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Janelle Monáe Announces First Album In 5 Years

The wait will soon be over. Janelle Monáe has announced her first album in five years. The news came attached to a new single, “Lipstick Lover,” which will be featured…

95th Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Janelle Monáe attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California.

(Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

The wait will soon be over. Janelle Monáe has announced her first album in five years. The news came attached to a new single, "Lipstick Lover," which will be featured on the forthcoming LP.

"As we enter into The Age Of Pleasure, Lipstick Lover is our freea--mothaf---- anthem inspired by f.a.m. for f.a.m," Monae wrote in the album’s press release. The Age Of Pleasure is set for release on June 9 per Variety. "This is our audio oasis made with love and signed with cherry red kisses from me to you."

"Lipstick Lover" follows the new LP’s first single, "Float," which was released in February. Monáe spoke of the mindset she was in, while she was working on her new album and what she wishes for fans to take from her newest project.

"All the songs were written from such an honest space," Monáe said of her new record, per Pitchfork. "So I hope that people feel that when they listen to the music, that they feel that when they come and, you know, counter with me when I’m around, I definitely have had an opportunity to evolve and grow and to tap into the things that bring me pleasure, the things that perhaps I should rethink and rework."

In addition to the album announcement, Monàe has also shared the tracklist to her upcoming LP. Take a look below:

The Age of Pleasure:

01 Float [ft. Seun Kuti and Egypt 80]
02 Champagne Shit
03 Black Sugar Beach
04 Phenomenal
05 Haute
06 Oh La La
07 Lipstick Lover
08 The Rush
09 The French 75
10 Water Slide
11 Know Better
12 Paid in Pleasure
13 Only Have Eyes 42
14 A Dry Red

The Age Of Pleasure follows 2018’s Dirty Computer. The album was nominated for Album of the Year and the music video for "Pynk" was nominated for Best Music Video at the 61st Grammy Awards.

Take a look at Monáe's newest single "Lipstick Lover" below:

The artists in hip-hop and R&B showed out in April with rappers such as Nicki Minaj and Doja Cat hopping on remixes as well as some R&B artists reemerging for the first time in a long time. Drake made his first solo record of the year this month as some artists are gearing up for their future albums slated for 2023.

Take a look at some of the best R&B and hip-hop songs of April 2023 ranked:

10. "Da Girls" (Remix) - Ciara ft. Lola Brooke and Lady London

Ciara enlisted Lola Brooke and Lady London for the remix of "Da Girls." This was the first time all three artists linked up on a record. "Lola and Lady London are special," Ciara said about the two rising emcees per RatedRNB. "They each bring a unique star quality to everything they do. From the tone of their voices to the fire verses, they spoke life into this record for all da girls around the world."

9. "Give It To Me" - Miguel

Miguel is back with a new single titled "Give It To Me." The R&B artist has not released a full-length project since 2017's War & Leisure. His last project was his 2021 EP Art Dealer Chic Vol. 4. However, his 2010 single "Sure Thing," went viral on TikTok this year and currently sits at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.

8. "Chemical" - Post Malone

Post Malone dropped his first song of 2023 with "Chemical." The New York native just finished touring last year in support of his 2022 LP Twelve Carat Toothache. "Chemical" is different from the artist's usual sound as it has upbeat pop-rock elements introduced. The new record will act as the lead single to the rapper's upcoming fifth studio album.

7. "Alone" - Kim Petras ft. Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj joined Kim Petras for "Alone" marking their first collaboration together. For Nicki, this follows her feature on Ice Spice's "Princess Diana." "Alone" is Petras' second single of 2023 following her record "brrr" which was released in January.

6. "Double Fantasy" - The Weeknd ft. Future

For The Weeknd's upcoming HBO drama The Idol, he and Future linked up to create "Double Fantasy." The Weeknd performed it for the first time during Metro Boomin's Coachella set. "Double Fantasy" marks The Weeknd and Future’s fifth collaboration after the two first came together as featured artists on producer Mike WiLL Made-It‘s 2015 single "Drinks on Us," which also featured Swae Lee.

5. "Kill Bill" Remix - SZA ft. Doja Cat

Doja Cat hopped on SZA's SOS hit "Kill Bill" making it her first 2023 appearance. The two previously collaborated on the Grammy-winning "Kiss Me More." SZA earned her first No. 1 Billboard hit with the original "Kill Bill" this month.

4. "Empire State Of Mind" Remix - Jay-Z

Jay-Z remixed his 2009 hit "Empire State of Mind." The hip-hop icon performed the remixed version in Paris at the Louis Vuitton Foundation to mark the opening of the "Basquiat x Warhol. Painting Four Hands" exhibition. The new version has been officially released which features Gil Scott-Heron’s iconic I’m New Here song "New York Is Killing Me." The original "Empire State Of Mind" features Alicia Keys. The song was nominated for three awards but won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song at the 53rd Grammy Awards ceremony. The song was originally on Jay's The Blueprint 3.

3. "Put It On Da Floor" - Latto

Latto dropped "Put It On Da Floor" in April which fueled a beef between her and Coi Leray. The two later made amends but it ended working in the Atlanta native's favor as she scored her first No. 1 on the Hot Trending Songs chart.

2. "Search & Rescue" - Drake

Drake dropped his first solo song of 2023 titled "Search & Rescue." He infamously sampled Kim Kardashian on the record from her Hulu reality show The Kardashians. "Search & Rescue" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

1. "Princess Diana" Remix - Ice Spice ft. Nicki Minaj

The People's Princess and the Queen linked up for a remix of the Bronx native's "Princess Diana." The "Princess Diana" remix debuted at No.1 on this week's Digital Song Sales chart making it Ice Spice's first and Nicki's 14th No.1 hit. The song debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.