Bad Boy Forever
The ArchAndroid album cover

Studio album 2010

Janelle Monáe The ArchAndroid

Billboard peak
No.17
Released May 18
2010
Runtime
68:37
Tracks
18
Label
Bad Boy Records
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

Janelle Monáe's debut studio album, released with Wondaland Arts Society and Atlantic: suites II and III of her Metropolis series, with Saul Williams, Big Boi, of Montreal and Deep Cotton as guests. It reached No. 17 on the Billboard 200.

The ArchAndroid opens suites II and III of Janelle Monáe’s Metropolis story—android opera scaled up from the Chase Suite EP into a full Bad Boy/Atlantic debut. Most of it was built at Wondaland with Nate “Rocket” Wonder and Chuck Lightning; Monáe stays in the producer’s chair almost throughout.

Dance or Die with Saul Williams, Tightrope with Big Boi, and Cold War were the early public faces. Guests from of Montreal and Deep Cotton keep the sci-fi R&B lane weird without losing the funk. It peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and remains the record that made her more than a cult EP artist.

Track list

  1. Suite II Overture 2:31
  2. Dance or Die 3:12

    Feat. Saul Williams

  3. Faster 3:19
  4. Locked Inside 4:16
  5. Sir Greendown 2:15
  6. Cold War 3:23
  7. Tightrope 4:22

    Feat. Big Boi

  8. Neon Gumbo 1:37
  9. Oh, Maker 3:47
  10. Come Alive (The War of the Roses) 3:22
  11. Mushrooms & Roses 5:42
  12. Suite III Overture 1:41
  13. Neon Valley Street 4:11
  14. Make the Bus 3:19

    Feat. of Montreal

  15. Wondaland 3:36
  16. 57821 3:16

    Feat. Deep Cotton

  17. Say You'll Go 6:01
  18. BabopbyeYa 8:47

Artists on this release

Lead and guest artists, from the credits

  1. Janelle Monáe Lead artist Atlanta, Georgia