Janet Jackson For her self-titled album, see Janet Jackson (album). albums.[2] She has amassed an extensive catalog of hits, with singles such as "Nasty", "Rhythm Nation", "If", "That’s the Way Love Goes", "Together Again" and "All Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for for You" among her most distinguished on records chart. She holds the record for the most consecutive top 10 hits a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage on the Billboard Hot 100 by a female artist with 18. In Billboard magazine released its list of the Hot 100 shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent 2008, figure in popular culture for over 25 years. The youngest All-Time Top Artists, placing her at number seven, while child of the Jackson family, she began her career with the in 2010, ranking her fifth among the “Top 50 R&B/Hip- variety television series The Jacksons in 1976 and went on Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years”. One of the world’s to appear in other television shows throughout the 1970s most awarded artists, her longevity, records and achieve- and early 1980s, including Good Times and Fame. ments reflect her influence in shaping and redefining the scope of popular music. She has been cited as an inspi- After signing a recording contract with A&M Records ration among numerous performers. arranged by her father and manager Joseph Jackson in 1982, she became a pop icon following the release of her third studio album Control (1986). Her collabora- tions with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis 1 Life and career incorporated elements of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap, and industrial beats, which led to crossover success 1.1 1966–85: Early life and career begin- in popular music. In addition to receiving recognition nings for the innovation in her records, choreography, music videos, and prominence on radio airplay and MTV, she Janet Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, the youngest of was acknowledged as a role model for her socially con- ten children, to Katherine Esther (née Scruse) and Joseph scious lyrics. Walter Jackson.[3] The Jacksons were lower-middle class In 1991, she signed the first of two record-breaking, and devout Jehovah’s Witnesses, although Jackson would multimillion-dollar contracts with Virgin Records, estab- later refrain from organized religion.[4] At a young age, lishing her as one of the highest paid artists in the indus- her brothers began performing as The Jackson 5. In try. Her debut album under the label, Janet (1993), saw March 1969, the group signed a record deal with Motown, her develop a public image as a sex symbol as she began and soon had their first number-one hit. The family then to explore sexuality in her work. That same year, she ap- moved to the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles.[3] peared in her first starring film role in Poetic Justice; since Jackson had initially desired to become a horse racing then she has continued to act in feature films. By the end jockey or entertainment lawyer, with plans to support of the 1990s, she was named the second most successful herself through acting. Despite this, she was anticipated recording artist of the decade. The release of her seventh to pursue a career in entertainment, and considered the studio album All for You (2001) coincided with a celebra- idea after recording herself in the studio.[3] At age seven, tion of her impact on popular music as the inaugural MTV Jackson performed at the Las Vegas Strip at the MGM Icon. After parting ways with Virgin she released her Casino.[3] A biography revealed her father, Joseph Jack- tenth studio album Discipline (2008), her first and only son, was emotionally withdrawn, and told her to address album with Island Records. In 2015, she partnered with him solely by his first name as a child.[3] She began act- BMG Rights Management to launch her own record la- ing in the variety show The Jacksons in 1976.[3] In 1977, bel, Rhythm Nation Records. She received a nomination she was selected to have a starring role as Penny Gordon for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the Woods in the sitcom Good Times.[3] She later starred in same year. A New Kind of Family and later got a recurring role on Diff'rent Strokes, portraying Charlene Duprey from Sea- Having sold over 160 million records, she is ranked as one sons 3 to 6.[3] Jackson also played the role of Cleo Hewitt of the best-selling artists in the history of contemporary during the fourth season of Fame, but expressed indiffer- music.[1] The Recording Industry Association of Amer- ence towards the series.[5][6] Jackson states her ethnicity ica (RIAA) lists her as the eleventh best-selling female is African American and Native American.