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Captured on the eve of her debut South African promotional tour, in August 1997, this interview with Janet Jackson unpacks more than just The Velvet Rope. A very introspective album, \\u201cfinding myself is where I find myself,\\u201d she declared.

This time around, Janet was focusing on her R&B roots. She spoke to me about exposing her inner, sensual self. \\u201cIf it\\u2019s too much, I apologise,\\u201d she confessed at the time. \\u201cI have desires, just like the next person. It\\u2019s very unsettling. We\\u2019re not alone in our feelings.\\u201d Most artists would not touch the subject matter, yet Janet embraced it. \\u201cI have to do it for myself,\\u201d she insisted.

When discussing \\u201cGot \\u2019til it\\u2019s Gone\\u201d \\u2013 in this interview Janet talks through how the Joni Michelle-inspired track came together. And with Q-Tip in residence, the two made magic. \\u201cHe has a peacefulness about him,\\u201d she said at the time.

\\u201cTonight\\u2019s the Night\\u201d, Rod Stewart\\u2019s classic made it onto the album too\\u2026 At the point of this recording, he\\u2019d yet to hear and endorse it.  \\u201cI hope it helps people,\\u201d she said, \\u201cand that they get something from it. That\\u2019s most important.\\u201d

It was a difficult album to make, where Janet went back into her past to realise it. Six months committed and multiple revisits saw The Velvet Rope come to life. Working with the original team, all egos were left at the door. \\u201cI hate arrogance,\\u201d she insisted. Cathartic, unsettling, as time passed each day after the album was released, Janet got her strength, courage and artistic conviction confirmed with the album\\u2019s success.

Here she also speaks of her friendship with Harvey Weinstein in 1997, the same year she received the Lina Horn Award. \\u201cI felt so honoured!\\u201d she recalls. Janet discusses racism, emotional battles and her inner struggles. More motivated then as ever, Janet, for the first time since Control, Ms Jackson was doing it for herself, no matter what.

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