Personnel includes: Janet Jackson (vocals); Kanye West (rap vocals); IZ (electric guitar, Moog synthesizer, drums, percussion, vinyl scratches); Kevin Hunter, Glenn Jeffery (guitar); Goran Kajfes (horns); Bobby Ross Avila (Fender Rhodes piano, Moog synthesizer, bass, drums); Jimmy Jam, Dallas Austin (keyboards, programming); Ervin Pope (keyboards); Colin Wolfe, Keenan Holloway (bass); BAG (programming); Tony Tolbert, Tony Reyes (background vocals); Babyface.
Producers include: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Janet Jackson, Bobby Ross Avila, IZ.
Just as the furor over her notorious exposure at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show died down in the spring of 2004, the iconic Janet Jackson unleashed DAMITA JO. While the soul-baring, bedroom-eyed record is unlikely to win over anyone scandalized by her Super Bowl antics, Jackson's fans--and fans of sensual, soulful pop in general--should enjoy the sultry outing, which continues the theme of sexual discovery that she began on 1993's JANET.
With over two decades of dominating the charts and a lifetime as musical royalty, Jackson knows her way around a tune, and DAMITA JO is swimming in pop hooks. There are a number of down-and-dirty tracks such as "Strawberry Bounce," "Warmth," and "Moist," which slink joyfully and lustily through the night. However, Jackson truly scores when she combines the distinctly carnal with more innocent pop notions, as she does with sublime beauty on the Dramatics-esque "I Want You" and with verve on the irresistible dance-rock of "Just a Little While."
