Janelle Monae performed on their own float at the Pride Parade in Los Angeles, over the weekend, where they gave a heartfelt speech as well. In doing so, Monae performed songs from their new album, The Age Of Pleasure.
“We are here, we are queer, we are trans, we are the LGBTQIA+ community and we celebrate us right now!” Monae said at the event. They continued: “We celebrate all that we are from all different walks of life, we protect each other, we use our privilege to protect those who don’t have any, we use our voice, we use and exercise our right to vote to protect our trans family! […] We protect Black folks here, we protect brown and Black. All of us protect each other. We love each other and we create safe spaces for each other, ’cause there’s no pleasure without safety. So thank you for this safe space right now. I love you so much!”
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 11: Janelle Monáe performs at the 2023 LA Pride Parade on June 11, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/WireImage)
It’s far from the first time Monae has spoken out about being a member of the LGBTQ community. During an interview with NBC4 Washington ahead of the release of their new album, Monae discussed supporting their people. “You respond by fighting back, by speaking out against, standing with our trans community, my siblings. As a nonbinary, queer, pansexual person, I am proud to be in this community. I will never sit back and be silent about the injustices that are happening against our trans community,” they said at the time.
Janelle Monae’s Float At Pride In L.A.
Janelle Monáe celebrating at Pride following the release of their album ‘The Age of Pleasure.’ https://t.co/JjPFJKEkeO
Monae dropped The Age Of Pleasure on Friday, June 9, as their first studio album in over five years. Their last effort, Dirty Computer, was released in 2018. The Age Of Pleasure features appearances from Sister Nancy, Grace Jones, Doechii, and more across its 14-track runtime.
Not only are we living in the Age of Aquarius, but thanks to Janelle Monae, we’re now also living in The Age of Pleasure. The 37-year-old shared her new album earlier this weekend, and already the internet can’t get enough of it. Unsurprisingly, a title from the project was picked to appear on our latest R&B Season playlist update, along with tracks from other favourites like Maeta and Ar’mon.
Taking the top spot today is “Liquor Store In The Sky,” a collaboration between BJ The Chicago Kid and Freddie Gibbs. Since dropping on Friday (June 9), the nearly three-and-a-half minute-long effort has already amassed upwards of 55K streams on Spotify alone. From Maeta’s When I Hear Your Name album we’ve picked a solo effort called “Questions.” Elsewhere on the UK songbird’s LP, you can hear her connect with Lucky Daye, Ty Dolla $ign, Ambré, and other friends.
R&B duo Emotional Oranges gave us more heat in the form of “Wrong Hands” to kick off June on a strong note. From BLK ODYSSY’s DIAMONDS & FREAKS project, we’ve hand-picked “PINK MARMALADE” with Eimaral Sol, though the full 15-track album is worth streaming when you have the time. As promised, Monae’s “Champagne Sh*t” comes after that. The catchy song is second on The Age of Pleasure‘s tracklist, right after the previously released “Float” single with Seun Kuti and Egypt 80. Others who appear alongside Janelle include Doechii, Grace Jones, CKay, and actress Nia Long.
The first of our two final selections is Ar’mon’s “Assignment” single. Closing things out behind that is “Kissing New People,” marking Ty Dolla $ign’s third consecutive week appearing in our list of picks. Tap into this weekend’s full R&B Season round-up exclusively on Spotify above. Are there any new arrivals you think we should’ve added? Let us know in the comments, and find more HNHH release recommendations on our Fire Emoji playlist at the link below.
The album rollout for Janelle Monae’s The Age of Pleasure has been one of the singer’s most successful (and salacious) to date. Her long-awaited LP finally landed this New Music Friday (June 9), complete with features from Doechii, Grace Jones, and Sister Nancy, among others. The genre-bending artist shared “Float” with Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 and later, “Lipstick Lover” as singles, but of the new arrivals on the tracklist, titles like “Champagne Sh*t,” “Phenomenal,” and “Black Sugar Beach” appear to be fan favourites.
Not only does the project’s cover show off a topless Monae happily swimming with friends, but her famous breasts also made numerous appearances while she was outside promoting The Age of Pleasure. Not only did she briefly reveal them to a crowd watching her perform live earlier this spring, but the Dirty Computer songstress had them painted on the album’s vinyl version too. She happily flashed the artwork to fans in a new clip shared on social media this weekend, only causing her fanbase to grow further.
