After a rather tumultuous few years, Pop icon Janet Jackson is prepping a return to the music scene with the help of original collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. According to sources working close to the as-yet-untitled project, Jackson has been in the lab for the last month and a half with the production duo, who have been the creative forces behind her biggest hits. With Jackson no longer with Def Jam, it is currently unknown which label the record will be released on.

As one of those who felt Janet’s last three releases (‘Damita Jo’, ‘20 Y.O’ and ‘Discipline’) were deserving of more success, I’m definitely looking forward to her next record – one that will hopefully be handled correctly. While I’m sure the inevitable ‘She’s done’ mutters will greet whatever she serves up, it’s hard to deny Ms. Jackson’s musical viability; IMO she can hang with the current crop of industry chicks, no problem. Don’t think so? See: ‘All Nite’, ‘So Excited’, ‘Feedback’, ‘LUV’, ‘Rock With U’ etc.