Janelle Monae: Rocking Crowds With No Apologies

Attempting to classify Janelle Monáe is a waste of time.

The Kansas City native has been making her rounds at some of the year's top festivals, including SXSW and Bonaroo. And if her tuxedo and black-and-white saddle shoes are any indicator of what's to come, then her show is definitely a break from the norm.

This week, the petite 25-year-old hits the road again, opening for pop group No Doubt's reunion tour. She's been known to throw water on the audience, finger paint and crowd surf.

Her out-of-the-box display of showmanship has clearly worked to her advantage.

"I don't marginalize black people or white people. They either like it or they don't," Monáe declared during an interview with BV Newswire. "People discuss my art and talk about it as though they understand it, but it is never required of them to understand what I am doing. I don't get frustrated by that. I can't help my skin color, but it is very important to show that [black people] are not monolithic, and I'm redefining the stereotypes that have been placed on us."

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Singer Janelle Monae performs on stage during Bonnaroo 2009 on June 11, 2009 in Manchester, Tennessee..Bonnaroo 2009 - Day 1 - Janelle Monae.The Other Tent.Manchester, TN United States.June 11, 2009.Photo by FilmMagic Inc/FilmMagic.com..To license this image (57657745), contact FilmMagic.com

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Recording artist Janelle Monae Giant Step, Hudson & Charity Water present Janelle Monae at the Hudson Luxury Hotel on May 12, 2009 in New York City..Giant Step, Hudson & Charity Water Present Janelle Monae.Hudson Luxury Hotel.New York, NY United States.May 12, 2009.Photo by Bennett Raglin/WireImage.com..To license this image (57426638), contact WireImage.com

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Singer Janelle Monae attends the Chloe Los Angeles Boutique Opening Celebration held at Milk Studios on April 23, 2009 in Los Angeles, California..Chloe Los Angeles Boutique Opening Celebration.Milk Studios.Los Angeles, CA United States.April 23, 2009.Photo by Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com..To license this image (57265441), contact WireImage.com

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Singer Janelle Monae performs during the Chloe Los Angeles Boutique Opening Celebration held at Milk Studios on April 23, 2009 in Los Angeles, California..Chloe Los Angeles Boutique Opening Celebration.Milk Studios.Los Angeles, CA United States.April 23, 2009.Photo by Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com..To license this image (57265858), contact WireImage.com

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 08: Singer Janelle Monae arrives at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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She's fortunate enough to count some of Atlanta's most well-known artists, like Cee-Lo and Outkast's Andre 3000 and Big Boi, as mentors.

However, it was Diddy who quickly swooped in and signed Monáe to his Bad Boy imprint and re-released her EP 'Metropolis: The Chase Suite' last year.

Monáe, an artist's artist, maintains full creative control not only of her major-label debut but also of the next three parts of her sci-fi themed album.

'The Chase' tells the story of Cindi Mayyweather, an android who lives in the future land of Metropolis and is punished for falling in love with a human being.

In addition to releasing a graphic novel fleshing out the details of 'Suite 1,' the next two albums will continue the story, following Cindi on the run, addressing issues of prejudice and war and android culture. Monáe believes there is a great deal that her fans can learn from this imaginary world.

"As an artist, the reason why I am choosing to highlight Cindi Mayweather's story of Metropolis is because I want people to learn from the future so that we can understand the present," she said.

And if the world that Monáe lives in seems far-fetched to some, it certainly resonates with others. Coca-Cola chose her as the sole female artist for its "Open Happiness" campaign. And this fall, Monáe will appear in two episodes of the Sci-Fi channel's 'Stargate Universe,' playing herself.

Monáe is visibly unfazed by all the people singing her praises and instead stays focused on the art.

Currently, she holds a budding friendship with Erykah Badu close to her heart. The two toured together in May, an experience that Monáe called "very special."

"She is definitely my Wonder Twin," she continued."We have so much in common, [and] she has been a huge supported of mine for a while now from afar."

For now, Monáe is just concentrating on what she does best – taking the stage and having fun.

"We've been able to go anywhere we want to, and people make us feel right at home," Monáe confided. "It doesn't matter whether I'm at Bonaroo or Essence [Music Festival]. It's just music and people embrace it."

Monáe will perform at the 2009 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on July 4.