Janet Jackson Working On New Album With Old Friends Jimmy Jam And Terry Lewis
Janet Jackson is working with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for her next album, due out in 2006. The set will mark 20 years since the trio first collaborated on Janet’s Control, which earned Jam and Lewis a Producer of the Year Grammy. Lewis tells Billboard.com that the three are working together the way they did in the early days, saying, “It used to be a lot of involvement from all of us, and at some point when Janet became more confident with her writing ability, she did the bulk of the writing. And it’s kind of come back full circle. We’re all kind of back in there doing it again together which I really enjoy.”
Jackson explained her unique relationship with Jam and Lewis: “You know, we have such a great relationship, and it’s not just a working relationship — we’re very good friends. And through all of this, this time in my life, they were there, and we talked, and they listened. And actually, Jimmy’s oldest son is my godson. I just am so thankful and appreciative that Jimmy, musically speaking, he loves listening to different styles.”
Janet’s boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri, is executive producer of the album. This will be Janet’s first album since 2004’s Damita Jo. That album was released shortly after the Super Bowl XXXVIII (38) half-time show in which Justin Timberlake pulled off part of Janet’s costume revealing her breast. Justin later insisted the incident was a “wardrobe malfunction.” Damita Jo debuted at Number Two on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and has sold close to a million copies in the U.S.