By Odeisel

Janelle Monae has released an album that many consider a classic.  The enigmatic performer has the chops to get it done as well as conceptual ingenuity and inventive production. Her first single, the Big Boi-featured “Tightrope” was a masterful blend of old school feel and contemporary delivery. However, this IS the remix featuring rap sensation B.o.B. , hipster hero Lupe Fiasco and Janelle Monae…busting a rhyme!

B.o.B opens the song with more fire than he showed on his debut. There is a grown man hunger that is light years away from the youthful doubt in his delivery. Verbally, he is the star of this track surpassing veteran Lupe in presence, enthusiasm and delivery. He bounces ably over the breaks in the beat and rocks non stop.

Tightrope features the surprising emcee delivery of Janelle Monae. If in fact she wrote this verse, it would automatically place her in the upper class of mainstream femcees. Janelle gets a few things off her chest addressing the non- believers and flashing her credentials proudly including the magazine covers and her stage prowess. Lupe’s delivery lacks the energy of the other two, but as usual, he packs dense reference and meaning in his rhymes.

The electric guitars and the low bass do the heavy lifting on this composition. Monae’s original chorus is still intact. The stops, starts and adjustments mid-bar give the track dynamism and character while giving the performers obstacles to simple flow. This is dope. Take a listen. Monae continues to show more layers. Enjoy.