Robin Thicke and Janelle Monae Cover VIBE 20th Anniversary Issue

Robin Thicke and Janelle Monae are celebrating on the cover of VIBE's new anniversary issue.

The two R&B singers grace the 20th anniversary cover of the magazine and toast to their respective roles as the new faces of R&B.

"While Thicke, in all his falsetto glory, has finally hit a professional climax -- landing his first No. 1 album, 'Blurred Lines' and a chart-topping single, -- Janelle continues her own progressive path toward greatness. So we paired up Mr. Blue-Eyed Soul and the eccentric lady to help VIBE celebrate 20 strong years," VIBE editor Shanel Odum wrote about the decision to feature the two.

Thicke, whose sixth studio LP, 'Blurred Lines,' received a warm welcome upon its release last month, explains why he and Monae shouldn't be put in a box.

"I think what Janelle and I represent is boundaryless music," he states. "There is no one way to define her or what she does. And if you listen to my album, it’s the same thing. Sometimes I’m rockin’ out, sometimes it’s soul, sometimes there’s some bossa nova. Her and I are products of the generations of funk, soul, rock ’n’ roll -- and then hip-hop coming into the mix -- all becoming what this new generation is. We don’t want to be defined. We don’t want to be pigeonholed."

As for the songstress whose 'The Electric Lady' album will arrive Sept. 10, she believes her love of exceptional music is one of the reasons she's been able to defy genres. "One of the things I always say is, ‘Categorize me and I’ll defy every label.’ I think we just love great music. I think regardless, if Mick Jagger is doing it, or Stevie Wonder, or Prince, or somebody at church, that’s the soul. I think that we both represent a very diverse palette for music."

Look for the issue on newsstands near you.