Janelle Monáe: ‘Very Proud’ To Be a Queer, Young, Black Woman in America

Ever since she broke onto the scene with "Tightrope" in 2010 it was obvious that Janelle Monae wasn't going to be another cookie-cutter performer signed by the music industry to churn out soulless music aimed to maximize airplay.

Her black and white retro style that dabbled in gender fluidity was ahead of its time, and her music has always been on a plane of its own, existing outside of contemporary pop trends. During a recent interview for the CBS segment For The Record, Monae talked about how her history of nonconformity fed into her new album, Dirty Computer.

Related | Janelle Monae Officially Comes Out As Queer

"This album deals with what it means to reckon with how you're viewed in society," she said. "Dirty computers are taught that who they love, their race, or where they come from, their class - all those things are bugs and are viruses and you should be cleansed of those."

The singer and actor also expressed pride in herself as a self-identified dirty computer, and as a queer person. "I think it is important for people to be proud of their identity," she said. "I am very proud to be a queer, young, black woman in America. I'm proud of who I am. I love myself." Watch the segment, below.