Janelle Monae sings, raps, dances, writes, acts, and produces. Critics rave about her albums, the internet lights up when she releases a video, and fans are astounded by her concert tours, yet she still has time to fit in acting work and political activism. This updated biography traces Monaes life, from her childhood in Kansas City, KS, through the struggling years to break through in the music industry, to her rise to international fame as both a musician and an actor.