It's been a minute since we've received a musical offering from Janelle Monae as the multifaced artist has been killing it in Hollywood with roles in Hidden Figures and Moonlight. Her last album release was 2013’s Electric Lady and since then she's been assisting the careers of Jidenna, Roman Gian Arthur, Deep Cotton and St. Beauty with her Woodland Arts Society.
Good news comes from Janelle today as she's officially announced her fourth album Dirty Computer with an intriguing trailer that features actress Tessa Thompson. The clip shows hovering cars, a police takedown, underground dance parties, a beachside romance and more. The trailer will air in select theatres before Marvel's Black Panther screening.
There's been no word on an official release date for her album, but sources tell Variety that the 32-year-old has held secret listening parties in New York and Los Angeles so the finished tape must be ready to go sooner than later.
"I am proud to stand in solidarity as not just an artist, but a young woman, with my fellow sisters in this room who make up the music industry — artists, writers, assistants, publicists, CEOs, producers, engineers, and women from all sectors of the business,” Janelle said at the recent Grammy awards. “We are also daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, and human beings. To those who would dare try and silence us, we offer you two words: #Timesup. We say Time’s Up for pay inequality, discrimination or harassment of any kind, and the abuse of power.”