With a multi-hyphenate career blossoming since her last album, Dirty Computer (2018), the prospect of new music from Janelle Monáe has seemed a dim and distant hope. With film roles and story writing continuing to pile up, how on earth would Monáe find time to record new music?
That wait is over though with new single “Float” featuring Seun Kuti (the youngest son of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti) and Egypt 80 alongside the inimitable style of the singer-writer-musician-actress. Inspired by Muhammad Ali’s famous quote and trash-talking (amongst other things), the song has been used extensively across NBA platforms, including as the soundtrack to an animated feature celebrating LeBron James passing Kareem Abdul- Jabbar as the highest points scorer in NBA history.
The song is another step on Monáe’s fascinating journey to self-actualization, coming as it does with lyrics about her metamorphosis into someone able to accept her mistakes and celebrate her own mesmerizing qualities. The music is a fairly muted wave with added punch provided by the horns of Egypt 80 and it finds Monáe riding its undulating groove in her own unique fashion.
Whether this is a sign of a forthcoming album or just a one-off to coincide with her appearance on Dwayne Wade’s team in the celebrity all-star basketball game this weekend, just settle into the bliss and let Monáe take you away with her flow.
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