Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase)

Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase)
EP by Janelle Monáe
Released	August 24, 2007
Recorded	2007
Genre	Pop, funk, dance-punk, soul
Length	17:30
Label	Bad Boy
Producer	Big Boi (exec.), Janelle Monáe, Control Z, Chuck "Wolfmaster" Lightning
Janelle Monáe chronology
Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) (2007) The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) (2010)
Singles from Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase)
"Violet Stars Happy Hunting!" Released: August 2007 "Sincerely, Jane." Released: 2007 "Many Moons" Released: June 2008

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	[1]
Allmusic	[2]
Art Nouveau Magazine	[3]
The Boston Globe	(favorable)[4]
HipHopDX	[5]
The Kansas City Star	(favorable)[6]
Newsday	(B)[7]
PopMatters	(8/10)[8]
Seattle Times	(favorable)[9]

Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) is the debut EP of American musician Janelle Monáe, released August 24, 2007 on Bad Boy Records. Produced by Monáe, Control Z, and Chuck Lightning, the EP introduces Monáe's Metropolis conceptual series, following a fictional tale of female android Cindi Mayweather who is mass produced in the year 2719 for a market filled with severe social stratification.

The EP debuted at number 115 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 5,200 copies in its first week.^[10] It was re-released as a special edition on August 12, 2008 and produced three singles, including "Violet Stars Happy Hunting!", "Sincerely, Jane.", and "Many Moons". Upon its release, Metropolis Suite I received generally positive reviews from music critics, with Many Moons being nominated for the Best Urban/Alternative Performance at the 51st Grammy Awards.

Reception

Critical response

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. Her five-song Metropolis - Suite I: The Chase EP was originally released back in August 2007. Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition) - and two additional songs. 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.^[11] 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."^[12] The Kansas City Star gave the EP a positive review saying "Metropolis" opens with an intro that sets up a fictional narrative: Android No. 57821, otherwise known as Cindi Mayweather, has fallen in love with Anthony Greendown, a human, which is forbidden on Metropolis. For that, she has been scheduled for "immediate disassembly."^[13]

Commercial performance

The album failed to make a large impact anywhere. The album however made a slight impact in the United States and the album peaked at number 115 on the US Billboard 200 Albums Chart and fared much better on the R&B/ Hip-Hop Albums Chart where it peaked at number 20. The album also charted on the US Heatseekers Chart at number 2 respectively. The EP only spent one week on the US Billboard Albums Chart however it spent 9 weeks altogether on both the R&B Albums Chart and the Heatseekers Chart.^[14]

Track listing

1. "March of the Wolfmasters" – 1:27
2. "Violet Stars Happy Hunting!" – 3:13
3. "Many Moons" – 5:34
4. "Cybertronic Purgatory" – 1:40
5. "Sincerely, Jane." – 5:36

Special edition

6. "Mr. President" – 4:59
7. "Smile" – 3:58
8. "Violet Stars Happy Hunting!!! (Edit)" - (Bonus track exclusive to the limited vinyl release)

Personnel

Credits for Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) adapted from Allmusic.^[15]

Terrence Brown – piano, strings Control_z – engineer, drum programming, mastering, mixing Cutmaster Swift – scratching, cut Brian Davis – graphic design, concept, layout design, creation Provi Fulp – concept, stylist, creation Bernie Grundman – mastering Jaspects – horn section, trumpet, sax (alto), sax (tenor) Chuck Lightning – concept, story, creation Lord Of The Cybersoul Patrol – executive producer Lord Mitchell A. "MitchOW!ski" Martian – mastering, mixing, concept, assistant, creation Janelle Monáe – organ (hammond), vocals, vocals (bckgr), producer, executive producer, concept, soloist, creation, voiceover Emily "Widget" Parker – concept, creation Kellindo Parker – concept, creation Kellis Jr. Parker – guitar, soloist

Antwan "Big Boi" Patton – executive producer Donna Permell – photography, concept, creation George "Rico" Rodriguez – concept, creation Ben Rose – photography, concept, creation Skunks – snaps Chris Stanford – photography, concept, creation Delvin Stanklin – concept, creation Sweetfish – bass Wolfmaster Lightning – arranger, vocals, producer, associate producer, associate arranger Wolfmaster Z – organ, synthesizer, guitar, piano, arranger, keyboards, piano (electric), programming, vocals, producer, artwork, graphic design, mastering, mixing, concept, layout design, instrumentation, creation Wolfmasters – executive producer Wondaland Arts Society – creative director, concept, creation

Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position[16]
US Billboard 200	115
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	20
US Billboard Top Heatseekers	2

References

1. ^ Nero, Mark Edward. Review: Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). About.com. Retrieved on 2010-05-21.
2. ^ Kellman, Andy. Review: Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-05-21.
3. ^ Columnist. Review: Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). Art Nouveau Magazine. Retrieved on 2010-05-21.
4. ^ Capobianco, Ken. Review: Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). The Boston Globe. Retrieved on 2010-05-21.
5. ^ Burgess, Omar. Review: Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). HipHopDX. Retrieved on 2010-05-21.
6. ^ Columnist. "Review: Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase)". The Kansas City Star: F3. August 12, 2008.
7. ^ Gamboa, Glenn. Review: Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). Newsday. Retrieved on 2010-05-21.
8. ^ Wikane, Christopher John. Review: Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). PopMatters. Retrieved on 2010-05-21.
9. ^ Matson, Andrew. Review: Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). Seattle Times. Retrieved on 2010-05-21.
10. ^ Harris, Chris. Jonas Brothers Top Miley Cyrus For First #1 Album Of Their Career. MTV. Retrieved on 2010-05-21.
11. ^ "Janelle Monae - "Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition)"". Randb.about.com. http://randb.about.com/od/reviews/gr/MonaeMetropolis.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-05. 
12. ^ Burgess, Omar (2008-09-25). "Janelle Monae - Metropolis: The Chase Suite | Read Hip Hop Reviews, Rap Reviews & Hip Hop Album Reviews". HipHop DX. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.1015/title.janelle-monae-metropolis-the-chase-suite. Retrieved 2011-04-05. 
13. ^ http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=KC&p_theme=kc&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=122857CDD6BD3290&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
14. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/album/janelle-monae/metropolis-the-chase-suite-special-edition/1173904
15. ^ Credits: Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-05-21.
16. ^ Chart History: Janelle Monae. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-05-21.

External links

• Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) at Discogs