In the video, Monae confidently struts across a room wearing tiny red and white booty shots, a cropped t-shirt with “PLEASURE” clearly written across the front and knee-high white boots. As she walks, the singer’s collaboration with Doechii blasts through speakers behind her. “And they all bow to you / How you feel? Phenomenal,” the 37-year-old lip-syncs along the catchy track. “Ready for round two? / B*tch, I feel so phenomenal.”
As she approaches the camera the vocalist lifts up The Age of Pleasure vinyl she’s carrying in her hands, quickly opening it to reveal her bare breasts forever immortalized for fans on the inside. Obviously we’re keeping things PG, but you can find the uncensored footage here. Have you streamed Janelle Monae’s new LP yet? If not, check it out here, and read HNHH‘s full review at the link below.
At long last, Janelle Monáe is back with new music. Yesterday (June 9), the “Lipstick Lover” artist released her fourth album, The Age Of Pleasure, which marks her first album in five years. Fans everywhere are raving over Monáe’s new liberating and unapologetically queer and sexual collection of music. Of course, with new music comes anticipation for a tour, and fans are dying to find out when they’ll get to see her live.
Is Janelle Monáe going on tour for The Age Of Pleasure?
Janelle Monáe will, in fact, be hitting the road for The Age Of Pleasure on a North American tour beginning this August. She will kick things off at the WAMU Theater in Seattle, will go until October, where she will wrap things up in Inglewood, California.
Fans are able to purchase tickets here. You can see the list of tour dates below.
08/30 – Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater
08/31 – Vancouver, BC @ UBC – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
09/02 – Portland, OR @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
09/06 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
09/07 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
09/09 – Kansas City, MO @ The Midland Theatre
09/11 – Minneapolis, MN @ Armory
09/13 – St. Louis, MO @ Stifel Theatre
09/14 – Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
09/17 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
09/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met
09/20 – Montreal, QB @ Mtelus
09/21 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
09/24 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem*
09/26 – New York City, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
09/28 – Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre
10/02 – Charlotte, NC @ Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
10/03 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
10/04 – Birmingham, AL @ Avondale Brewing Company
10/06 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre Atlanta
10/09 – Dallas, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
10/10 – Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
10/11 – Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater
10/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
10/17 – San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
10/18 – Inglewood, CA @ YouTube Theater
The Age Of Pleasure is out now via Atlantic. Find more information here.
Janelle Monáe is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Janelle Monae has always been an artist who embraces change and evolution. Each album in their catalog stands outs as its own singular vision. Whether exploring the sonic landscape of Afrofuturism or reflecting on the trappings of celebrity life, Monáe crafts unique projects with each album release. Janelle Monae’s fourth studio album, The Age of Pleasureis no different in this regard.
It’s been five years since the release of Janelle Monae’s Dirty Computer, an album that balked at the idea of playing by the rules of pop music conventions. On their much-anticipated follow-up, Monáe takes listeners on an immersive and sensual journey across an ever-changing soundscape. The Age of Pleasure effortlessly pushes the boundaries of the genre from track to track. The result is another interesting sonic experiment from one of music’s most exciting artists.
From the opening song, “Float,” it becomes evident that The Age of Pleasure is an album that defies conventional expectations. Monáe splices genres effortlessly, borrowing from reggaeton, hip-hop, and dancehall to craft a wholly original sound. The album’s intoxicating blend of power and hedonistic haze weaves through intricate melodies and captivating beats across its 32-minute runtime. While not every track hits its mark with Monáe’s signature precision, The Age of Pleasure still resonates as a great summer album.
Bringing Sexy Back (As If It Ever Left)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: (Exclusive Coverage) Janelle Monáe attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/MG22/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue )
The album’s lyrics dive headfirst into themes of love, lust, and sensual experiences. Monáe’s songwriting shines as they effortlessly explore personal reflections on how the world sees them as an “object of desire.” On the track “Haute,” Monáe directly comments on their appeal as an androgynous icon, comparing themselves to David Bowie. In fact, there isn’t a track on The Age of Pleasure that doesn’t revel in Monáe’s sexual liberty. After all, this is by far their horniest album to date.
Most tracks lean into this sentiment. Standout songs like “Champagne Shit” and “Water Slide” are sexy party anthems without a care in the world. Monáe’s voice glides over the tracks with playful sensuality and wry humor. The hedonistic content of the album never feels self-destructive or crass. The Age of Pleasure’s songs celebrates sexual liberation and intimate moments of fleeting love connections with joyous candor.
