I saw this on another forum

Of all her records, The Velvet Rope probably sticks out the most—it's ostensibly her foray into the neo-soul that people like Erykah Badu, Maxwell, and D'Angelo were pushing at the time, but what's most striking about it is how it inadvertently predicts most of the cooler trends in contemporary indie music, simply by taking the pop sounds of the time and neo-soul-ifying them. Dam-Funk's bedroom-keyb attack? "Go Deep" did it. "Together Again" is basically the song Disclosure has been shooting for this entire time, and Tom Krell would wrestle an alligator with his bare hands to create a song as chillingly beautiful as "Empty."

Still, even if critics refuse to acknowledge the impact of The Velvet Rope, it won’t change the fact that the record stands as one of the important releases of the last 30 years of recorded music. The material is still relevant to radio and could easily be adapted to radio today. Just ask Drake because as the majority of his catalogue proves, he’s clearly a fan.

Out of all the enduring Janet Jackson songs, Empty feels like the one most referenced in 2015, specifically in the fusion of electronic music and R&B showcased by artists such as FKA twigs and Kelela.

The Velvet Rope was musically progressive, presaging the indie and alt-R&B movements of the 2010s by nearly 15 years.

But on this 1998 release, she delved into heavier subject matter and created an album that took the kind of twists and turns now standard for “alternative” R&B. Before The Weeknd, FKA Twigs and Kelela were critical darlings, Janet was exploring cutting edge production, brutal honesty and an uncompromising vision.

Read More: 9 Ways Janet Jackson Chan...c Industry |http://popcrush.com/janet...ck=tsmclip

A Janet forum mayhaps? Re-writing a little history.

When Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, D'Angelo's Brown Sugar, and Erykah Badu's Baduizm *all* preceded Velvet Rope?

Respectfully . . . no, and I won't even get into You-Know Who's impact on that subgenre.

Not to say it didn't leave an imprint, and wasn't a real departure for her. But it's only one of the albums that influenced the "wave" you speak of.

namepeace said:

alphastreet said:

namepeace said:

When Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, D'Angelo's Brown Sugar, and Erykah Badu's Baduizm *all* preceded Velvet Rope?

Respectfully . . . no, and I won't even get into You-Know Who's impact on that subgenre.

Not to say it didn't leave an imprint, and wasn't a real departure for her. But it's only one of the albums that influenced the "wave" you speak of.

I agree those two came out before, and if anything, Janet channeled the present sounds of that time, the past and gave it her own creative spin with her signature sound to create a masterpiece, something she has always done anyway with a successful outcome.

I don't disagree with Janet's accomplishment, though I don't have that kind of love for Velvet Rope.

I just think other albums of, or around, that time left at least as big of an imprint as Velvet Rope, and it was not the singular influence on "alternative/indie R&B," "neo-soul," or what have you.

I feel like Janet's influence is much more profound on the pop scene. 2 generations of wannabe Janets have copied her style.

No

No

Stahp

Trying too hard

Janet did not invent Jesus. I know janet fans have a hard time understanding this

I will say this. This album was released 18 years ago (this October), and holds up very well to contemporary music, especially the alt R&B of today, including the art direction.

[img:$uid]http://nuwavepony.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/The-Velvet-Rope-Janet-Jackson-Booklet-01-1997.jpg[/img:$uid]

Gunsnhalen said:

Brillant album!! However, I wouldn't say it was responsible for indie R&B. Artists like D Angelo and Erykah Badu were doing that way before her. I think this album deserves way more respect than it gets and I think it is highly influential, from the look, videos and musically.

namepeace said:

HAPPYPERSON said:

I saw this on another forum

Of all her records, The Velvet Rope probably sticks out the most—it's ostensibly her foray into the neo-soul that people like Erykah Badu, Maxwell, and D'Angelo were pushing at the time, but what's most striking about it is how it inadvertently predicts most of the cooler trends in contemporary indie music, simply by taking the pop sounds of the time and neo-soul-ifying them. Dam-Funk's bedroom-keyb attack? "Go Deep" did it. "Together Again" is basically the song Disclosure has been shooting for this entire time, and Tom Krell would wrestle an alligator with his bare hands to create a song as chillingly beautiful as "Empty."

But on this 1998 release, she delved into heavier subject matter and created an album that took the kind of twists and turns now standard for “alternative” R&B. Before The Weeknd, FKA Twigs and Kelela were critical darlings, Janet was exploring cutting edge production, brutal honesty and an uncompromising vision.

Read More: 9 Ways Janet Jackson Chan...c Industry |http://popcrush.com/janet...ck=tsmclip

Cool theory, but Joi and Aaliyah did it first...

HAPPYPERSON said:

But on this 1998 release

It was released October 7, 1997, with the lead single "Got 'Til It's Gone" being released in September 1997. Yes, the single lived well into 1998 ("Every Time" released November 1998).

Cinny said: