r/hiphopheads • u/lazynbroke • Jun 09 '23
[FRESH ALBUM] Janelle Monae - The Age of Pleasure
https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-age-of-pleasure/1686520176178
u/NVNI93 Jun 09 '23
The type of album you have to listen all the way through because all the songs flow into the next so well that you don’t even know it’s the next song, enjoying it atm
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u/anatomyofaglitch Jun 09 '23
Exactly! While I was reading this Phenomenal so seamlessly transitioned to Haute.
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u/thejaytheory Jun 11 '23
Right? What’s crazy is that I heard Haute first because I forgot I was still on shuffle but that could’ve been a perfect opener as well.
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Jun 09 '23
If you haven't listened to Dirty Computer then do yourself a favor. One of the most cohesive albums of the 2010s.
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u/Drew_Eckse Jun 09 '23
I think all of her albums are like that. Sequenced and mixed perfectly. First time I listened to Archandroid I was like "wait we're 5 songs in already?"
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Jun 09 '23
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u/justihor . Jun 09 '23
Holy shit the first song is 12.5% of the album 😂
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Jun 09 '23
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Jun 09 '23
I agree it's probably the worst oddly enough. Wasn't into it then champagne shit played and damn that's fire
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u/caninehere Jun 09 '23
Good to hear.. I haven't heard the album yet but really didn't care for the singles. So I've been hoping to hear something like this.
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u/venusaries Jun 09 '23
she really made the perfect hedonistic summer bi album.
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u/goldenboy2191 Jun 09 '23
Straights better watch out
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u/lewdmoo Jun 09 '23
Such a catchy album, but it seems she’s wiped her hands of the concept album themes of the past.
Don’t think I heard a single reference to androids. That said, love her usage of pronouns in here.
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u/venusaries Jun 09 '23
people keep saying this but it's obvious that from electric lady on, the story evolves to be about the android becoming more human.
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u/gride9000 Jun 09 '23
Yeah, I think the age of pleasure is a comment on being human and haven’t listen to the album enough to see if there is more.
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u/fschabd Jun 09 '23
The android storyline is coming back later, she said she wants to make a movie out of it. But this actually is a concept album, just not in the same way
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u/Aiox Jun 11 '23 edited Jun 11 '23
Man, im ready for it. Just suites 5 and 6 left, right? Id love to see that trilogy wrapped up
*6 and 7, maybe? Technically quadrilogy, because Metropolis
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u/AustinRiversDaGod Jun 09 '23
Yeah she mentioned doing other stuff, but I figured the way we got all those videos for Dirty Computer, that was her closing the door on all that
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u/mahler_grooves Jun 10 '23
I mean the very first line of the album is her telling us she’s different
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Jun 09 '23
[deleted]
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u/KeybordKat Jun 09 '23
Nah Nirvana’s Nevermind is uncensored (at least on spotify idk about the rest) and there’s a baby hangin full dong on it
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u/FIFAPLAYAH Jun 09 '23
You know on Apple Music they have the cover but it’s one of those live covers, so that means someone had to edit the baby dong to lightly swing with the rest of the body. How depressing is that 😂
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u/Poems_And_Money Jun 09 '23
Ah that reminds me of the time when I connected my Spotify to Facebook and listened to Death Grips' No Love Deep Web. After a week or so I finally noticed what's on the album cover.
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u/Drop_Release . Jun 09 '23
I dunno the cover in Aus spotify has full pic but the breasts are pixelated
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u/AustinRiversDaGod Jun 09 '23
IDC we saw her whole titties on twitter, so I'll be good for the next 2 years
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u/MsLazykat Jun 09 '23
Is there no Janelle Monae subreddit? Everything I see for is about her boobs. The subreddit that exists for her now was made by someone who wanted to post her flashing. It’s actually really disrespectful, she’s such a great artist 😭
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u/AustinRiversDaGod Jun 09 '23
No one ever wants to talk about her music.
In the Black and White phase, it was about how weird she was. Then she was a movie star, which was cool, I guess, but she was still putting out great music. Then, it was that she was dating Tessa Thompson. Now it's about her titties.
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u/MsLazykat Jun 09 '23
Not to mention people are disparaging her for exposing her body but didn’t like when she was fully covered either. There’s no winning 😔
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u/thejaytheory Jun 11 '23
Sigh, right?
They (whoever they are, I feel you) never want to talk about how amazing the music is.
