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Ahead of a scheduled performance at the IdeaFestival in Louisville, Kentucky, Jeffrey Lee Puckett of The Courier-Journal chatted with Janelle Monae. She talks about her background and influences.

“I've actually been told that I look like Muhammad Ali a lot of times,” Monae said, “and I don't understand because I think he's more beautiful than I am. But I take it as a compliment. His fighting spirit is one of his most beautiful things, just his will to never give up, to motivate himself and his tribe.”