| Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) | |
| Type: | EP |
| Artist: | Janelle Monáe |
| Cover: | Metropolis Suite I of IV- The Chase album cover.JPG |
| Caption: | The Special Edition features a zoomed in photo of Monáe (as Cindi Mayweather) showing just her torso. The Fantastic Edition features green curtains instead of red. |
| Released: | August 24, 2007 |
| Genre: |
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| Length: | 17:30 |
| Label: | Bad Boy |
| Prev Title: | The Audition |
| Prev Year: | 2003 |
| Next Title: | The ArchAndroid |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
Metropolis: The Chase Suite, sometimes known as Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase), is the debut extended play (EP) by American recording artist Janelle Monáe, released August 24, 2007 on Bad Boy Records. Produced by Monáe, Control Z, and Chuck Lightning, the EP constitutes the first installment of Monáe's seven-part Metropolis conceptual series.
The EP debuted at number 115 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 5,200 copies in its first week.[1] It was re-released as a special edition on August 12, 2008, and produced three singles, "Violet Stars Happy Hunting!!!", "Sincerely, Jane.", and "Many Moons".
Upon its release, Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) received critical acclaim from music critics, with "Many Moons" being nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.[2]
Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) is the first installment of Monáe's seven-part Metropolis conceptual series, inspired by Fritz Lang's science fiction classic film, Metropolis (1927). It follows a fictional tale of android Cindi Mayweather who is mass-produced in the year 2719 for a market filled with severe social stratification. Mayweather falls in love with a human, and is sentenced to disassembly.
Metropolis received critical acclaim upon its release. 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. ... 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.[3] 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."[4] The Kansas City Star gave the EP a positive review.
Metropolis: Suite I had minor success in the United States where it peaked at number 115 on the US Billboard 200 chart and fared much better on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at number 20. The album also charted on the Top Heatseekers chart at number two. The EP spent one week on the Billboard 200, but spent 9 weeks altogether on both the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and the Top Heatseekers chart.[5]
Credits for Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) adapted from AllMusic.[6]
| Chart (2008) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[7] | 115 | |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 20 | |
| US Top Heatseekers (Billboard) | 2 |