Released: April 27, 2018

By: Janelle Monáe

On her third studio album, Janelle Monáe breaks through barriers and gives her listeners something that is unapologetically feminist and queer.

Mixing hip-hop, R&B and pop, Monáe creates a unique sound. It starts in the title track that appears first and is a collaboration with The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. There are hints of the sound that Wilson used to give his band an edge and Monáe adds fantastic lyrics that speak to her internal image.

Her other collaborations are also strong with the Zoë Kravitz-feature “Screwed” making a statement on sex and power and the Pharrell Williams-feature “I Got the Juice” pushing back at Donald Trump’s infamous “grab her by the pussy” statements.

Identifying as both bisexual and pansexual, Monáe is sexually free on this album and uses both male and female pronouns.

Final say: Crazy and classic. ★★★★★