: Tracks like "Free Xone" spoke out against homophobia, while her cover of Rod Stewart's "Tonight's the Night" explored bisexual themes. Her commitment to these causes earned her a GLAAD Media Award .
: This soulful ballad solidified Jackson's record as the only female artist to achieve 18 consecutive top-ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
Unlike her previous high-energy releases, The Velvet Rope found Jackson "letting her ropes down" to reveal her innermost pain.
Produced by long-time collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the album’s sound was revolutionary for its time, blending R&B and pop with experimental genres like trip-hop, techno, jazz, and folk.