Janelle Monae's third studio album Dirty Computer arrived Friday, and it continues in the Prince-esque future-funk style she's established with the pre-release singles. "I Got The Juice," one of the album's immediate highlights, pairs her with another forward-thinking genre synergist in Pharrell, whose touch is audible throughout, both in the bouncy production and exclamatory call-and-response vocals. It could easily follow N*E*R*D's Rihanna-assisted "Lemon" in a playlist, but like that song, it's the female lead that makes the song what it is. Janelle continues to build on the themes she built on "Pynk" as she lambasts Donald Trump for his predatory comments: "If you try to grab my pussy cat, this pussy grab you back (hey!)." She transitions seamlessly from funky melodicism to confident raps and finds chemistry with her collaborator as the two pass vocal duties back and forth.
Pharrell has been adventurous in his recent collaborations, showing up to Rae Sremmurd's "Chanel" and producing Migos' "Stir Fry" earlier this year.
Listen to Dirty Computer, which features contributions from Grimes, The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, and actress Zoe Kravitz, here.
Quotable Lyrics:
It's a freak, freak scene in it
Yeah, wet, wet dream in it
Wakin' up like wean in it
Me in your jeans in it, yeah
Yellow like pee in it, yeah
Oh no, I mean me in it
Know it ain't lean in it, huh?
But it's got a little kink in it
Kinda make you wanna drink in it
Got a little cream in it, yeah
But I feel a little bean in it
Yeah, work me up like caffeine in it