The Party Never Ends (Even When It Should)
In an interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, Monáe commented on the songwriting process, saying: “We’re going to write three songs. If the songs can’t work at the party, they’re not going on the album.” This method of putting the album together is reflected in almost every track. Despite its party tone, the album is more of an experience to be savored than just easy weekend listening. The album never gives listeners any hard and fast shifts in tone or style. It’s exceedingly consistent, almost to its detriment.
Over the course of its 14 tracks, The Age of Pleasure sometimes feels like one big song. There are a few interstitials that bleed in and out of tracks, making it difficult to tell where some songs begin or end. While this doesn’t necessarily hinder the enjoyment of the album, it can make certain stretches of it feel a tad bloated. This is to be expected from an album with so many self-indulgent themes.
A New Sound From An Old Soul
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 27: Janelle Monáe attends the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
The Age of Pleasure is a departure from Monáe’s previous body of work in terms of production and tone. Long gone are the psychedelic Afrofuturistic aesthetics of The ArchAndroid and the sing-along pop anthems of Dirty Computer. With incredible production from Nate “Rocket” Wonder (from funk duo Cotton) and DJ Nana Kwabena, The Age of Pleasure gives us more of a seductive sound than the rest of Monáe’s output. While previous albums transported listeners to futuristic worlds, Age of Pleasure takes them under the sun and in between the sheets.
Each song is meticulously crafted to elevate Monáe’s soulful voice. At times, the music almost has an almost isolating quality. Without vocals, tracks like “Paid In Pleasure” and “A Dry Red” elicit the feeling of being stranded and drunk on a beach by yourself. Monáe’s vocals and lyrics, however, refute any sense of loneliness and remind listeners that this is a party, and everyone’s invited.
Ultimately, Age of Pleasure is another stellar album that further galvanizes Janelle Monae’s status as a music icon. With its genre-splicing sound, sharp and sexy lyrics, and incredible production, the album rarely stumbles. Monáe’s ability to create a cohesive sonic soundscape with disparate elements is nigh unparalleled. They are truly one of the most innovative and exciting artists of our time. Age of Pleasure is a triumph that was well worth the wait. It’s an album to let wash over you like a vodka waterfall.
Janelle Monáe’s new album, The Age Of Pleasure, was released earlier today. Today is June 9, and as many surely noticed when the release date was announced, that date can also be written as 6/9. Given the sexual meaning of 69 and Monáe’s frequently NSFW promotional cycle for the project, it makes one wonder if Monáe chose that date on purpose. Well, Monáe has now given her perspective.
On Elvis Duran And The Morning Show today, Monáe was asked at the start of the conversation if the 6/9 release date was intentional and she responded, “I mean… it’s not… hey, I don’t make the rules. Listen: I didn’t create those numbers to land on this day. […] It’s also World Sex Day. So it was just perfect timing, you know? Right? Don’t we want more pleasure? We want more babies, sometimes babies can come from sex, you know? […] And sometimes it’s just strictly for us.”
While Monáe wasn’t explicit about the 69 connection to the album, it seems at the very least, it was a coincidence she was happy to roll with.
Check out the interview above.
The Age Of Pleasure is out now via Wondaland Arts Society/Atlantic Records. Find more information here.
Janelle Monáe is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Over the last five years, Janelle Monáe’s brand as a creative force to be reckoned with hasn’t gone unnoticed. However, after dipping her toes into new experiences like acting and writing, she’s getting back to her musical roots. Much like the Kansas City-bred, ATL-cultivated musician herself, The Age Of Pleasure (which clocks in at just over 32 minutes) is sweet and petite. Yet, despite its length, her fourth studio-album serves as a jam-packed, Pan-African-spanning ode to finding pleasure in everyday moments.
Released June 9, The Age Of Pleasure creates a comforting space for Monáe and her beloved “Fandroids” to live out loud. Crafted in response to the pandemic and influenced by “Everyday People,” a globally-recognized cultural gathering and love letter to the Black community, the project showcases the 37-year-old’s evolution as a “free-ass motherf*cker.” Pleasure’s varied yet succinct production traverses the Black diaspora across 14 songs — Afrobeats, Ampiano, Lover’s Rock reggae, and trap-infused tunes showcase the artist’s creative license to do whatever the hell she feels like doing, in the name of artistic and individual gratification.
