(acronym of "Queer, Untouchables, Emigrants, Excommunicated, and Negroid"[1]) is a song by American recording artist Janelle Monáe featuring the singer Erykah Badu.
It was released on April 23, 2013, as the lead single from Monáe's second studio album, The Electric Lady.
Stylized in the form of question and response, each line of the song has Monáe expressing her thoughts on subjects ranging from sexuality to religion.
was inspired by "private discussions between her and Erykah Badu," and "is meant to make you jam, dance, funk out and dialogue later.
[1] Throughout the song, Monáe uses a question-answer format to explain the stereotypes, misconceptions, and oppression of those in the LGBT community, untouchables (those in poverty), emigrants (those who were forced to leave their home countries due to dangerous/unlivable circumstances), the excommunicated (those who have served/continue to serve time in prison), and the negroid (black people of all origins).
"[5] A music video for the song, directed by Alan Ferguson, was released on May 1, 2013, with a length of 6 minutes and 4 seconds.
She, along with her band members and Badulla Oblongata (Badu), have been frozen in time and placed on display in the Ministry of Droids museum.
Towards the end of the video, Monáe delivers her climactic rap wearing her tuxedo "work uniform."
Janelle contrasts the backup dancers in a solid look while getting her groove on in a puffy sleeved white shirt and black second skin pants paired with fierce metallic Givenchy heels.
This theme seems to be important to Janelle Monáe because of the lyric, "Will your God accept me in my black and white, would he approve the way I'm made".
[7] Afrofuturism is described as works that mix the significance of African Diaspora qualities and pictures of technology to create a new future.
Rolling Stone gave 3.5 stars saying it was, "an anthem of self-determination with a funkadelicious bass line, it downshifts into soul jazz midway through, with Erykah offering Badu-ist perspective ("Booty don't lie!").