Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
"Yoga" was an ostensibly minor part of the Janelle Monáe discography by the arrival of Dirty Computer. Three years old and outshined by another Wondaland release, Jidenna's "Classic Man," it nevertheless became Monáe's first single to hit the Billboard Hot 100. That Monáe hadn't previously hit the chart as a headliner was further evidence of a flawed industry, given that they and primary collaborators Nate Wonder and Chuck Lightning had been making songs with pop appeal for nearly a decade. "Yoga" did show that Monáe was more open to messing with contemporary trends. Moreover, the song's humanized, sexually uninhibited, and anti-authoritarian qualities -- they were earthbound, celebrating their body, asserting "You cannot police me" -- also indicated the course they have taken with their third album. Oddly enough, "Make Me Feel," the one Dirty Computer track on which Monáe employs a wholly pop songwriting team including Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter, and Mattman & Robin, is the funkiest and friskiest number here, clearly influenced by the late (and uncredited) Prince. Monáe and their trusty Wondaland partners, the album's dominant creative force, colorfully twist and flip new wave-leaning pop with booming bass drums and rattling percussion. They transmit powerful and defiant jubilance in response to "wack ass fuckboys everywhere (from the traphouse to the White House) who make the lives of little brown girls so damn hard," among dozens of other inspirations Monáe acknowledges in the essential liner notes. Almost every track is densely packed with quotables delivered in approaches that shift from easygoing elegance to hard-fought, triumphant conviction. The latter approach yields the album's apex, "Django Jane," in which Monáe raps throughout with inhuman precision, threatening a pussy riot, declaring "We ain't hidden no more," and uplifting the "highly melanated" while dropping some of the set's few sci-fi allusions, "Made a fandroid outta yo' girlfriend" among them. Not to be lost in all the power moves are indirect and direct references to a romantic relationship -- another form of dissent -- referenced and explored throughout, from the glowing "Crazy, Classic, Life" through the fiery "So Afraid," the only moment of emotional fragility. While this is easily the most loaded Monáe album in terms of guests, with Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder, and Grimes among the contributors, there's no doubt that it's a Wondaland product. It demonstrates that artful resistance and pop music are not mutually exclusive.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From €13,50/month
Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Brian Wilson, Background Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, Production, Vocals, Recorded by, MainArtist, CoProducer, ExecutiveProducer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - Janelle Monáe Robinson, Writer - Nathaniel Irvin III, Writer - JON BRION, Synthesizer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Alexander Page, Violin - Chuck Lightning, CoProducer, ExecutiveProducer - Grace Shim, Cello - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Matt Jardine, Background Vocals - Soundwave, Additional Drums - The Wondaland ArchOrchestra, Orchestra - Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Producer, String Arranger, Drums, Guitar, Production, Recorded by, Bass, Synthesizer, Programming - Jon Jon Traxx, Bass - Kellindo, Guitar
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, Production, Vocals, Recorded by, MainArtist, CoProducer, ExecutiveProducer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - Charles Joseph II, Writer - Janelle Monáe Robinson, Writer - Nathaniel Irvin III, Writer - JON BRION, Synthesizer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Chuck Lightning, CoProducer, ExecutiveProducer - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Arranger, Drums, Guitar, Production, Programmer, Recorded by, Bass, Synthesizer - Jon Jon Traxx, Bass - Kellindo, Guitar
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
Dennis Hamm, Piano - Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, Production, Vocals, Recorded by, MainArtist, CoProducer, ExecutiveProducer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - Janelle Monáe Robinson, Writer - Nathaniel Irvin III, Writer - JON BRION, Synthesizer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Chuck Lightning, CoProducer, ExecutiveProducer - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Thundercat, Bass - Nana Kwabena Tuffuor, Writer - Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Producer, Arranger, Drums, Guitar, Production, Recorded by, Bass, Synthesizer, Programming - Kellis Parker Jr, Writer - Nana Kwabena, Drums, Additional Production, Synthesizer - Jon Jon Traxx, Guitar, Bass, CoProducer - John M. Webb Jr., Writer - Kellindo, Guitar
