Janet Jackson

Solo Artist

Photo: John Mathew Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0
Active 1982-present
Origin Gary, Indiana
Albums 11
Tracks 193
Most frequent collaborator James Harris III · 147 tracks
Genres R&BPopFunkNew jack swing
Songwriter
72%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 138 of 193 tracks

Did Janet Jackson write her own songs?

Yes, on most of them, and usually with one steady team. Janet Jackson co-writes around 72% of her catalogue, most often with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Their partnership, which began on Control in 1986, produced hits like 'Rhythm Nation,' 'That's the Way Love Goes,' and 'All for You.' She has also written with René Elizondo Jr. and Jermaine Dupri, and occasionally alone, as on 'Black Cat' and 'Whoops Now.'

By the Numbers

11
Studio Albums
193
Tracks Credited
72%
Self-Written
100M+
Records Sold
44
Years Active
162
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 138 / 193 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 193 tracks: how many Janet Jackson wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Janet Jackson has a writing credit72%
1%
70%
28%
Sole author2tracks1%
Co-written136tracks70%
Outside writers55tracks28%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Janet Jackson's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 193 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)72%
Composer (music)72%
Producer78%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Janet Jackson's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 72%
0%
0%
78%
45%
100%
95%
100%
91%
94%
5%
100%
1982Janet Jackson
1984Dream Street
1986Control
1989Rhythm Nation 1814
1993janet.
1997The Velvet Rope
2001All for You
2004Damita Jo
200620 Y.O.
2008Discipline
2015Unbreakable
Early · 35% written
Mid · 97% written
Late · 60% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

35%
1980s
Janet Jackson, Dream Street +2 more
98%
1990s
janet., The Velvet Rope
70%
2000s
All for You, Damita Jo +2 more
100%
2010s
Unbreakable

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Janet Jackson sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Janet Jackson
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Whitney Houston5%
The Jacksons24%
En Vogue32%
Michael Jackson51%
TLC59%
Gwen Stefani88%
Prince96%
72%Janet Jackson
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Young Love
Janet Jackson
Written by René Moore, Angela Winbush
Outside writers
Come Give Your Love to Me
Janet Jackson
Written by Glen Barbee, Charmaine Sylvers, Glen J. Barbee
Outside writers
Say You Do
Janet Jackson
Written by René Moore, Angela Winbush
Outside writers
Don't Stand Another Chance
Dream Street
Written by Marlon Jackson, John Barnes
Outside writers
Two to the Power of Love
Dream Street
Written by Peter Beckett, Steve Kipner
Outside writers
Fast Girls
Dream Street
Written by Jesse Johnson
Outside writers
What Have You Done for Me Lately
Control
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
Nasty
Control
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
When I Think of You
Control
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
Control
Control
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
Let's Wait Awhile
Control
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Melanie Andrews
Co-wrote
Miss You Much
Rhythm Nation 1814
Written by James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Outside writers
Rhythm Nation
Rhythm Nation 1814
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
Escapade
Rhythm Nation 1814
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
Alright
Rhythm Nation 1814
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
Come Back to Me
Rhythm Nation 1814
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
Black Cat
Rhythm Nation 1814
Written by Janet Jackson
Wrote it
Love Will Never Do (Without You)
Rhythm Nation 1814
Written by James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Outside writers
That's the Way Love Goes
janet.
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
Again
janet.
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
If
janet.
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
Any Time, Any Place
janet.
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
Together Again
The Velvet Rope
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, René Elizondo Jr.
Co-wrote
I Get Lonely
The Velvet Rope
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, René Elizondo Jr.
Co-wrote
All for You
All for You
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Wayne Garfield, David Romani, Mauro Malavasi
Co-wrote
Someone to Call My Lover
All for You
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Dewey Bunnell
Co-wrote
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)
All for You
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Carly Simon
Co-wrote
Just a Little While
Damita Jo
Written by Janet Jackson, Dallas Austin
Co-wrote
I Want You
Damita Jo
Written by Harold Lilly, Kanye West, John Stephens, Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Outside writers
Call on Me
20 Y.O.
Written by Jermaine Dupri, Johnta Austin, LRoc, Nelly, James Phillips, Cornell Haynes Jr., James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Outside writers
So Excited
20 Y.O.
Written by Janet Jackson, Jermaine Dupri, LRoc, Johnta Austin, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Khia, James Phillips, Khia Chambers, Herbie Hancock, Michael Beinhorn, Bill Laswell
Co-wrote
Feedback
Discipline
Written by Rodney Jerkins, D'Mile, Tasleema Yasin, LaShawn Daniels, Dernst Emile
Outside writers
No Sleeep
Unbreakable
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, J. Cole, Jermaine Cole
Co-wrote

