Metropolis: The Chase Suite Explained

Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase)
Type:EP
Artist:Janelle Monáe
Cover:Metropolis Suite I of IV- The Chase album cover.JPG
Caption:The Special Edition features a zoomed in photo of Monáe (as Cindi Mayweather) showing just her torso. The Fantastic Edition features green curtains instead of red.
Released:August 24, 2007
Genre:
Length:17:30
Label:Bad Boy
Prev Title:The Audition
Prev Year:2003
Next Title:The ArchAndroid
Next Year:2010

Metropolis: The Chase Suite, sometimes known as Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase), is the debut extended play (EP) by American recording artist Janelle Monáe, released August 24, 2007 on Bad Boy Records. Produced by Monáe, Control Z, and Chuck Lightning, the EP constitutes the first installment of Monáe's seven-part Metropolis conceptual series.

The EP debuted at number 115 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 5,200 copies in its first week.[1] It was re-released as a special edition on August 12, 2008, and produced three singles, "Violet Stars Happy Hunting!!!", "Sincerely, Jane.", and "Many Moons".

Upon its release, Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) received critical acclaim from music critics, with "Many Moons" being nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.[2]

Concept

Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) is the first installment of Monáe's seven-part Metropolis conceptual series, inspired by Fritz Lang's science fiction classic film, Metropolis (1927). It follows a fictional tale of android Cindi Mayweather who is mass-produced in the year 2719 for a market filled with severe social stratification. Mayweather falls in love with a human, and is sentenced to disassembly.

Critical reception

Metropolis received critical acclaim upon its release. Mark Nero from About.com gave the EP a positive review saying "Though she's new to the mainstream, the quirky, highly-talented singer Janelle Monae has been putting out music for years. ... If you've heard the original version of the EP, there's no need to pick this up unless you're a diehard fan, but if this is your first exposure to Janelle's music, you're in for a treat.[3] Hip-Hop DX gave the EP a positive review saying, "Even without the random interplanetary references and notions of forbidden robot love, Metropolis has the type of production that takes its cues from something made in the past, as well as the future. The drums hit hard, and when combined with the synth keys, strings and the occasional electric guitar, they make for an oddly enjoyable mix."[4] The Kansas City Star gave the EP a positive review.

Commercial performance

Metropolis: Suite I had minor success in the United States where it peaked at number 115 on the US Billboard 200 chart and fared much better on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at number 20. The album also charted on the Top Heatseekers chart at number two. The EP spent one week on the Billboard 200, but spent 9 weeks altogether on both the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and the Top Heatseekers chart.[5]

Personnel

Credits for Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) adapted from AllMusic.[6]

Charts

Chart (2008)Peak
position
US Billboard 200[7] 115
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)20
US Top Heatseekers (Billboard)2

External links

Notes and References

  1. Harris, Chris. Jonas Brothers Top Miley Cyrus For First #1 Album Of Their Career. MTV. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
  2. Web site: Complete List of Nominees for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards . E! Online . 2008-12-03 . 2013-04-30.
  3. Web site: Janelle Monae – "Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition)" . Randb.about.com . April 5, 2011 . April 11, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140411195039/http://randb.about.com/od/reviews/gr/MonaeMetropolis.htm . dead .
  4. Web site: Burgess . Omar . Janelle Monae – Metropolis: The Chase Suite . HipHop DX . September 25, 2008 . April 5, 2011.
  5. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=janelle monáe|chart=all}} Metropolis: The Chase Suite [Special Edition] - Janelle Monáe |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=August 30, 2008 |accessdate=August 22, 2012].
  6. Credits: Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase)
  7. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=janelle monáe|chart=all}} Chart History: Janelle Monae ]. . May 21, 2010.