Though lyrics were crucial to Pleasure’s predecessor, 2018’s Grammy-nominated Dirty Computer, they don’t demand the spotlight here. Instead, the music — and the communal energy it ultimately stands for — speaks volumes. While outside ears may have felt that Dirty Computer’s content wasn’t “for them” for whatever reason, Pleasure makes it clear that anyone — regardless of gender identity or affirmation — is welcome to toast to life’s delights and concede to the rhythms. (“I want all of us (Black and Brown people, specifically) to have a soundtrack to this lifestyle,” Monáe told Angie Martinez in May.)
But this is not to say that Pleasure is devoid of queer moments, which should not come as a surprise considering the mechanisms of Monáe’s catalog and personal life. (The artist uses she/they pronouns, and identifies as non-binary.) For instance, the “Vivrant Thing”-interpolating “The Rush” featuring Amaarae and Nia Long is a call-out to the “pretty girl” who’s caught her eye. The runway-ready “Haute” nods to gender-fluidity. (“A bitch look pretty, a bitch look handsome,” Monáe says.)
The island-tinged single “Lipstick Lover” celebrates queer Black bodies, and the buzz surrounding its “controversial” music video (which showcases those bodies and much more) ultimately forced the multihyphenate to create a censored version for virgin eyes. Despite the new visual’s slight deviation from full-out freedom, the point still stands firm through Pleasure’s music. Monáe urges listeners to give in to enjoyment of self and with others, whether it’s emotionally or sexually.
This could be through Issa Rae-in-the-mirror-style affirmations (“I’m looking at a thousand versions of myself, and we’re all fine as f*ck,” she states in “Phenomenal,” which features TDE’s Doechii), or through commemorations of personal growth. The album opener “Float” finds the artist applauding her wins over an infectious trap beat created by Nate Wonder and Nana Kwabena, and horns provided by Seun Kuti and his band, Egypt 80. (Pleasure largely feels Fela Kuti-esque through grandiose instrumentation, so the sonic support from the legend’s son feels especially apropos.) And obviously, pleasure can also be found through physical self-exploration. (“If I could f*ck me right here, right now, I would do that,” Monáe admits on the aquatic, autoerotic “Water Slide.”)
But The Age Of Pleasure is best represented through songs illustrating the importance of community — the hallmark of “Everyday People” bashes. Monáe has been open about her past experiences living with a perfectionist complex. Through healing, she’s learning to enjoy the present without edits or filters, and she encourages others to do the same. (“I’m working on the balance of knowing that some things are just beyond your control and you’ve got to be in the moment and roll with the punches,” she said of her journey back in 2018.)
The dropping of this shield is most evident during The Age Of Pleasure’s trifecta of tracks: the CKay-assisted “Know Better” (which samples a hip-hop favorite: “Darkest Light” by the Lafayette Afro Rock Band), the bouncy “Paid In Pleasure,” and “Only Have Eyes 42,” a cheeky nod to polyamory that concludes with a euphoric string outro. This particular trio amplifies the notion of loosened inhibitions, forcing us to surrender to the moment and just have fun soaking up the company of others.
Given the internet discourse surrounding Monáe’s expression of her autonomy after years of donning (and shedding) her iconic tuxedo uniform, the growth of her individual freedom and self-understanding feels affirmed through The Age Of Pleasure. It can be anxiety-provoking to let your guard down, let people in, or to show up completely as yourself, but it can also be liberating to be exactly who you want to be in a world that doesn’t want you to do so.
The album captures what we all aim to experience at the end of the day. In this mid-to-post-pandemic era, it amplifies a new definition of freedom for many. The attacks on Black, Brown, and queer Americans is a daily concern. (A centuries-long one for all, but especially within the last several years.) Considering the constant diversions from the real national issues at hand, art celebrating the euphoria of authentic humanity, even with the threat of Right-winged erasure congregating in the distance, is resistance at its finest.
Throughout history’s most unsavory moments, music has always been there for minorities in particular to feel safe and seen. As someone who has never been a stranger to creating art reflective of The Times, Janelle Monáe’s The Age Of Pleasure maintains the musician’s crusade of using her work to allow any and all “dirty computers” to remember that there is indeed a place for them in the world, and on the dancefloor.
Janelle Monáe is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Shortly after midnight today, Monáe made note of the album’s release with a video, in which they stand on the beach and show off a cropped shirt bearing the album title. She then takes it off, along with her shorts, leaving her naked (albeit blurred out) as she jubilantly runs into the ocean, all set to the song “Water Slide.”
Speaking of the tracklist for The Age Of Pleasure, the album features Grace Jones, Doechii, CKay, Seun Kuti And Egypt 80, Sister Nancy, Amaarae, and even actress Nia Long.
