Global superstar Janet Jackson has earned new awards from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
“That’s The Way Love Goes,” the lead single from Jackson’s 1993 album, janet., is now certified 2x multi-platinum with two million copies sold.
In 2018, legendary producer and songwriter Jimmy Jam spoke exclusively to Rated R&B about Jackson’s fifth album in salute of its 25th anniversary.
“I view [janet.] as a really good album. I think the album is very reflective of where we all were in our lives at that time. We always said Rhythm Nation 1814 was our What’s Going On and janet. was our Let’s Get It On album. [Janet.] was definitely the love album,” Jam shared.
“If” and “Any time, Any Place,” also from janet., are now certified platinum with one million copies sold each.
The former track spawned a top-five placement on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1993, while Kendrick Lamar sampled the latter sensual song for the Drake-assisted “Poetic Justice.”
Jackson also picked up platinum awards for her Grammy-nominated single “I Get Lonely” and “Together Again” from The Velvet Rope.
Earlier this fall, Jackson celebrated the 25th anniversary of her acclaimed 1997 album The Velvet Rope with a special deluxe edition. It included ten bonus tracks.
Moving on to her trailblazing fourth album, Rhythm Nation 1814, Jackson’s hit singles “Rhythm Nation” and “Escapade” gained platinum certifications. The latter track peaked at No. 1 on the Hot 100 and the former reached No. 2.
Additionally, Jackson nabbed platinum awards for “When I Think of You” and “Nasty” from her third album, Control.
“When I Think of You” topped the Hot 100 in October 1986, making it her first No. 1 song on the main singles chart.
Some of Jackson’s other RIAA awards include “Feedback” (platinum) and “All For You” (platinum).
“All For You,” taken from Jackson’s 2001 album of the same name, lengthened her list of No. 1s on the Hot 100, becoming her tenth in April 2001. It stayed atop for seven weeks.
The upbeat song, which Rated R&B revisited for its 20th anniversary in 2021, won Best Dance Recording at the 44th Grammy Awards in 2002. She was the second Black woman to win the award, followed by Donna Summer.
Pop singer Taylor Swift referenced Jackson’s “All For You” on “Snow On The Beach,” a collaboration with Lana Del Rey lifted from her latest album Midnights.
Earlier this year, Jackson headlined several festivals and concerts, including the Essence Festival of Culture and the Cincinnati Music Festival.
Her performances followed the release of her award-nominated feature documentary JANET, which premiered on Lifetime and A&E.
It’s been seven years since Jackson last released an album. Unbreakable, which she released independently on Rhythm Nation/BMG, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It sold 116,000 equivalent units in the first week of sales.
Unbreakable included Jackson’s No. 1 R&B hit “No Sleep” featuring J. Cole, which also peaked at No. 63 on the Hot 100.
Jackson is working on a new album, Black Diamond. The album was originally set to arrive sometime in 2020 behind its headlining tour; however, the album nor the tour did not materialize due to the pandemic.
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Speaking on concept of the album title, Jackson wrote on Instagram, “Black Diamonds are the toughest of all the diamonds, the hardest to cut I see that as the hardest to hurt or destroy. There is a lot that I have endured.”
She added, “I see myself as a Black Diamond in its purest form. I’m a rock, I have ruff edges but I keep moving forward. I want to show you my strength as well as give you strength.”
It’s been reported by The U.S. Sun that Jackson will embark on a 2023 tour with dates starting in London.
