Janet Jackson had the wheels of momentum in motion for new album ‘Black Diamond’ early this year.
And then the global health crisis put a pause on the industry at large.
With anticipation still sky high for the diva’s first album in five years, one of the set’s producers Tommy Parker has opened up about creating the follow-up to ‘Unbreakable.’
Peep excerpts from his interview with Revolt below…
Janet announced in February that Black Diamond was coming. How far along were you with the album by that point?
We were digging in deep. We had some great stuff. Respectfully, everything about her album comes from her mouth, but what I can say is that she’s speaking very honest on it. She’s speaking very honest about things on this Black Diamond album. It’s incredible and she sounds amazing. I’m very blessed to say I’m vocal coaching her on this album this go around. We’re having fun. We’re like kids when we get together. I feel like a kid when I’m around her. When we come together we have a good time. We started and then stopped. So, we have a lot more to say now than we did in February.
How did the pandemic affect your work?
It definitely affected me working with Janet because we were working in New York and then that stopped. We couldn’t go back to New York. So, it affected working on that project. For several months, I stayed home depressed like everyone else. I had no motivation to do anything at all. It affected me bad.
It’s been more than five years since Unbreakable. What has contributed to the delay of new music?
Life. She lives, she has a son and her son is priority. So, it’s finding the balance in that. I have a child, too. It’s incredible to see her do it and be as big as she is.What is Janet Jackson’s creative process?
Janet loves to have fun. That’s what I love about Janet because it’s a lot like myself. We’ll catch up, talk about what’s going on, watch some funny videos, and then start working on some music. If there’s a beat we like, we’ll go for it. Or, Janet may feel a way and aware of something, and she may go in and write about that. For her to be such a legend, she knows how to take off her hat and come down to earth on your level. That way we can vibe and come up with something that’s representing both of us with no egos. That’s what I love about writing with her. It’s really easy and dope. It’s really up to her how much she wants to let everyone in to how she’s feeling. If it’s something that’s really bothering her and she wants to speak about it, she’ll put it in a song. But, sometimes, she won’t necessarily write about it personally. She’ll touch on it, so we can give everyone acknowledgement that we are aware of this and we want people to be aware of it, as well.
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We remain all sorts of excited for the incoming new-new from Ms. Jackson.
Until then, we’ll keep spinning bops such as this gem Parker co-produced for her last LP:
![Songwriters Hall of Fame 2025: Janet Jackson, Eminem, N.W.A., & Rodney Jerkins Nominated [Full List]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/janet-jackson-eminem-nwa-songwriters-hall-fame-tgj-464x260.jpg "Songwriters Hall of Fame 2025: Janet Jackson, Eminem, N.W.A., & Rodney Jerkins Nominated [Full List].")
Janet is queen 👑
Yessss
Unbreakanlebis a good album!
I went to her tour as well- SOTN tour
You are very allsome and very talented, l wish could attend one of your shows. Randall Handley
Keep talking… we all know black diamond aint coming Just like Rihanna’s R9. 💅🏿💅🏿 Don’t play!
Boy STFU. Always the first to comment without having a gotdamn thing to say. You’re a thirsty loser just like ur homeboy Trump 🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻
Bye bish!! U can’t read???? I’m the second one to comment. 💅🏿💅🏿 I’m a 6’4 mixed female and u got problem with my womanhood????? 💁🏿♀️💁🏿♀️Go hide under your flavorless & tasteless tofu skin. Stupid ass bish👋
You’re a female?? Lmao…the lies. Just like you’re a chocolate skinned sistah huh?? 😂😂. GTFO. You’re an illiterate 6’4 Pokémon-playing white boy troll. You ain’t foolin nobody. Cry about it 💋💋🖕🏻💁🏼♂️
Fake Marilyn, I don’t know what da f-u-c-k u talking about! I’m real and this is me. What u see is what u get so deal with it, take it, get used to it💅🏿💅🏿💅🏿 If u are really obsessed with white boy, I’ll let u suck my white boy d***** then. Stay pressed ho!
