The Velvet Rope

The Velvet Rope is a late 1990s album produced largely with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis that blends contemporary R&B, pop, art pop, dance-pop and New Jack Swing influences into a moody, texturally rich record. It pairs danceable grooves and slow jams with layered electronic production, orchestral touches and atmospheric interludes, and features intimate, restrained vocals that emphasize themes of sexuality, self-worth, loneliness and emotional vulnerability. The overall sound is darker and more introspective than some of Janet Jackson's earlier pop work, aiming for a cinematic, experimental take on mainstream R&B and pop.