Amy

From www.clevescene.com James Samuel “Jimmy Jam” Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis, the American R&B production team that worked behind-the-scenes to turn Janet Jackson albums such as Control and Rhythm Nation 1814 into monster hits and reunited with Jackson for 2015’s Unbreakable, first met in the early ‘70s at a summer program at the University of Minnesota called Upward Bound. “We were studying to be peer teachers,” says Harris during a phone interview to promote Jackson’s tour that comes to Quicken Loans Arena at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3. “The concept was that if you learned math you would teach the grade below you math, and it would be easier for the kids to understand. I was always a good student, but I was horrible at math, and I had no clue why they chose me for the program. I was happy that they did. It gave me a better understanding of math. Even better, I met Terry." The two stayed in the dorms, and Harris says when he walked into Lewis’s room, he saw his bass guitar and immediately thought they would become friends.“I think I was 13, and he was 15, and he was that cool kid that everybody wanted to know,” says Harris. “We definitely talked music. I was really into pop music big-time. I was waiting for the Chicago VI album to come out. I said something about it to him. He said, ‘What about the new Earth Wind & Fire album?’ He introduced me to them. I remember the first records. It was Earth, Wind & Fire, Tower of Power and a group called New Birth. He totally turned me onto that. That was our conversation. We went back and forth about music.” A few weeks later, the two launched the Time, a terrific R&B/funk band that drew from many of their inspirations. Jackson came to one of their shows in Long Beach and initiated what would become a long and creatively fruitful relationship. “[Jackson] was in the front row [at the Long Beach show] with her mom and couple of other people,” says Harris. “I remember our show as a little bit risqué, but she was jamming and loving every minute of it. Afterwards, we got a chance to meet her. She was super sweet. She was a huge Time fan and that was very cool to us. That was the first time we met her and then we met her again in the summer of 1982.”Harris and Lewis would come on board to produce 1986’s Control, an album that fused rap, funk, disco and rock. It would become a huge breakthrough for the singer.“We did [the record] in Minneapolis, which was great because it was away from the craziness of L.A. and the whole recording scene,” says Harris. “Nobody really cared. It was made in a vacuum. When we asked her to come to Minneapolis, there was no hoopla. The record company wasn’t paying attention, other than John McClain, who did A&R. It was a great way to make a record and a great way to get to know her. And it was a blueprint we’ve subscribed to with any artist. As producers, our best thing is to make the artist sound good and stay out of the way rather than try to dominate with a certain sound and all that. That’s never been our thing. We want to make the artist sound great and give everyone their own sound.”The duo would also produce 1989’s Rhythm Nation 1814, another huge hit for the singer. When Jackson reunited with Harris and Lewis for last year’s Unbreakable, the producers insisted that they work together like they had in the past without any interference from the record label. Jackson agreed. “We all wanted that,” says Harris. “A lot of time had passed between us working with her. I don’t by any means disown any Janet record that we were involved with, even the ones we weren’t involved with. They all have their place and their influence. I feel like the Janet records that were done in the way we would prefer to do records with her stopped at All for You, which was 2001. We were talking 14 or 15 years. In that sense, hindsight being 20/20, it was easy to have conversations and look back at the past potholes, speed bumps and detours and see that we needed to be on a different smooth road. Once it was agreed upon, it was a no-brainer.”Unbreakable tracks such as the shimmering “Burnitup!” find Jackson embracing a funk and hip-hop-inspired sound. There are still plenty of slow jams (“The Great Forever” and “After You Fall”), but Jackson sounds re-energized on the album. The highly personal songs refer to various experiences over the course of her life, including aspects of her childhood and the death of her brother Michael. “She’s lived a lot of life,” says Harris. “She’s in a place where ‘wise’ is the word I would use. There’s a point in your life when you think you know everything and you’ve learned everything you can learn. We all go through that. It’s not true. She’s been through that enough times where her viewpoint on things is that she’s still learning and growing and hasn’t figured it out. There’s no shame in that. I am wise about knowing what I know and don’t know. I think that’s the viewpoint that the album takes. With that as the overall theme, it’s easy to craft songs in that way."Harris doesn’t tour with Jackson, but he says he’s come out to “tweak a few things.” He says the singer has put together one of her best shows. “She has a killer band and amazing singers and dancers,” he says. “When she opened in Vancouver, I went there for a few days to work through a few things. Because I played everything I can walk up to the keyboard player and go, ‘This is the lick.’ It’s actually kind of fun. I think it’s the best ensemble creatively that she’s ever had. They’re amazing."