Discography 11 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Photo of Janet JacksonJanet Jackson193 tracks
Photo of Jimmy Jam147James Harris III, 147 tracks Photo of Terry Lewis147Terry Lewis, 147 tracks RE21René Elizondo Jr., 21 tracks Photo of Rodney Jerkins13Rodney Jerkins, 13 tracks Photo of Jermaine Dupri12Jermaine Dupri, 12 tracks Photo of Johntá Austin10Johnta Austin, 10 tracks MS7Manuel Seal, 7 tracks R6Rockwilder, 6 tracks DS6Dana Stinson, 6 tracks GM5Giorgio Moroder, 5 tracks PB5Pete Bellotte, 5 tracks BR5Bobby Ross Avila, 5 tracks IJ5Issiah J. Avila, 5 tracks TT5Tony Tolbert, 5 tracks D5D'Mile, 5 tracks DE5Dernst Emile, 5 tracks LD5LaShawn Daniels, 5 tracks TL5Thomas Lumpkins, 5 tracks DJ5Dem Jointz, 5 tracks RM4René Moore, 4 tracks AW4Angela Winbush, 4 tracks BW4Bobby Watson, 4 tracks FS4Foster Sylvers, 4 tracks JW4Jerry Weaver, 4 tracks AG4Alex Greggs, 4 tracks TM4Tommy McClendon, 4 tracks JJ3Jellybean Johnson, 3 tracks KW3Kanye West, 3 tracks L3LRoc, 3 tracks JP3James Phillips, 3 tracks N3Ne-Yo, 3 tracks CJ3Crystal Johnson, 3 tracks MJ2Marlon Jackson, 2 tracks on The Jacksons's page JJ2Jesse Johnson, 2 tracks DR2David Ritz, 2 tracks DA2Dallas Austin, 2 tracks AB2Anders Bagge, 2 tracks AB2Arnthor Birgisson, 2 tracks HH2Herbie Hancock, 2 tracks TY2Tasleema Yasin, 2 tracks DT2Delisha Thomas, 2 tracks ME2Missy Elliott, 2 tracks ME2Melissa Elliott, 2 tracks WP1Wardell Potts Jr., 1 track BS1Barry Sarna, 1 track DM1Dana Meyers, 1 track PI1Phillip Ingram, 1 track AZ1Attala Zane Giles, 1 track DP1Dorie Pride, 1 track GD1Gene Dozier, 1 track GB1Glen Barbee, 1 track CS1Charmaine Sylvers, 1 track GJ1Glen J. Barbee, 1 track JB1John Barnes, 1 track MJ1Michael Jackson, 1 track JJ1Jackie Jackson, 1 track on The Jacksons's page TJ1Tito Jackson, 1 track on The Jacksons's page PB1Peter Beckett, 1 track SK1Steve Kipner, 1 track CR1Cliff Richard, 1 track AB1Arthur Barrow, 1 track JP1John Philip Shenale, 1 track PB1Paul Bliss, 1 track CE1Chris Eaton, 1 track TP1Tony Patler, 1 track AP1Anthony Patler, 1 track DP1David P. Bryant, 1 track JG1Jay Gruska, 1 track DP1David Paul Bryant, 1 track MM1Monte Moir, 1 track SW1Steve Wiese, 1 track SB1Spencer Bernard, 1 track MA1Melanie Andrews, 1 track SC1Steve Cropper, 1 track JS1Joe Shamwell, 1 track CD1Chuck D, 1 track on Public Enemy's page MM1Malcolm McLaren, 1 track TH1Trevor Horn, 1 track MO1Mike Oldfield, 1 track HB1Harold Brown, 1 track SA1Sylvester Allen, 1 track MD1Morris Dickerson, 1 track HS1Howard Scott, 1 track LJ1Leroy Jordan, 1 track LO1Lee Oskar, 1 track CM1Charles Miller, 1 track JM1Joni Mitchell, 1 track KI1Kamaal Ibn Fareed, 1 track Q1Q-Tip, 1 track MM1Marilyn McLeod, 1 track PS1Pam Sawyer, 1 track NA1Nickolas Ashford, 1 track VS1Valerie Simpson, 1 track JB1James Brown, 1 track BB1Billy Buttier, 1 track AB1Archie Bell, 1 track MH1Michael Hepburn, 1 track RS1Rod Stewart, 1 track WG1Wayne Garfield, 1 track DR1David Romani, 1 track MM1Mauro Malavasi, 1 track CS1Carly Simon, 1 track JW1James Wright, 1 track SV1Stan Vincent, 1 track DB1Dewey Bunnell, 1 track FD1Fabrice Dumont, 1 track CH1Christophe Hetier, 1 track SH1Stephan Haeri, 1 track T1Télépopmusik, 1 track GA1Gregory Andrews, 1 track SC1Shawn Carter, 1 track IL1Irving Lorenzo, 1 track JA1Jeffrey Atkins, 1 track RM1Robert Mays, 1 track SG1Sean Garrett, 1 track JP1Joni-Ayanna Portee, 1 track SS1Scott Storch, 1 track on The Roots's page CD1Cathy Dennis, 1 track PJ1Paul Jackson, 1 track MR1Melvin Ragin, 1 track MJ1Michael Jones, 1 track NT1Nicholas Trevisick, 1 track HL1Harold Lilly, 1 track JL1John Legend, 1 track BB1Burt Bacharach, 1 track HD1Hal David, 1 track TW1Tanya White, 1 track B1Babyface, 1 track AC1Andy Cramer, 1 track SP1Shelly Poole, 1 track TD1Tommy Danvers, 1 track K1Khia, 1 track KC1Khia Chambers, 1 track MB1Michael Beinhorn, 1 track BL1Bill Laswell, 1 track BR1Brenda Russell, 1 track NI1No I.D., 1 track N1Nelly, 1 track CH1Cornell Haynes Jr., 1 track on Nelly's page TT1Theron Thomas, 1 track TT1Timothy Thomas, 1 track ES1Eric Stamile, 1 track P"1Phillip "Taj" Jackson, 1 track MS1Mikkel S. Eriksen, 1 track TE1Tor Erik Hermansen, 1 track S1Stargate, 1 track DG1David Gough, 1 track DD1D. DoRohn Gough, 1 track TS1Tricky Stewart, 1 track T1The-Dream, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 159. RE René Elizondo Jr.