The Age Of Pleasure is out now via Wondaland Arts Society/Atlantic Records. Find more information here.
Janelle Monáe is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The rollout for Janelle Monae’s album has been relentless over the last month or two. Last month, Monae introduced the album. The announcement was accompanied by a provocative music video for the song “Lipstick Lover,” which depicted lesbian themes. The Age of Pleasure serves as Monae’s first album release since Dirty Computer in 2018. Earlier this year, Monae also shared the opening track, “Float.” Recently, she further teased the album with a trailer and a tracklist on her Instagram.
Yesterday, Janelle Monae shared the tracklist for the highly anticipated album. The title of the project aligns very closely with her recent artistic transformation, as fans have witnessed in the past few months. The unveiling of the tracklist provided another glimpse into the project. It revealed exciting collaborations with notable artists that would be included on the album. Among them is the legendary Grace Jones, along with Sister Nancy, Amaarae, Doechii, Nia Long, Ckay, Seun Kuti, and Egypt 80.
Monae Is On Her “Champagne Sh*t”
Janelle Monae adopted a nostalgic approach to promoting The Age of Pleasure. Yesterday, she unveiled a teaser trailer called Pleasure TV, which pays homage to MTV’s Spring Break. The trailer features vintage-style footage reminiscent of the popular show. Hearing the album, it makes a lot of sense. The songs have an undeniably vintage feeling to them, from the heavily-featured brass to the funky mood throughout. “Champagne Shit” is definitely a standout. It’s the perfect song to listen to in the dead of summer while you’re going out with friends.
Fans have been eagerly anticipating the release of the album for years. Luckily for them, Monae has announced plans for a tour in support of the album. The Age Of Pleasure tour is slated to commence in the fall, and the dates were shared on Instagram along with provocative promotional images. In these photos, Monae is seen sporting shorts with her braids covering her breasts. They clearly drew inspiration from iconic figures like Jimi Hendrix and Björk. What do you think of The Age of Pleasure? Let us know in the comments!
Tracklist:
01. Float (ft. Seun Kuti and Egypt 80) 02. Champagne Shit 03. Black Sugar Beach 04. Phenomenal (ft. Doechii) 05. Haute 06. Ooh La La (ft. Grace Jones) 07. Lipstick Lover 08. The Rush (ft. Amaarae and Nia Long) 09. The French 75 (ft. Sister Nancy) 10. Water Slide 11. Know Better (ft. CKay) 12. Paid in Pleasure 13. Only Have Eyes 42 14. A Dry Red
On Wednesday, June 7, Monáe shared the full double disc tracklist and the album’s featured artists on Instagram and Twitter. Appearing on the album are Grace Jones, Doechii, CKay, Seun Kuti And Egypt 80, Sister Nancy, Amaarae, and actress Nia Long.
Their Instagram video showed behind-the-scenes footage from making the album alongside the caption, “#TheAgeOfPleasure TRACKLiSTING AND FEATURES! 2 more days to go [red heart emoji, flame emoji] This project wouldn’t be the same without each of you. I wish everyone could have been a spider on the speaker while we had the most fun making thingsssss. Legendary times were had.”
The Age Of Pleasure arrives at midnight, June 9. (It’s probably safe to assume a 6/9 release date was chosen purposefully.) Monáe announced their supporting North American The Age Of Pleasure Tourlast week, which will begin on August 30 in Seattle, Washington and eventually conclude on October 28 at Inglewood, California’s YouTube Theater.
Check out the full The Age Of Pleasure tracklist below.
1. “Float” Feat. Seun Kuti And Egypt 80
2. “Champagne Shit”
3. “Black Sugar Beach”
4. “Phenomenal” Feat. Doechii
5. “Haute”
6. “Ooh La La” Feat. Grace Jones
7. “Lipstick Lover”
8. “The Rush” Feat. Amaarae and Nia Long
9. “The French 75” Feat. Sister Nancy
10. “Water Slide”
11. “Know Better” Feat. CKay
12. “Paid In Pleasure”
13. “Only Have Eyes 42”
14. “A Dry Red”
The Age Of Pleasure is out 6/9 via Wondaland Arts Society/Atlantic Records. Find more information here.
Janelle Monáe is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
, Janelle Monáe’s The Age Of Pleasure maintains the musician’s crusade of using her work to allow any and all “dirty computers” to remember that there is indeed a place for them in the world, and on the dancefloor. 
(@JanelleMonae) 