I have not really seen any of the new kids instagrams ect so I don’t really have an idea of their personalities but Alison seems really nice.

Disgusting behaviour. But why did the first girl go upstairs to take a shower? Why didn’t she just get the heck out of there???

From nydailynews Joe Jackson expects his daughter Janet to perform at Super Bowl 51. “Janet is ready to comeback and I think it will happen,” he told us at BET's Soul Train Awards, which will air on Jan. 26. “The way I bought her up she was made for comebacks and this is no different." Janet last did a Superbowl show in 2001 with Justin Timberlake, which caused controversy when her nipple was exposed at the end of a dance number in an incident that was instantly dubbed "Nipplegate." Timberlake is making his return to the SuperBowl stage in Minnesota in February and there's been rampant speculation that Janet, who became a mom in January at the age of 50, will join him. According to Joe, booking a gig at the big game will give his daughter closure. "Janet always wanted to know she was not banned after what happened before," he said. According to Joe, who turns 90 next year, there have been discussion about Janet and teaming up with Timberlake again. "We know conversations have taken place secretly, but no-one is daring to say too much publicly until contracts are signed," he claimed. The Jackson family patriarch says that the NFL's declining ratings would get a boost from putting the "What Have You Done for Me Lately" singer on stage. "We must not forget this show is about ratings," he said. "No one publicly is going to discuss that, but the world and media know that the NFL are in a sticky place over fans reactions to their players taking the knee and protesting the national anthem." It's not just Janet and the NFL who want to see this happen, according to Joe. "The audience are expecting a show and I feel that they are expecting to see her too," he thinks. "It is what they want." Joe also says that sponsors and TV network's need not worry about a "Nipplegate 2" being broadcast across the globe. "That won't happen this time," he promised. Fans wanting to see more of Janet this Sunday can do so in Newark, N.J. where she's performing at the Prudential Center

Thanks for the video, it is quite a nice interview but it does make me miss hearing from Janet even more.

I don’t know, that was just what someone on twitter wrote. I didn’t add to it.

I think the anticipation of a new album stemmed from the live nation description of the tour which said she would perform “soon-to-be released new tracks”

Apparently Gil had an IG live yesterday, someone who watched it posed on twitter He also confirmed that she's not gonna post no pics of Eissa, there's no album on the way and she's not making any appearances so STOP asking

My whole week I saw made! It could only be better if I had actually been there to witness the moment.

I need a Stevie/Janet duet asap

I hope we get a picture of Janet and Stevie backstage, Stevie rocks!

why should I have been either. Tina is a great choreographer and has done Janet’s best and most memorable routines, fans like her and would more than likely welcome any future collaborations between her and Janet.

oooh interesting...maybe she is going to do some new choreography for Janet?

admittedly this is from Radar, so read it with a pinch of salt. But this is a lot for even them to make up. I just hope they can sort out or put aside whatever happened between them so that Eissa has the happiest life possible. Too many children are used in relationships to hurt and punish each other. Whatever happens he deserves to have the love of both parents. Abuse! Abandonment! Forced imprisonment! Those are just some of the ugly charges being hurled by Janet Jackson and her estranged husband, Qatari billionaire Wissam Al Mana, in their $250 million divorce battle, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively! “They’re officially at war!” tattled a Jackson family insider. “Nasty” singer Janet, 51, fled their five-year marriage in April amid talk the controlling Muslim businessman had dominated her life and cut her off from her famous family. Janet has told mediators Wissam’s abuse was so brutal she wants full custody of their ten-month-old son, Eissa — with only limited visitation for Wissam. But Wissam, 42, is charging he was the one who was abused — and that Janet slammed his abilities as both a husband and father! When the couple’s mediation picks up in London in December, Wissam plans to “bring in his family and at least two housekeepers who are willing to testify it was Janet who was vicious with her tongue!” the source revealed. “She’d throw fits around the house, and complain about being imprisoned and shut off from the world.” Wissam is also telling his legal team Janet belittled her younger husband for taking so long to get her pregnant! Wissam is also furious Janet constantly called her ex-boyfriend, rap producer Jermaine Dupri. “She’d make sure Wissam heard her refer to Jermaine as baby or sweetie,” the source said. Insiders added Wissam would respond by fleeing the couple’s London pad with a personal harem and host events with the sexy young vixens by his side. Janet retaliated by tempting her husband with sex — and then denying it to him! “Janet would hear about the other women from their security detail and other staffers, and then she’d take her game up a notch,” the source spilled. “She’d shower, oil her body and walk past Wissam in the nude before throwing on a robe. “When he would try to come on to her, she’d say ‘no,’ and tell him to ‘handle that yourself.’ It made him furious!” The source added: “Wissam has a quiet way about him that can make people believe he’s a cool, calm, collected guy. But he has a lot more fight in him than you might think. The gloves are off!”

