Janelle Monáe at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion

It’s been five years since multihyphenate star Janelle Monáe released a full-length studio album. In the meantime, she’s been commanding the screen with roles in acclaimed movies Hidden Figures and Moonlight. But the half-decade wait for a new record ended earlier this year with the debut of Dirty Computer, which she says reflects the years-long struggles she encountered with her race, gender and pansexuality. Monáe got a little help on the album from her mentor Prince before he died, and the work paid off as the record peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 in May. Get dirty when Monáe logs onto the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion stage on July 21. / Nicole Rodger 

Photo: JUCO