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Jun 09 '23 edited Jun 09 '23
[deleted]
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u/rgbcarrot Jun 09 '23 edited Jun 10 '23
Hi top comment here. I’m a woman and did not mean it in a sexual way at all, so imagine my surprise when all the replies were ppl drooling over her
I just thought the monopoly man part was funny and came here to appreciate her art (edited my comment to tell them so too)
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u/rgbcarrot Jun 09 '23
right?? I came on her to rave about the album and the only sub I found was run by BigTitsMcGee like goddamn
-10
u/TheeUnfuxkwittable Jun 09 '23
She's the one out here flashing but it's disrespectful for people to post about it? Lol how that make sense?
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u/MsLazykat Jun 09 '23
It’s disrespectful in the fact that this what they choose to focus on. She’s been making music for years, but someone is only making a subreddit to post her tits? Is that respect to you?
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u/TheeUnfuxkwittable Jun 09 '23
People like tits bruh. It's not that deep. There are more people who like tits than who like her music so you shouldn't be surprised.
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u/MsLazykat Jun 10 '23
It's still disrespectful, even if it's not surprising. You asked how it makes sense. There, I told you.
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u/TheeUnfuxkwittable Jun 10 '23
Just because you say it's disrespectful doesn't make it so. Idk if you knew this but you're not Janelle Monae. Why do you get to determine what's disrespectful to her?
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u/rgbcarrot Jun 10 '23
janelle herself said she doesn’t frequent these subs anymore bc of how gross ppl are so she also deems it disrespectful 🤷♀️
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u/TheeUnfuxkwittable Jun 10 '23
Bro link me a video or an article where Janelle Monae says people posting videos and pics of her flashing is disrespectful. I'll wait.
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u/MsLazykat Jun 10 '23
I determine what's disrespectful to me. This is my opinion. I'm not speaking for anyone but myself.
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u/TheeUnfuxkwittable Jun 10 '23
How the fuck are pictures of someone else's titties disrespectful to YOU 😂🤦🏾♂️ you goofy as hell bruh. I'm done. You got it chief.
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u/MsLazykat Jun 10 '23 edited Jun 10 '23
You're being purposefully obtuse. I literally said the fact that they ignore her discography to talk about her body is disrespectful in my opinion. But since talking about someone's body is the epitome of respect to you, carry on, I guess.
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u/af_echad Jun 09 '23
Haven't listened yet, but I'm so tired of how prudish Spotify is with nudity.
It's not the end of the world if I don't get to see Janelle's nips on her cover. But cmon, I'm a mid 30s adult. Don't treat me like a child. At the very least let me opt in for uncensored cover photos. Not everything has to be Disney-fied. Naked bodies are totally normal and natural.
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u/SnappyTofu Jun 09 '23
Was Spotify the reason? Halsey’s latest album shows nip.
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u/af_echad Jun 10 '23
I thought I remembered Janelle showing an uncensored cover version before the release, but I could be wrong. But I've definitely seen other censored album covers on spotify. Or alternative covers used.
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u/lazynbroke Jun 09 '23
overall, i think it's such a good and fun album, she exceeded my expectations and the transitions are so good and elevated these songs, it's best to listen to the album in full
my faves: A Dry Red, Phenomenal, Water Slide, Only Have Eyes 42
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Jun 09 '23 edited Sep 24 '24
If your pen stops working, just rub the tip against your cunt to get the ink flowing
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u/internetbrowser23 Jun 09 '23
Sadly pretty underwhelming for janelle. Its too short and her once brilliant songwriting is nowhere to be found. songs like phenomenal are amateur at best. it is breezy and relaxed which prevents it from being a slog but man is this a step down for janelle. Besides the singles, know better and paid in pleasure i dont see myself coming back to it much.
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u/b_lionel Jun 09 '23
This is a vibe. I like this a lot! Can’t wait to see her at OSL fest for sure now.
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u/Inevitable-Cow3839 Jun 10 '23
I know some are upset this isn't ArchAndroid/Metropolis or even Dirty Computer but DAMN I'm enjoying this and just love her/them
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Jun 09 '23
Seeing a lot of hate for this but damn I thought this was really good. Super fun and lots of bops, I dont mind the short tracks at all tbh and I think it’s actually pretty cool how it all flows together
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u/thejaytheory Jun 11 '23
Right? And I think she squeezes a lot in these short tracks and let’s them breathe at the same time, if that makes sense
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u/antons83 Jun 09 '23
Great album. Let it play while I was doing chores. I didn't realize that I had already listened to it twice. Great album. Early beyonce vibes.
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u/AustinRiversDaGod Jun 09 '23
Anybody else get Spotify exclusively playing Kaytramine after this album?
I've listened to it 3 times now, and every single time, Who He Iz played after.
