Grammy-winning artist Janelle Monáe has soared to the No. 1 position on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart with her latest track, “Lipstick Lover.”
Produced by Nate “Rocket” Wonder, the song has claimed the top spot this week, dethroning Babyface‘s five-week reign with “As a Matter of Fact.”
“Lipstick Lover” marks Monáe’s second No. 1 hit, and notably, it’s the leading single from her most recent album, The Age of Pleasure, which was released on June 19.
Back in late 2018, Monáe held the No. 1 position for three weeks with “I Like That.” This song, certified gold by the RIAA in 2020, originates from her acclaimed 2018 album, Dirty Computer.
On other Billboard charts, “Lipstick Lover” has also climbed to No. 14 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and No. 16 on the Hot R&B Songs chart.
Monáe released two versions of the “Lipstick Lover” music video, the first of which was more explicit, prompting the release of a cleaner version. Both videos were co-directed by Monáe and Alan Ferguson.
Notably, The Age of Pleasure was unveiled in June through Wonderland Arts Society/Atlantic Records. The album made its debut at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart. Featuring collaborations with notable artists like Grace Jones, Nia Long, Doechii, Amaarae, Seun Kuti, and Egypt 80, the album made waves. The latter two, who are part of a Nigerian collective, contributed to the song “Float,” a precursor to The Age of Pleasure, which served as the soundtrack for the NBA Saturday Primetime and the 2023 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
Recently gracing the Outside Lands Festival, Monáe continues to promote The Age of Pleasure through her ongoing North American tour, which commenced on August 30 in Seattle, Washington. Despite adding four new dates last week, The Age of Pleasure Tour will culminate on October 18 at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California. For more ticket details, visit jmonae.com.
Stream Janelle Monáe’s single “Lipstick Lover” below.