I completely got the wrong idea when I read “pop ups”

This is the drawing of Eissa that is in the background of the picture of Janet and Papa Roberts by a fan on Instagram mattcharles17, he gave the picture to Joey to give to Janet

My friend is a Star Trek fan and is trying to get me to watch the show (along with Star Wars), I am open to watching it if I can get the episodes on YouTube but where do I start as its a really long running show?

the last time his Dad saw Janet was 1996

His family look so nice, his Dad looks so warm and friendly.

A different version of the article Looks like Janet Jackson is making sure this year's holiday season is one to remember! ET has learned that the singer will be spending Thanksgiving with the entire Jackson clan in California, and that it's the first time in five years that she's been able to celebrate the holidays with her famous family. A source close to the Jackson family tells ET that since it's also her son, Eissa's, very first Christmas, the 51-year-old superstar is pulling out all the stops. According to our source, Jackson is planning a very special celebration for Eissa, who will be a year old in January. Meanwhile, the source says Jackson is continuing to co-parent with her estranged husband, Wissam Al Mana, but that there's no hope for reconciliation between the two. “All Janet wants to do is move forward and be the best mother to her son and to be happy," the source says. Jackson is nearing the end of her State of the World tour, with the final stop being on Dec. 17 in Atlanta, Georgia. Once the tour ends, our source says the singer will take some much deserved time off, though she is undecided if she wants to go back to London, where she was previously based with Al Mana. Our source says that her brother, Randy Jackson -- who's been by her side during the tour -- is now in London taking care of legal and business issues for her. Before her tour started, Jackson and Al Mana appeared in a London court in June for divorce proceedings. "She’s not quite sure if she will be going back to London because she calls California home, and baby Eissa has gotten used to the warm weather," our source says. And while her tour may be ending, Jackson won't be slacking on eating healthy and exercising, our source also notes. “She has gotten great reviews and a really positive response from her fans and the public about her appearance and her amazing weight loss," the source shares. "Janet still continues to eat clean and juice, and will continue her regime even after the tour ends. She loves the way she looks now and has turned the clock back.”

Since both Katherine and Rebbie don’t celebrate Christmas, I wonder who in the family they are supposing that she would be celebrating with?

The holidays are for family! So, Janet Jackson is choosing to travel home to celebrate Christmas with her family for the first time in five years. The new mother is recently separated from estranged husband Wissam Al Mana and is currently focused on co-parenting their son, Eissa. Since this will be the 10-month-old's first Christmas, the 51-year-old singer is determined to make it special. "All Janet wants to do is move forward and be the best mother to her son and to be happy," a source close to the famous family tells Entertainment Tonight. Her State of the World tour is nearing its last leg, so the superstar will need to decide where she will raise her son permanently. "She’s not quite sure if she will be going back to London because she calls California home, and baby Eissa has gotten used to the warm weather," the source says. Despite her split, Janet is loving motherhood and focusing on her health. She's ready to take time off from her music and focus on parenthood, but that doesn't mean she'll let herself go after working so hard to get in shape after the baby. “She has gotten great reviews and a really positive response from her fans and the public about her appearance and her amazing weight loss," the source continues. "Janet still continues to eat clean and juice, and will continue her regime even after the tour ends. She loves the way she looks now and has turned the clock back.” Janet of all people knows the value of becoming a mother. Because of her age, she was told it wasn't an option for her. "Every doctor told me it wasn't possible. But I've got a beautiful, healthy son," she gushed. "I thank god for [my son], you guys, he's so healthy, so beautiful, so sweet, so loving, such a happy baby," she added in a cute Instagram video. We're so happy for them!

She made such a beautiful speech, however I am not a fan of her outfit. There is too much going on, I prefer a more simple look like the white dress she wore to one of the Amfar events.

I’m sure it sounded better in his head. i still can’t think of him as anything other than Puff Daddy or Puffy. He has always been my secret crush

Friends that are not “family friends”.....0, I have yet to find peers that don’t have their own agenda or ditch you when the going gets tough or something better comes along.