Leave it to the forever elusive Janelle Monae to give the most intriguingly confusingly amazing interview all in one shot.
That’s exactly what the Electric Lady did when she sat down with UPTOWN magazine for the cover story titled “Janelle Monae’s Secret Agenda” for the mag’s October / November issue.
In one go, she stripped down assumptions about her being straight-laced (apparently she is just a ghetto black girl underneath it all) and talks about working with Prince, Badu, and admits that she wouldn’t even sugar coat her persona for Karl Lagerfeld.
Check out the snaps from the magazine and some excerpts from the very, very interesting UPTOWN magazine cover interview below.
On the biggest misconception about her:
“People think I am so straitlaced and buttoned up. There is a lot of life underneath this tuxedo. I like to have fun. I enjoy practical jokes. I enjoy rolling around the mall in wheelchairs. I enjoy taking someone’s baby and putting it on my hip for about two hours straight and then giving it back.”
But if I am anyone’s hero, please don’t meet me. Stay away. I am not what you think I am. We keep coming back to this notion of identity. Honestly, I am just a ghetto black girl underneath it all. My tuxedo is supposed to make me look refined.”
When you are visiting with Karl Lagerfeld, are you still that ghetto black girl?
“Yes! I will never ever suppress who I am for anyone. Karl Lagerfeld would not change his ponytail or his black and white wardrobe for anyone. But the next person that asks me about wearing a tuxedo, I will give them a hug and then a slap.”
On being tired of explaining her aesthetic:
“Interviews are like marriages sometimes, and things become old. It’s time to spruce up this sex life! We need to try some new things. I am always asked, “Why do you wear that tuxedo?” Or, “We know that your parents wore uniforms, is that why you wear a uniform?” [Her mother worked as a janitor and her father a garbage truck driver.] I want to tell them, “You know good and darn well [a scant southern accent emerges] that you read that somewhere! I am wondering “Why are you asking me the same question?” Let’s talk about the music, the message and why my eyelashes are long!”
On meeting Erykah Badu:
“We met underwater. She was the Queen of the Water and I was swimming. We would perform and talk about what kind of popcorn and hotdogs we like.”
On Diddy’s role in her career:
“He is the ambassador and protector of the jam. He makes sure that our ideas get out into the world. He is not involved creatively. He is the spokesperson for corporations when it’s time to talk business. When we don’t want to have conversations with suits, he goes in and slaps people for us. He is our highest professional slapper. He slaps anyone that tries to mess up the jam.”
Be sure to head over to UPTOWN Magazine for the whole interview.
SOURCE: UPTOWN