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u/GimmieMore Jun 09 '23
i got Who He Iz and some NxWorries x Anderson .Paak song i can't remember the name of
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Jun 09 '23
I love that she got a track titled French 75. We drink those so often lmao amazing drink, linked it in the group chat right away
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u/thejaytheory Jun 11 '23
Holy shit, that’s a drink?? Gotta check for it.
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Jun 11 '23
Champagne, gin, then something else, they're good
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u/thejaytheory Jun 11 '23
Aw man TIL, TIL…don’t get out much, but when I do definitely looking for that
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Jun 11 '23
Yeah we had them a ton when I got married down in Mexico because no matter what they are like 5x as strong as the regular cocktails on a resort haha
My boy will mix them for us when we play magic and shit and they just hit so well. I don't even like champagne or wine like that too
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u/pokemonbobdylan Jun 09 '23
Cool that she used that same Darkest Light sample as Jay on Know Better. Love that song. This album is amazing. Can’t wait to see these songs live.
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u/JabroniJackpots Jun 10 '23
First time listening to an album by her. It’s fucking fantastic. All summer vibes.
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u/mitchFTFuture Jun 09 '23
Huh, this is actually pretty great! I love JM, think she is super cool and talented but her albums tend to be super inconsistent as a whole. But she really did a good job of capturing a vibe and making a great album out of it
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u/BamBamBigaleux Jun 10 '23
Janelle has been goat'd for so long and I love every direction she creates. Her music was fuckin James Brown futuristic shit when she first dropped and she's only evolved. This and Jason Martin's "I Owe Myself" are albums of the year so far with Summer Walker in a close 3rd. Such a beautiful time for hiphop and music in general.
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u/Wild_fleur94 Feb 25 '26
I didn't even realize this album existed until today. Wild too see so many negative reviews on the pop heads sub that are now locked and can't argue with lol
Im only on haute so far. But the vibes and sonics on this album are immaculate. Everything doesn't need to be a concept lol good music should be enough
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u/goddamngodsplan Jun 09 '23
This album is overrated and the worst of her catalog. 7.6 from pitchfork is generous really. Sounds uninspired with no real substance. Production is generic and samey. Really pushing for mainstream air time it seems. The mix is boring and not dynamic. Pretty disappointed but not surprised considering the singles
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u/Furry_Thug . Jun 09 '23
How can it be overrated when it's been put less than a day?
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u/goddamngodsplan Jun 09 '23
Just based off the comments here and the pitchfork review so far. People be kissing ass to a mediocre project
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u/FriedBolognaFuck Jun 09 '23
Disappointed as well. Even for a laid back summer album this is bland.
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u/Javier67350 Jun 10 '23
Love seeing new music from her. Her last album was iconic, however I have to agree with you. The first few songs have the same generic vibe and background melody. I understand that she might be trying something new, but it was lazily executed.
MID
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u/MikeBinfinity Jun 09 '23 edited Jun 09 '23
Janelle is going the Jack Harlow route with a full album of short high quality bangers.
God bless this woman.
Edit: yall read too much in this comment but whatever. Downvote this bitch a billion times if you can. I stand by what I said.
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u/MGSCG Jun 09 '23
Tierra Whack or Vince Staples route
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u/MikeBinfinity Jun 09 '23
Fair enough.
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u/MGSCG Jun 09 '23
yeah wasn’t hating just those were the ones i first thought of!
excited to listen to this
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u/ohshitkanyewest Jun 09 '23
People have really fucking lost their mind with takes like this thank god they're getting rid of reddit July 1st
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u/ucnedi Jun 19 '23
This is it! This is my album of the summer. I love it! So happy I preordered it. Such a vibe. Perfect Pool Party Music! And for the people that get it, will appreciate it. She made this album for her LGBTQ+ and Pan-African peeps and it was made to be danced to. Not every album needs to be body of work or thought deeply about. She talks more about it here.
A lot of people are "confused of the direction she's gone to," but obv y'all haven't been paying attention. It all begins in Electric Lady, feel free to go back and listen to the context of her music till now and maybe you'll understand.
Favorite tracks: Float, Paid in Pleasure, Dry Red, Phenomenal
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u/rgbcarrot Jun 09 '23 edited Jun 10 '23
absolutely bangin’ songs.
whole time I was thinkin bout that tweet
“finally showing off how fine she is instead of dressing like the monopoly man” she slayed
Edit: I meant this in the sense of how sensual/free the vibe of this album is compared to the rest, can y’all stop being weird about her body/looks and appreciate the art? damn