The Velvet Rope

About

After the blockbuster trifecta of 1986’s <i>Control</i>, 1989’s <i>Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814</i> and 1993’s <i>janet.</i>, Janet Jackson was arguably bigger than both the King of Pop (her older brother Michael) <i>and</i> the Queen of Pop (Madonna). In fact, before the release of 1997’s <i>The Velvet Rope</i>, Jackson had renegotiated her contract with Virgin Records for a then-record-setting $80 million. But rather than caving in under the weight of commercial expectation, Jackson used her newfound cultural clout as inspiration to level up her ambitions on her sixth album. With a bravery both in its adventurous musical spirit and its confessional, soul-baring lyric, <i>The Velvet Rope</i> was a high-wire act of an artist at her creative peak. The album’s eclectic energy—bridging both genres and generations—can be felt on the album’s first single, “Got ’Til It’s Gone,” which brought together Joni Mitchell (via a “Big Yellow Taxi” sample) and Q-Tip for a head-bopping nod to the neo-soul movement. Elsewhere, Jackson and her longtime producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis turned to the 1970s for inspiration, borrowing from the prog rock of Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells” on “Velvet Rope,” the Latin funk of War’s “The Cisco Kid” on “You,” and the soul-disco of Diana Ross’ “Love Hangover” on “My Need.” .

via Apple Music

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