[7] artist in the United States, with 26 million certified When Jackson was sixteen, her father and manager 1 2 1 LIFE AND CAREER ers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. They set out to achieve crossover pop appeal, while also creating a strong founda- tion within the urban market.[12] Within six weeks, Jack- son and the duo crafted her third studio album, Control, released in February 1986.[13] The album peaked at num- ber one on the Billboard 200, and was certified five- fold platinum by the RIAA, selling over fourteen million copies worldwide.[8][14] Control was declared “remarkably nervy and mature” for a teenage act, also considered “an alternative to the sen- timental balladry” which permeated radio, likening Jack- son to Donna Summer's position of “unwilling to accept novelty status and taking her own steps to rise above it.”[15][16][17] The album spawned five top five singles, "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Nasty", "When I Think of You", "Control", and "Let’s Wait Awhile", and a top fifteen hit with "The Pleasure Principle". “When I Think of You” became her first number one hit on the Hot 100. Control received six Billboard Awards, includ- ing “Top Pop Singles Artist”, and three Grammy nom- inations, most notably “Album of the Year”.[18] It also won four American Music Awards from twelve nomina- tions, an unbroken record.[19][20][21] At this point, Jack- son was successfully “shaking off the experience of being a shadow Jackson child”, becoming “an artist in her own right”.[22] The album’s lyrical content included several themes of empowerment, inspired by an incident of sexual harass- Jackson (bottom row) in a 1976 CBS photo on the set of The ment, with Jackson recalling “the danger hit home when Jacksons a couple of guys started stalking me on the street ... In- stead of running to Jimmy or Terry for protection, I took a stand. I backed them down. That’s how songs like Joseph Jackson, arranged her a contract with A&M 'Nasty' and 'What Have You Done for Me Lately' were Records.[3] Her debut album, Janet Jackson, was released born, out of a sense of self-defense.”[23] Its innovative in 1982. It was produced by Angela Winbush, René fusion of dance-pop and industrial music with hip-hop Moore, Bobby Watson of Rufus (band) and Leon F. and R&B undertones influenced the development of the Sylvers III, and overseen by her father Joseph.[3] It peaked new jack swing genre by bridging the gap between the at number sixty-three on the Billboard 200, and number latter two styles.[24] The album’s music videos became in- six on the publication’s R&B albums chart, receiving lit- famous on MTV, also obtaining a then-unknown Paula tle promotion.[8] Jackson’s second album, Dream Street, Abdul a recording contract for her choreography work was released two years later.[3] Dream Street reached one- with Jackson.[25] Billboard stated "[Jackson’s] accessible hundred forty-seven on the Billboard 200, and number sound and spectacularly choreographed videos were irre- nineteen on the R&B albums chart.[8] The lead single sistible to MTV, and helped the channel evolve from rock "Don't Stand Another Chance" peaked at number nine programming to a broader, beat-driven musical mix.”[13] on Billboard ' s R&B singles chart.[9] Both albums con- sisted primarily of bubblegum pop music.[10] Jackson eloped with singer James DeBarge in 1984, divorcing shortly afterwards, with the marriage annulled the follow- 1.3 1989–92: Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Na- ing year.[11] tion 1814 Jackson released her fourth album, Rhythm Nation 1814, 1.2 1986–88: Control in September 1989. Although her record label desired a direct sequel to Control, Jackson chose to include a so- After her second album, Jackson terminated business af- cially conscious theme among various musical styles.[26] fairs with her family, commenting “I just wanted to get She stated, “I know an album or a song can't change the out of the house, get out from under my father, which world. I just want my music and my dance to catch the was one of the most difficult things that I had to do.”[6] audience’s attention, and to hold it long enough for them Attempting a third album, Jackson teamed with produc- to listen to the lyrics.”[27] The album’s central theme of 1.4 1993–96: Janet, Poetic Justice, and Design of a Decade 3 unity was developed in response to various crimes and tract under A&M Records fulfilled in 1991, she signed a tragedies reported in the media.[28] multimillion-dollar deal with Virgin Records—estimated between thirty-two to fifty million dollars—making her Peaking at number one on the Billboard 200, the album [44][45] was certified sixfold platinum by the RIAA and sold over the highest paid recording artist at the time.