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Janet Jackson's authorship story turns on Control. Her first two albums were pure performer records with not a single co-writing credit. From Control (1986) onward she co-wrote most of what she released, with one clear exception: on Discipline (2008) her only writing credit is the interlude "4 Words."

Quick Facts

  • GrammysWon five Grammy Awards
  • Rock HallInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019
  • Jam & LewisMade every album from Control (1986) to Unbreakable (2015) with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, except Discipline (2008)
  • Creative controlTook charge of her own career on Control, breaking from her family's management
  • Chart spanThe first artist to score number-one hits across four decades

Creative Fingerprint

A co-writer with one production team: Janet Jackson is credited on around 72% of her tracks, and most of them are written with the same two collaborators, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, whose partnership with her defined her sound from Control onward. Discipline (2008) is the one album made without them.

The Story

Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who emerged from the famous Jackson family in 1982 and spent the first years of her career recording material written entirely by others. The dramatic turning point came in 1986 with the album Control, produced by Minneapolis duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, on which Jackson co-wrote seven of the nine tracks and publicly declared her artistic independence from her family and management. From that album forward she co-wrote and co-produced most of her own material, throughout one of the most commercially successful careers in pop and R&B history, selling over 180 million records worldwide. Her collaboration with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis is one of the defining creative partnerships in modern pop, with the three of them sharing writing and production credit on most of her albums from Control to Unbreakable. She has earned five Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe nomination, and numerous Billboard Music Awards across a career that has consistently combined social commentary with infectious dance-pop production.

Awards & Recognition

Sold over 100 million records worldwide, one of the best-selling music artists of all time
Won five Grammy Awards
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019
The first artist to score number-one hits across four decades
Rhythm Nation 1814 produced seven top-five singles, a record for one album

Frequently Asked Questions Janet Jackson

Did Janet Jackson write her own songs?
Yes, on most of them, and usually with one steady team. Janet Jackson co-writes around 72% of her catalogue, most often with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Their partnership, which began on Control in 1986, produced hits like 'Rhythm Nation,' 'That's the Way Love Goes,' and 'All for You.' She has also written with René Elizondo Jr. and Jermaine Dupri, and occasionally alone, as on 'Black Cat' and 'Whoops Now.'
Who wrote 'Rhythm Nation'?
'Rhythm Nation' (1989) was co-written by Janet Jackson with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It was the centerpiece of her socially conscious album Rhythm Nation 1814 and one of her signature songs.
Did Janet Jackson write 'Black Cat'?
Yes, entirely. 'Black Cat' (1990), from Rhythm Nation 1814, is one of the few songs she wrote alone, without Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It was a rock-flavored number-one hit.
Who are Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis?
They are the producer and songwriter duo behind almost all of Janet Jackson's music. Their collaboration with her, starting with Control in 1986, is one of the longest and most successful artist-producer partnerships in pop history.
Who wrote 'That's the Way Love Goes'?
'That's the Way Love Goes' (1993) was co-written by Janet Jackson with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It won a Grammy and spent eight weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
How many albums has Janet Jackson released?
This catalogue covers all 11 of her studio albums, from Janet Jackson (1982) to Unbreakable (2015).
How many records has Janet Jackson sold?
Over 100 million worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Is Janet Jackson in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes. Janet Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
How is Janet Jackson related to Michael Jackson?
She is the youngest sibling in the Jackson family, the sister of Michael Jackson. She built her own career independent of the Jackson 5, taking creative control with her 1986 album Control.
What genre is Janet Jackson?
She is an R&B and pop artist, central to the new jack swing sound of the late 1980s, blending funk, dance-pop, and socially conscious themes.

Sources

Wikipedia: Janet Jackson discography File:Janet Jackson 2002.jpg - Wikimedia Commons