Every once in a while, I become obsessed with a musical artist. Whether it be Lauryn Hill or M.I.A. or Coldplay, it just happens. Well, it has happened again. Janelle Monae has made some waves over the past couple of years with an appearance on the Idlewild soundtrack and a “suite” of music, but now she is poised to blow up. Puff Daddy recently signed her to Bad Boy, and she is set to release an album early next year. They are also re-releasing the Metropolis: The Chase Suite next Tuesday. Her music can best be described as R&B or soul, but that is not fair. A lot of music critics like to say “genre-bending” to describe an artist that has a different sound, but let’s just say Janelle Monae makes solid, catchy, inspiring, soul music and just leave it at that.
From what I understand, she puts on a tremendous live set. I’m debating whether or not to see her when she is here for the Chicago Soul Musical Festival, but I’m not sure I’m ready to drop well over $60 to see her in a festival atmosphere when I think she might be better seen in a small venue. This is why I’m hoping her upcoming tour makes its way through Chicago. You can check out some of her live set above or go listen to more of her music here.
