The Velvet Rope (Virgin, 1997) by Janet Jackson

The part in that episode of Family Guy where Brian shoots at a copy of this album is really funny.  The album is too long and has too many interludes.  But I really like a couple tracks on here.  "Got 'Til It's Gone" with Q-Tip and the Joni Mitchell sample does Joni's "Big Yellow Taxi" justice, "Go Deep" is a great upbeat song, and "Together Again" is rightfully one of the biggest hits of Janet's career.  All the sexual material on the album is cool, but nothing is left  to the imagination and so it comes across as shock for shock's sake instead of intimate expression (the cover of Rod Stewart's "Tonight's the Night" and how Janet made it a song about lesbian love was pretty dope though).

janet. (Virgin, 1993) by Janet Jackson

As the title suggests, this is Janet declaring her independence from the rest of her family (read Janet, period).  The album also continues to show growth in Janet as far as the sexual content of her music.  Control had "Let's Wait a While."  Rhythm Nation had "Someday is Tonight."  And janet has "Throb."  Personal developments aside, Ms. Jackson also covers serious social issues- most notably on "New Agenda" with Public Enemy frontman Chuck D.  The two most popular cuts, "Again" and "That's the Way Love Goes," are both very good.  The former is a great record that also worked well with the promotion of Janet's film Poetic Justice with Tupac and the latter is a chill mellow song that not surprisingly topped the Billboard charts for two months.

8701 (Arista, 2001) by Usher

Usher's third album is a solid mix of ballads and up-tempo dance numbers.  "U Remind Me" is basically a more dance-friendly version of "U Make Me Wanna" wherein one girl makes Usher think of another girl.  "U Got it Bad" is a phenomenal ballad and when he says, "Look at your mate, help me sing my song/Tell her, 'I'm your man, you're my girl/I'm gonna tell it to the whole wide world'/Ladies say, 'I'm your girl, you're my man/Promise to love you the best I can,'" it's impossible to not sing along.  The one song that I think was overlooked on this album for some reason though was "Can U Help Me."  The Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced ballad has beautiful music and displays Usher's range as a vocalist.  Emotionally and technically, it is my favorite record on 8701.

All For You (Virgin, 2001) by Janet Jackson

All For You is the sexiest album I have ever encountered (how appropriate that it came out on my fourteenth birthday).  Not only is Janet captivating in the album artwork, but her sensual vocals and subject matter make for an intriguing listen.  Production-wise,  the set holds up.  But All For You's highlight is Ms. Jackson on "Would You Mind."  Considering the album's aforementioned sexuality, this is the most extreme case.  It is the only time a song has ever given me an erection.