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - JON BRION, Producer, Writer, Recorded by, Synthesizer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Chuck Lightning, ExecutiveProducer - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, Production, Vocals, Recorded by, MainArtist, CoProducer, ExecutiveProducer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - Charles Joseph II, Writer - Janelle Monáe Robinson, Writer - Nathaniel Irvin III, Writer - JON BRION, Synthesizer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Chuck Lightning, CoProducer, ExecutiveProducer - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Roman GianArthur, Arranger, Drums, Guitar, CoProducer - Benjamin Hudson Mcildowie, Writer - Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Producer, Arranger, Drums, Guitar, Production, Recorded by, Bass, Synthesizer, Programming - Roman GianArthur Irvin, Writer - Zoe Kravitz, FeaturedArtist - Marco Sonzini, Recorded by - Ebonie Smith, Recording, AdditionalEngineer - Jon Jon Traxx, Bass - Kellindo, Guitar
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, Vocals, Recorded by, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - Janelle Monáe Robinson, Writer - Nathaniel Irvin III, Writer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Chuck Lightning, ExecutiveProducer - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Nana Kwabena Tuffuor, Writer - Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Arranger, Guitar, Programmer, Recorded by, Synthesizer, CoProducer - Nana Kwabena, Producer, Arranger, Programmer, Synthesizer - Nate Rocket Wonder, Bass
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, Production, Vocals, Recorded by, MainArtist, CoProducer, ExecutiveProducer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - Charles Joseph II, Writer - Janelle Monáe Robinson, Writer - Nathaniel Irvin III, Writer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Chuck Lightning, Producer, Arranger, ExecutiveProducer - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Grimes, FeaturedArtist - Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Production, Recorded by - Taylor Parks, Writer - Wynne Bennett, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Percussion, Writer, Background Vocals, Recorded by, Synthesizer - Kellindo, Guitar
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
John Hanes, MixingEngineer - Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Serban Ghenea, Mixer - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Robin, Producer, Programmer - Janelle Monáe Robinson, Writer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Chuck Lightning, ExecutiveProducer - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Mattias Larsson, Writer - Robin Fredriksson, Writer - Julia Michaels, Production, Writer - Justin Tranter, Production, Writer - Mattman, Producer, Programmer
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Pharrell Williams, Writer, FeaturedArtist - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, Production, Additional Production, Vocals, Recorded by, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - Janelle Monáe Robinson, Writer - Nathaniel Irvin III, Writer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - andrew horowitz, Synthesizer - Chuck Lightning, Additional Production, ExecutiveProducer - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Roman GianArthur, Guitar - Nana Kwabena Tuffuor, Writer - Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Production, Additional Background Vocals, Drum Programmer, Recorded by, Synthesizer - Roman GianArthur Irvin, Writer - The Skunks, Additional Background Vocals - Taylor Parks, Writer - Nana Kwabena, Additional Background Vocals, Drum Programmer, CoProducer - Joshua Dean, Writer - Kellindo, Guitar
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
Rico Wade, Writer - Ray Murray, Writer - Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, Production, Vocals, Recorded by, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Patrick L. Brown, Writer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - Janelle Monáe Robinson, Writer - Nathaniel Irvin III, Writer - Organized Noize, Recorded by, Programming - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Chuck Lightning, Production, ExecutiveProducer - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Roman GianArthur, Guitar - Sleepy Brown, Background Vocals - Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Arranger, Guitar, Piano, Background Vocals, Recorded by, Bass - The Skunks, Background Vocals - Taylor Parks, Writer - Nate Rocket Wonder, Drums, Recorded by
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Atlantic Recording Corporation
Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, Production, Additional Production, Vocals, Recorded by, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - Janelle Monáe Robinson, Writer - Nathaniel Irvin III, Writer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Alexander Page, Violin - Chuck Lightning, ExecutiveProducer - Grace Shim, Cello - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Roman GianArthur, String Arranger, Additional Production, Background Vocals - The Wondaland ArchOrchestra, Orchestra - Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Producer, Arranger, Drums, Guitar, Production, Programmer, Recorded by, Bass, Synthesizer - Roman GianArthur Irvin, Writer - Isis Valentino, Background Vocals - Taylor Parks, Writer - Joshua Dean, Writer - Jon Jon Traxx, Bass
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Stevie Wonder, Vocals - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - Nathaniel Irvin III, Writer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Chuck Lightning, ExecutiveProducer - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Producer, Recorded by - Roman GianArthur Irvin, Producer, Writer
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, Production, Vocals, Recorded by, MainArtist, CoProducer, ExecutiveProducer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - Janelle Monáe Robinson, Writer - Nathaniel Irvin III, Writer - JON BRION, Synthesizer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Chuck Lightning, ExecutiveProducer - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Producer, Arranger, Drums, Guitar, Production, Background Vocals, Recorded by, Synthesizer, Programming - Jon Jon Traxx, Percussion - Kellindo, Guitar
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
Chris Gehringer, Masterer - Will Quinnell, Masterer - Janelle Monáe, Production, Vocals, Recorded by, MainArtist, CoProducer, ExecutiveProducer - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer - Charles Joseph II, Writer - Janelle Monáe Robinson, Writer - Nathaniel Irvin III, Writer - Sean "Diddy" Combs, ExecutiveProducer - Chuck Lightning, CoProducer, ExecutiveProducer - Nate Wonder, ExecutiveProducer - Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Producer, Arranger, Drums, Guitar, Production, Drum Programmer, Recorded by, Synthesizer - Kellis Parker Jr., Writer - Jon Jon Traxx, Guitar, Additional Production, Programmer, Bass - John M. Webb Jr., Writer - Kellindo, Guitar
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records, LLC.
Album review
"Yoga" was an ostensibly minor part of the Janelle Monáe discography by the arrival of Dirty Computer. Three years old and outshined by another Wondaland release, Jidenna's "Classic Man," it nevertheless became Monáe's first single to hit the Billboard Hot 100. That Monáe hadn't previously hit the chart as a headliner was further evidence of a flawed industry, given that they and primary collaborators Nate Wonder and Chuck Lightning had been making songs with pop appeal for nearly a decade. "Yoga" did show that Monáe was more open to messing with contemporary trends. Moreover, the song's humanized, sexually uninhibited, and anti-authoritarian qualities -- they were earthbound, celebrating their body, asserting "You cannot police me" -- also indicated the course they have taken with their third album. Oddly enough, "Make Me Feel," the one Dirty Computer track on which Monáe employs a wholly pop songwriting team including Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter, and Mattman & Robin, is the funkiest and friskiest number here, clearly influenced by the late (and uncredited) Prince. Monáe and their trusty Wondaland partners, the album's dominant creative force, colorfully twist and flip new wave-leaning pop with booming bass drums and rattling percussion. They transmit powerful and defiant jubilance in response to "wack ass fuckboys everywhere (from the traphouse to the White House) who make the lives of little brown girls so damn hard," among dozens of other inspirations Monáe acknowledges in the essential liner notes. Almost every track is densely packed with quotables delivered in approaches that shift from easygoing elegance to hard-fought, triumphant conviction. The latter approach yields the album's apex, "Django Jane," in which Monáe raps throughout with inhuman precision, threatening a pussy riot, declaring "We ain't hidden no more," and uplifting the "highly melanated" while dropping some of the set's few sci-fi allusions, "Made a fandroid outta yo' girlfriend" among them. Not to be lost in all the power moves are indirect and direct references to a romantic relationship -- another form of dissent -- referenced and explored throughout, from the glowing "Crazy, Classic, Life" through the fiery "So Afraid," the only moment of emotional fragility. While this is easily the most loaded Monáe album in terms of guests, with Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder, and Grimes among the contributors, there's no doubt that it's a Wondaland product. It demonstrates that artful resistance and pop music are not mutually exclusive.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:48:37
- Main artists: Janelle Monáe
- Label: Bad Boy Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Soul
© 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2018 Bad Boy Records LLC for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.