Janelle Monae Is Alive

ORIGIN
Janelle Monae is an American Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and music producer. She’s also an actress, model, and co-founder of Wondaland Arts Society. Her discography includes The Audition (2003), The ArchAndroid (2013), The Electric Lady (2013), and Dirty Computer (2018). She held prominent roles in films like Moonlight (2016) and Hidden Figures (2016). Janelle Monae Robinson was born on December 1, 1985, in Kansas City, Kansas. Her father, Michael Robinson Summers, worked as a garbage truck driver, and her mother as a janitor. Monae attended F. L. Schlagle High School in Kansas City. She studied drama briefly at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.

CAREER
Monae sang at her local Baptist church as a child. She gained early acting experience performing in such productions as ‘Cinderella’ and ‘The Wiz’. She wrote several plays/musicals during her time with Kansas City’s Coterie Theater Young Playwrights’ Round Table. Monae moved to Atlanta, Georgia, after one year at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She co-founded the label Wondaland Arts Society in 2001. Her debut studio album, The Audition, was independently released in 2003. It featured songs like “Lettin’ Go” and “Time Will Reveal”. Monae was featured on Purple Ribbon All-Stars’s 2nd album, Got Purp? Vol. 2 (2005), and on OutKast’s 6th album, Idlewild (2006). She signed to Sean Combs‘ Bad Boy Records in 2006. Her debut EP, Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase), followed in August 2007. It rose to #2 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. It also picked up a Grammy Award nomination for best urban/alternative performance.

Monae’s major-label debut, The ArchAndroid, arrived in May 2010. It was released on the Bad Boy label. The concept album sold upwards of 180,000 copies. It was spearheaded by the singles “Cold War” and “Tightrope” featuring Big Boi. The ArchAndroid earned a Grammy nomination for best contemporary R&B album. Monae’s third album, The Electric lady, was released in September 2013 by Bad Boy and Atlantic Records. It peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album featured guest appearances from Prince, Erykah Badu, Solange, Miguel, and Esperanza Spalding. It produced the singles “Q.U.E.E.N.”, “Dance Apocalyptic”, “PrimeTime”, and “Electric Lady”. In 2015, Monae inked a joint venture between her Wondaland Arts Society and Epic Records. Their first project, Wondaland Presents: The Eephus, followed in August 2015. Monae’s fourth album, Dirty Computer, is scheduled for April 2018. The album’s first two singles “Make Me Feel” and “Django Jane” were released in February 2018.

In addition to music, Monae is an actress and model. Her television debut was the military sci-fi series Stargate Universe (2009). Other television appearances followed on Dancing with the Stars, Saturday Night Live, and Electric Dreams. She lent her voice to the animated film, Rio 2 (2014). Monae co-starred as “Teresa” in the drama, Moonlight (2016). The film was directed by Barry Jenkins and it made $65 million at the box office. The main cast also includes Trevante Rhodes and Andre Holland. Monae portrayed mathematician/engineer “Mary Jackson” in the biopic, Hidden Figures (2016). She was cast alongside Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer. The film won the Screen Actors Guild Award for best cast in a motion picture. Monae was cast as “GI Julie” in the upcoming fantasy drama, The Women of Marwen (2018). The cast also includes Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, and Diane Kruger.

PERSONAL
Janelle Monae’s height is 5ft and she’s of African-American descent. Her personal net worth is estimated at $12 million. She currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia. Monae is known for her signature black and white tuxedo during live performances. She wears this uniform in honor of her parents. She’s also known for her musical alter-ego ‘Cindi Mayweather’, an android. Monae is pansexual and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community. She’s currently in a relationship with actress Tessa Thompson.

Janelle Monae Bio, Net Worth, Height