I think people are putting too much pressure on Janet Jackson. This woman has been in the business since she was 7 years old. She has paved the way for pop/R&B female singers for the 90s and 00s.

Like Madonna, Prince, Michael, and Whitney; Janet is at the point where she doesn't need to sell 5 billion records to prove she is talented. Her and those artists are getting older and the one good thing about artists getting older is that they can just make good music. They've been through the pressure, the scrutiny, and the expectations. She and the others do not have to prove anything. Especially to us younger pop/r&b/hip hop fans who I'm sorry to say are very ageist and for some reason hate it when a grown woman like Janet express her sexuality. (Why is it ok for black men like Marvin Gaye, Prince and R. Kelly write about sex constantly?) Especially one who mostly writes the songs so it is coming from her feelings and thoughts. Isn’t having black woman sing and write about her sexuality a novel thing of lates. I’m not saying she is a revolutionary, but I think there is something to note for a black woman (one of the most sexually demonized person in the US) stating, “This is my sexuality. I like sex, and I want to sing about it.”

Anyway, to the music if LA Reid is smart (which sometimes I doubt it at times) they should market this album like Whitney Houston’s My Love is Your Love. Considering the Internet, people not buying pop albums that much, and well the lack of marketing black women of color artists of in general, this should be one of those albums where it can stay in the top 20 or 30 while keep releasing singles. This album has the potential for longevity, it’s just music fans (especially internet music fans) need to get out of the mindset that most albums take a long time to sell nowadays. The fact she reached no. 1 and sold 100,00 copies her first week is really impressive considering the current music scene.

Janet is an unfortunate example of people not letting go of their social assumptions about black women female singers. Especially those who are over 25.