Janelle Monáe might be Bad; don’t be mad
November 12th, 2007 by Rodney Carmichael in Music news
Word on the street is that Janelle Monáe signed with Bad Boy Records last Wednesday. Monáe’s publicist, Nicole Garner of the Garner Circle, could not confirm the news when I spoke to her today. However, she did say that Monáe and her camp should be prepared to offer a statement soon.
Now before you upchuck at the thought of Monáe’s creativity being swallowed whole by the “Diddy machine” and spit out in digestible chunks for mainstream consumption, you should read the statement Monáe posted on her MySpace page Nov. 6, titled “My new career decision is almost here …” in which she addresses such concerns:
I will and can reassure you that I will not be compromising my image or figuring out how I can fit into the mainstream of things. It will not be that kind of situation at all. Any decisions made about me and my image will be because I decided it was cool. In fact, I am not even having discussions with companies who don’t appreciate my artistic direction physically and musically. We are not wasting our time talking to such people.
Click here to read the entire post.
Diddy attended Monáe’s release party for Metropolis Suite I: The Chase at Sugarhill in August.
Click here to see photos of Diddy, Monáe and her Wondaland Arts Society, and Big Boi together.
She’s officially sold 10,000 copies of The Chase, which is pretty damn good considering it was released independently only a few months ago. It seemed like an odd move when Monáe and her camp decided to break her CD, Metropolis, up into four suites to be released over the space of a year, but it looks like it has served its purpose by allowing them to gain steady momentum rather than blowing their whole wad in one thrust.
Media attention has grown right along with her fan base. Our cover on Monáe ran way back in May, which seems like an eon ago now.
Click here to read Mosi Reeves’ story on Janelle Monáe and her Wondaland movement.
Now she’s ready to take over the universe — Wal-Mart included — as she says in her statement:
I have decided that it is time my music be introduced to the Universe. It is time for the W.A.S to take over the lands. It is time that our friends and family be able to come see me perform in your city and physically walk into Walmart and pick up all four suites. It is time for videos and movies to be made. It is time to move forward and take “Metropolis” to greater heights. It’s just time …
Stay tuned for more details.
November 12th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
cool! can’t wait to see her mainstream projects! she’s a breath of fresh air for music right now!
November 12th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Diddy????? dag, Diddy????? anybody but Diddy!!!! man, good luck sweetie!
November 14th, 2007 at 5:53 am
Anyone else feel as if this is a big joke? I mean…seriously? She’s being played on 88.5. WTF?
November 28th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
i dunno who the fuck Janelle Monae is, but that is some seriously next-level-awful album art…did she/her handlers just stumble upon Billy Idol’s “Cybrepunk” era or something?
December 6th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Umm… This R.Mestizo fellow is quite rude. Please don’t use fuck and Janelle Monae in the same sentence please. And Thank you.
Oh yeah, and “handlers” is not a nice word either.
January 27th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Just curious and can’t wait to find out if this is real or a publicity stunt :/
January 27th, 2008 at 1:41 am
On logical note: either way I guess would be a publicity stunt..
April 24th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Man I just moved here 2 weeks ago and I wondered into Inman Park. Just trying to find action. Man there some concert or showcase at one of the stores. And this chick was performing. Man was she dope!! I was like “Atl putting this kinda energy out right now??” WOW!!