip off her clothes on stage or strut around in her high heels. She said in an interview that she started wearing a uniform (when performing) because she wanted people to pay more attention to her music and not what she's wearing.  She's herself and doesn't wanna make music strictly for the radio or for the charts. She isn't shaking her butt in peoples faces. She performs with a grace on stage with her "Tightrope" dancing similar to James Brown and Michael Jackson.

 The one thing I love the most is the way she carries herself publicly. Janelle carrys herself well and has the ability to engage in an intelligent conversation. She doesn't use constant slang words or cussing. In interviews I've seen so far, she is calm, cool and collected. When she talks she gives you no bullshit. She talks about her music as an art form not something she does on the side. She doesn't seem distracted as if she were bored. She takes every question asked, to heart.

 To me Miss Janelle Monáe is a breath of fresh air. She's not the regular mainstream artist. She isn't some gimmick. Her style, attitude and stage presence is one-of-a-kind. In years coming I hope I learn even more about her. She is definitely one to watch. We shouldn't let this one slip out of our hands. She has all the things to become a legend. The question is: Will people like her? Will they understand her art or be left confused and move on the things that are much simpler in music...like Ke$ha...Either way I know Janelle Monáe is a new face in music that deserves to be seen, and heard.