janet.

Janet Jackson’s fifth album was a game-changer for her as she became the highest-paid musician when she signed with Virgin Records for $40 million after a bidding war—only to have her superstar brother Michael Jackson eclipse that number after he re-negotiated his deal with Sony Music days later. This album is seen as a sexual expression from Janet—compared to the conservative nature of her previous albums—and the period at the end of the album’s title was a symbol of attempting to distance herself from the pop sounds associated with the Jackson family. Aside from that change, Janet also drew inspiration from poet Maya Angelou for the album’s interludes.

The album’s Grammy Award-winning lead single, “That’s the Way Love Goes”, was an example of the sexual theme Janet crafted for the album, along with her superstar production partners Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The lyrics and visuals for her singles “If” and “Anytime, Anyplace” further established Janet’s message, but she still created bouncy dance tracks with the singles “Because of Love” and “You Want This”. She also released the ballad “Again”, a #1 pop single that was nominated for a Best Original Song Academy Award on behalf of her 1993 film, Poetic Justice.

The album became Janet’s third consecutive album to debut at the top of the Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, and it also topped multiple charts internationally. The album was certified six times platinum in the US and has achieved platinum status in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, with worldwide sales of more than 14 million copies. This album was featured on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the ‘90s and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Definitive 200 Albums list.