So…I had the rare opportunity to check out Janelle Monae live at the Highline Ballroom last Thursday night with my homie, another character. Besides the fact that the VIP was AFRICA HOT and the hautest accessory of the night bore the brand name Poland Spring, it was a nice place to be on such a beautiful night.
And what can I say? Janelle came to NYC, to a sold out show no less, to promote her latest release The ArchAndroid…So you know I looked around for some eccentric, yet beautifully strange folks that could make me smile, but my quick scan of the crowd both around and below me returned void. Only music heads, literally, Lyor Cohen, DJ Enuff from HOT 97, etc. Nobody too far to the left—wearing crazy outfits or pop-locking up the steps…tough crowd I thought…And then the lights dimmed and the show started.
Yooooo!!! Have you ever had an idea in your head about something or someone and their abilities and potential, etc., but it wasn’t in the right context? Well every time I thought of Janelle Monae, specifically her style, music and energy, I couldn’t wrap my head around her being on Bad Boy. To keep it all real, I was like damn, her career is about to take a serious L before it even gets off the ground. That is until I saw the show last Thursday night.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been feeling Ms. Monae’s sound since I discovered her debut project a few years back, but I’ve only seen her showcased as an ‘alternative’ performance artist by conventional art venues and outlets like BAM’s AfroPunk Festival , VH-1 Soul’s SubSoul and NPR radio, you know what I’m saying. And on BET’s Rip-The-Runway, I just couldn’t connect seeing her perform after Ludacris and Nikki Minaj, but, I digress. Janelle on Bad Boy, the home of Biggie, Faith Evans, Total, MASE and Cassie was definitely confusing to me. I just couldn’t visualize it at all at first…
But, you know what? Her show was one of the LIVEST I’ve seen in a while. Straight guerilla, no pyro, no back-up dancers, no multiple costume changes. Just hypnotic beats and straight ENERGY…And then I remembered the “Take That, Take That” era of Diddy back when he was Puffy, particularly his energy (dancing and hyping the crowd) I actually got it! If nothing else, you’ve got to respect dude’s eye… Seeing Janelle was like watching a quarter of James Brown, an ounce of Prince, a sprinkle of Mike Jack and some vintage Puffy going HARD. Its-All-About-the-Benjamins Puffy! And I can’t forget about Janelle’s guitar player…couldn’t nobody tell him he wasn’t possessed by Jimi Hendrix…Straight theatrics. LOL!
Hands down, the show was dope, the spirit was right and I can’t front, maybe Bad Boy is that fit for her. Janelle’s new single is the song, Tight Rope, which she ripped on stage. While I wish I didn’t have to switch on my iTunes just to hear her music, maybe she’ll get that radio love on this new project. Only time will tell.
One time for the TightRope, uhh!
Cíao
-Avant Fab | follow me @avantfab
