Janet Jackson
USA, 1982–now
American singer who, working with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, combined funk, rhythm and blues and hip-hop rhythm on Control and Rhythm Nation 1814, along with tightly choreographed staging.
MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Janet Jackson and 5 artists Janet Jackson influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Janet Jackson?
- Michael Jackson — Janet credited her brothers, Michael above all, as her first musical influences and models.
- Marvin Gaye — For Rhythm Nation, Janet took cues from socially-conscious soul like Marvin Gaye.
- Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis — Control (1986) is as much theirs as hers: they wrote and produced it with her, and the fusion of R&B, rap phrasing, funk and synthesized percussion they built there is the sound she kept.
Which artists did Janet Jackson influence?
- Usher — Janet Jackson's fusion of tightly drilled choreography with rhythm-driven pop-R&B is a direct precedent for Usher's stage shows.
- Britney Spears — Spears grew up on Janet Jackson and has named her, over many years of interviews, as perhaps the greatest single inspiration on her.
- Aaliyah — Aaliyah called Janet Jackson one of her idols and said she tried to mention her in every interview she gave.
- TLC — Janet Jackson's dance-driven, socially aware R&B is a clear model for TLC's sound and image.
- Destiny's Child — Janet Jackson's dance-pop R&B is part of the template behind Destiny's Child's polished, rhythmic sound.