| Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) | ||||
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| 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 | ||||
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| Singles from Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) | ||||
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| 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.
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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]
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]
Credits for Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) adapted from Allmusic.[15]
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| Chart (2008) | Peak position[16] |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 115 |
| US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 20 |
| US Billboard Top Heatseekers | 2 |
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