Janet (album)
| Janet | ||||
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| Studio album by Janet Jackson | ||||
| Released | May 18, 1993 | |||
| Recorded | September 1992 — February 1993 | |||
| Studio | Flyte Tyme Studios (Edina, Minnesota) |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 75:23 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Janet Jackson chronology | ||||
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| Alternate cover | ||||
2-Disc Limited Edition
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| Singles from janet. | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Robert Christgau | A– |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| Entertainment Weekly | C+ |
| Los Angeles Times |  |
| NME | 8/10 |
| Q | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Slant Magazine | |
Janet (stylized as janet.) is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released on May 18, 1993, by Virgin Records America. Prior to its release, Jackson was at the center of a high-profile bidding war over her recording contract. In 1991, her original label A&M sought to renew her contract, while others, such as Atlantic, Capitol, and Virgin all vied to sign her. After meeting with Virgin owner Richard Branson, she signed with the label for a $40 million contract, making her the world's then-highest paid musical act.
Criticism that her success in the music industry was attributed to being a member of the Jackson family and a producer-dependent artist led her to write all lyrics for the album, in addition to co-producing every song and co-writing each of their arrangements with the songwriting/production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Its title, read "Janet, period.", is meant to disassociate her public image from her family, dropping her surname. While pop and R&B had been standard components in her music, she broadened her compositions by incorporating hip hop, opera, house and jazz, eliminating the rigid, industrial sound of her previous records. Although she earned a reputation as an advocate for sexual abstinence with her 1986 single "Let's Wait Awhile", the theme of Janet is sexual intimacy—an abrupt departure from her conservative image. Much of the acclaim for the album focused on her lyrics that emphasized the female perspective on sexuality and the demand for practicing safe sex. Academics have argued the erotic imagery in her music videos released to promote the album's singles have contributed to a higher degree of sexual freedom among women.
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