😅😅💯💯
Night was so underrated. I will be listening to see what they come up with next…
Should’ve released burn it up after no sleep. But too bad they made it as a promo single
THE CUT WAS “2 b Loved” ~ IT’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS OF THE LAST DECADE ! I’M REMAINING OPTIMISTIC FOR “B~D” TO DROP IN THE 4 TO 6 MONTHS !
I LOV YA MISS.J ~
Janet please fix that nose, it’s about to fall off like her MJ bro
Fix yo ugly flat asian nose first 👃 how dare u talking about black peoples nose???? Now go do yo $5 love u long time job. Get lost!
Go play in traffic!💯💯
Come w/the HEAT Janet!!!!
All of that just for it to end up selling 5 copies lnfhshsjksd lmaoooo
she is already a legend sooo what are you deprsessed looser start to work and build your legacy looser
Janet has outsold Tamar and HER’s discographies, combined 50x over 💀
I hope there is more of a promo push for this album. Unbreakable could have yielded more proper singles than No Sleeep.
yeah seriously, burn it up deserved a video, night as well.. there couldve been a few singles off that album.
I concur Sam, Night and Burn it up were definitely hot! There were so many potential hits on this record. If this record had come out in let’s say 2000-2004; it would have slayed but in my humble opinion, I believe that once a female artist gets to be her 40’s, no matter if she looks 25-30, due to ageism in the record industry and society at large, sales will not be high.
We all know her Singles wouldnt do anything, so why bother to Release Singles and waste money for Videos? Janet ist going to sell Albums to her core fanbase and then she sells tour Tickets, Like all acts from her Generation.
I agree ageism is a huge thing in the industry, although it doesnt stop the fanbase from wanting what they want from the artist. Madonna still puts out dope videos and pushes it just as if she was charting even though thats not the case. I’m sure these artists are aware they wont sell like they once did but many are still wanting those dope and newer videos to add to the list.
It was nice but generic meaning any singer could have done that.
Janet your album will fine but please dont release anything like No Sleeep , or anything sexual..
I love stripper Janet, not that boring Muslim Janet ugh.
Yesssss I love all her dirty songs, like nasty, all nite (don’t stop), so excited, my need, any time any place, moist, would you mind…… I’m so WET right now💋💋💋
I like it when she has to dress like a stripper to sell records.
Loveeeee this song!!!! Sound great in the car!!!!!!!!! So Dreamy!!!!!
I love me some Janet…
I love her last album…it was so underrated..
Janet ruled the late 80’s and 90’s but her last great album was All For You. Her music became uninspired because she wasn’t hungry anymore. I don’t think Black Diamond will be any different. Every artist burns out once they get rich. Even her producers Jam & Lewis burned out. Nobody is immune from it. To this day no female artist will be able to top what she did.
Damita Jo was a nice Album though and discipline was great as well
I’m ready for Black Diamond or any other diamond from her.
Love this. Cant wait for New music to drop. Love the beat
so joe jackson being the king of pop..will janet ever admit the mike jackson had a mental illness
Go Janet
I just wish she would tell us something, anything about this album. She´s out in these internet streets putting out all these ¨Auntie¨ posts on social media about everything and anything EXCEPT her music and it´s driving me crazy. She act like Black Diamond don´t even exist.
I agree, its like she forgot about it and the tour! So weird🤔
Other artists released their albums in 2020. Maybe shes dead 💅
I just can’t believe that Janet didn’t release her upcoming CD b/c of this v****.
Sweet Lady
P.S.
Please Reply
OK? So when is it gonna be released? WHO EVER did this report failed.
I hope that this coming cd is jus as good or better than the rest she put out. And, to put videos with some of the songs will not only make it a worthwhile purchase, but it will make me want to embark on making a video collage of all of her music and looks throughout her times in the spot light! She’s an awesome figure in the music industry and will always be an inspiration to me; especially knowing she’s a good mom! YOU GO GIRL!
Miss Jackson if ur nasty, we want music like the Control and Rhythm Nation albums. Please JIMMY JAM AND TERRY LEWIS, please make new FUNKY SOUND. GIVE ME A BEAT!!!