Janelle Monáe's upcoming sophomore album, "The Electric Lady," will include guest appearances

In a new Billboard cover story, Monáe says she aims to "tell universal stories in unforgettable ways" on the album, due in September, and that conversations she had with collaborators helped inspire some of the tracks.

"We are great friends, and he is a mentor to us, to me," she says of Prince. "It's a beautiful thing to have a friend -- someone who cares about your career, and wants to see you go far and to push boundaries and shake up the world -- give whatever they possibly can to the cause."

Monáe jumped at the opportunity to work with her iconic friend, who is not exactly known for making guest appearances.

"I had a chance to produce an icon," says Monáe, who is keeping the name of their song under wraps. "It's not every day that he collaborates. I'm honored and humbled that he trusted me. He is forever my friend, and I am forever indebted. I can't say too much else about it."

Meanwhile, Miguel guests on the glimmering "Primetime," which interpolates the Pixies' famous "Where Is My Mind?" "ooh" section atop a spare funk beat. It's a love duet that builds on harmonies and the chorus -- "Primetime for our love/Heaven is bettin' on us" -- and unites their glossy croons so well one can almost feel them melting into one another.

The album's first single, Q.U.E.E.N.," happens to be a collaboration with another well-known artist: Erykah Badu. The junk jam, which has a corresponding music video, has sold 31,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Hmm - I might have to check this one out.

Boy, this could piss some people off seeing that the other thread about Miguel is still generating a ton of hatred.

[Edited 6/7/13 10:21am]

i really hoped Bruno Mars could be on her album, they got funky style, throwback cool videos, great voices that could fit, i think Bruno and Janelle could produce a worldwide hit that would last for years.. but no chance, she picked the judgemental kid.

[Edited 8/17/14 12:43pm]

Fuck it though Janelle is a class act

[Edited 8/17/14 12:43pm]

She looks GORGEOUS on the cover! Thanks for posting this Shawy Will definitely be getting her new album, cant wait! Yeah it would have been a great collab if her and Bruno did something. Oh well, maybe on her next album or maybe on Bruno's next album they will duet. Until then guess we will have to settle for the Rio 2 movie coming out next year in which they will both lend their voices lol.

I would eat this chick, just look at the nose, the lips, the skin's color, she's just delicious.

NaughtyKitty said:

She looks GORGEOUS on the cover! Thanks for posting this Shawy Will definitely be getting her new album, cant wait! Yeah it would have been a great collab if her and Bruno did something. Oh well, maybe on her next album or maybe on Bruno's next album they will duet. Until then guess we will have to settle for the Rio 2 movie coming out next year in which they will both lend their voices lol.

Yeah i really hope that The Electric Lady would make her AS FAMOuS AS Bey and others (you know, entering Billboard 200 and stuff)... maybe some grammy nominations and performance would manage to put her on top of the charts.. Now way that a talented lady like Janelle could spend the rest of her career away from the fame. She deserves it.

[Edited 6/7/13 10:52am]

Shawy89 said:

I would eat this chick, just look at the nose, the lips, the skin's color, she's just delicious.

you are so right

She is not playing.

Ms. Monae looks STUNNING as usual. I am so excited that she got to work with one of her main influences! I am copping this album when it first releases!!!! I hope that Miguel track is good (Not a Miguel fan) I would have much rather her work with Bruno. They work so well together, maybe next time

this album will slay!!! and after that people better recognize this woman for the rare talent she is

Wow at Prince jumping on this and Miguel slam-landing on this

Shawy89 said:

Monáe says she aims to "tell universal stories

She need to tell global stories or maybe even start with stories at the state level.

Folks heard enough about the universe from her. http://www.youtube.com/wa...OE#t=0m22s

trickster said:

At least for the title track and "Queen", she seems to deserve Prince/Usher level success.

I haven't heard the rest of the LP but for her, the R&B music consumer public and the pop music consumer public, hopefully the rest of the LP is similarly solid quality.

She performs very admirably in the videos for both of these tunes as an onstage personality

and a dancer who does more than the standard late 2000's Beyonce (not to be critical of her) type of sophisticated R&B chealeader\butt dropping dance styles that dominate mainstream contemporary R&B videos.

Janelle probably needs more than a little help from radio and TV to

conquer the divsions of interests within the R&B\Hip Hop category that tend to heavily favor rap

or heavy concept hybrids of R&B\Rap such as Nicki Monaj as the new talents that deserve

the most attention and acclaim.

I definitely agree to the point of other commenters that Janelle is plenty attractive and sexy

to a subtantial portion of male population (ladies, feel free to provide the female point of view).

DJK said:

At least for the title track and "Queen", she seems to deserve Prince/Usher level success.

I haven't heard the rest of the LP but for her, the R&B music consumer public and the pop music consumer public, hopefully the rest of the LP is similarly solid quality.

She performs very admirably in the videos for both of these tunes as an onstage personality

and a dancer who does more than the standard late 2000's Beyonce (not to be critical of her) type of sophisticated R&B chealeader\butt dropping dance styles that dominate mainstream contemporary R&B videos.

Janelle probably needs more than a little help from radio and TV to

conquer the divsions of interests within the R&B\Hip Hop category that tend to heavily favor rap

or heavy concept hybrids of R&B\Rap such as Nicki Monaj as the new talents that deserve

the most attention and acclaim.

I definitely agree to the point of other commenters that Janelle is plenty attractive and sexy

to a subtantial portion of male population (ladies, feel free to provide the female point of view).

yes she is very sexy and attractive also from the female point of view

Q.U.E.E.N is a full and busy little track both musically and lyrically, you know, better than average...was her choice to be over-ambitious on this song, perhaps she's seeking 'stardom' or 'icon' status.

Just a commentary on her persona. Curious to observe 'modern' femaleness and femininity...encouraged to deny all definitions, constructs, labels on one hand...then appear 'butch' and 'masculine', on the other. As a whole, does the heterosexual woman even know what she is or what she wants? Or are they just happy with the chaos?

Evidence is that the 'modern' female is even more unhappy than they were back in the old so-called 'patriarchal' days.

Not addressing lesbians, experience tells me no meaningful dialogue to be had there.

Hope the album lives up to the hype.