Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe Robinson is an American singer, songwriter, rapper and actress whose career has reshaped contemporary pop, R&B, and afrofuturist cinema. Born on December 1, 1985 in Kansas City, Kansas, she grew up in the working‑class neighborhood of Quindaro, absorbing gospel sounds in Baptist churches while dreaming of Broadway and anime‑inspired worlds. After studying musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and briefly attending Georgia Perimeter College, she self‑released the demo The Audition in 2003, selling copies from the trunk of a Mitsubishi Galant and catching the attention of Big Boi, which eventually led to a contract with Bad Boy Records. Her 2007 EP Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) introduced the android alter‑ego Cindi Mayweather and earned a Grammy nomination, while the ambitious double‑album The ArchAndroid (2010) fused funk, psychedelic soul and sci‑fi storytelling, solidifying her reputation as an innovative concept artist. Since then Monáe has delivered a string of celebrated projects: the critically lauded The Electric Lady (2013), the genre‑bending Dirty Computer (2018) accompanied by a short sci‑fi film, and the Grammy‑nominated The Age of Pleasure (2023). Parallel to her music, she has forged a notable acting career, earning acclaim for supporting roles in Moonlight and Hidden Figures (both 2016), leading parts in Harriet (2019) and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), and a starring turn in the TV series Homecoming (2020). Her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, non‑binary visibility, and social justice is woven into her art, and she continues to operate Wondaland Arts Society, a label that nurtures emerging talent. With ten Grammy nominations, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Children’s and Family Emmy, Monáe remains a singular cultural force whose work defies genre boundaries while championing empowerment and futuristic imagination.