What She Say: Janet Jackson's New Album, Ja Rule Vs. Ashanti & More

Friday - February 29, 2008
By: Willow

What's up everybody? Welcome to the What She Say, BallerStatus Weekly Blog. It's your girl Willow, no video this week, I had to change it up this week and get my writing up. I'm still hitting you off with a video of the week; actually there are two. I promise you, you will love me for these. If you normally watch while you're at work, please put your headphones on.

I asked you last week to go out and return Janet Jackson to her throne, did you? Don't lie and say you did when you didn't. The first week numbers are not in yet, so I won't know if you are fibbing until then, but we'll talk about it on next week's blog. I have never been a die hard fan of hers, but I never hated on her or her reign at the top. Now, since she's somewhat fallen off according to the masses, I'm in her corner like never before. More so because it appears her international fans followed suit, when her career started to go south.

After two lackluster selling albums, Janet Jackson's latest venture had to bang from opening to close. So here's my take on the new album:

Her first single, "Feedback" produced by Rodney Jerkins, is classic Janet. The beat is hot; it's everything a pop dance track should be. And not for nothing, Janet does a little rhyming on the sly and calls out the chicks who hate. Discipline is truly missing Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, but pulling in A-list producers like Jermaine Dupri, Ne-Yo, Stargate, Tricky Stewart, and The-Dream is not such a bad look. But, they don't know Janet like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis do, their efforts are impeccable but the chemistry is missing. With this being her first release at Def Jam, I suppose it made sense to use these producers and if nothing else it boosts their resumes by having Janet Jackson as an artist they've worked with. And whether she's really fell off or not there's still esteem in the name "Jackson."

There's no doubt Janet is trying to connect with a much younger audience, but she knows she has a formula and doesn't stray to far away from what has always worked for her. The beats are consistently mid to up tempo, the ballads are open letters and her interludes are still soft spoken, sexually charged and giggly. The next single has to be the sensuous -- "LUV,' the hook is pure magic. "Never Letchu Go" is far more R&B than Janet has ever been, it's laced with theme and a classic 1980s guitar sound. Ladies, get your afro-puffs rounded out, Janet takes us to the roller rink on "Rollercoaster" with the help of Rodney Jerkins. The industry's Dark Child kills the beat. As Janet compares love with a rollercoaster that goes up and down with emotions, you can see yourself skating backwards, bobbin' to the beat like it's the 70s all over again. Jermaine Dupri and Ne-Yo, collaborate on "Rock With U." The song is another mid-tempo offering with sensual expression. The title track, "Discipline," would even make Madonna blush, Janet wants to be tied up and punished. It's very reminiscent to what she did with the Velvet Rope album.

The jury is still out on if it's time for Janet to focus on her other creative skills and retire from music. It just depends on what each Janet fan is expecting from her. One thing is for certain, she is well with in her right as a grown woman to sing about the things that intrigue her and should not be criticized for it. Those who say she's needs to realize she is 40-plus and shouldn't be singing about "it" and giggling don't have a clue. Discipline is a solid album for Janet and deserves platinum sales, even if it doesn't happen in the first week. It is definitely an adult-themed CD and a great solid effort. And if all else fails with the buying public, the CD is ripe for an international tour. 4 stars goes to Janet for this one.

Don't give up Janet, there is always Vegas! If Tony Braxton can sell-out nightly, you most definitely can give Celine Dion a run and cake off!

The Headline Read: One Person Shot & Rappers Lil Wayne and Cassidy Found With Illegal Drugs.

If you didn't know Lil Wayne and Cassidy are planning a tour to coincide with the collabos they've done. One of their stops happens to be in Philly, Cassidy's hometown. Well that doesn't seem so bad, all artists try to make a hometown stop while on tour. Here in lies the problem: Philly is also the hometown of Lil Wayne and Cassidy's nemesis, Gillie Da Kid. Gillie has made it very clear his disdain for both of these artists and has no problem with making people "Get Down On Dae Ground." Great song by the way... so if you are in Philly towards the end of March and you wake up that morning and say to yourself, "Self, Lil Wayne and Cassidy are going to be in concert tonight, I think I wanna get dead." Then this tour stop is for you. I smell drugs, arrests, violence, singing and flower bringing. Have fun!

Let's get into the videos of the week:

As I mentioned in my Janet Jackson review, I am always rooting for the underdog. When 50 Cent came in and used the 48 Laws of Power to smash out Ja Rule's career, I hated in a major way. I even went as far as calling what 50 did to Ja, ruling the game. Fifty talked so bad about Ja Rule and the sing-song rapping he was doing, only to turn around and harmonize you all straight to the nearest record and straight to the bank. The coldest part of it all was on his last album he not only kept singing, but laughed right in your faces. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha...

I thought Ja Rule was a corny like the rest of you guys, but I understood his hustle. When it was time for him to do what needed to be done, he did the damn thing on that Blood In My Eye album -- that "Clap Back" and "The Crown" were hot songs. And you bandwagoners loved that "New York" collabo too. Unfortunately it wasn't enough and you all left him for dead on the side of the road up in Queens with the Jamaican vendors, with nothing to do but hustle his Ervin Geoffrey clothing line.

Ashanti and Ja Rule

So you ask, why am I even talking about Ja Rule when Murder Inc is at a point of no return and no one even cares? Here's why, Ja Rule has taken his desperation for fame to far. While I thought he was ready to revisit his Cash Money Click days and get his career back on track, he lets the cornball-ocity fall right back out the closet with a diss song about Ashanti. The title of the song is "Judas." Are you freaking kidding me!!!? Here's some lyrics from the song, in print. I would've even do you like that and play the song. You do that on some other site. "Dear Judas.. or should I say Juda? / I wanna' say I'll miss you, but that may be a lie and I can't lie to myself too much self pride / I could lie to anyone else at times even God / Now you claim heartbreak and emotional scars, but I say you was getting while it was good until it's gone / But you of all people should know my life's gon' turn off / And this is my sitcom and you're just a spin-off / And I don't mean to be hard, but sister your loss / It really hurt when you said you can't throw any M's up baby 'cause it's hurting your image Really? / Have you looked at your self lately?/ If not, then look a little clearly and tell me what you see/ And if you're proud of what you saw 'cause who you are is Judas."

When Ashanti first got down with Murder Inc, she had to throw up the "M" because she was young and didn't know any better. While her music career is looking a little faint as well, she's blossomed into a classy lady, exploring other avenues to boost her career and went and got some singing lessons to boot. And even though you all didn't like Ashanti's song, "Switch," I loved it and even made a ringtone of mine for a minute. I am always rooting for the underdog.

Barack Obama

To book studio time to express yourself, Ja this is a new low even for you. In the words of my good friend The Prince, "Find something to do!" and just stop! Better yet someone please call up Aretha Franklin (the fat lady) since she doesn't have anything to do but make up stuff to be mad at Beyonce about. Tell her we need her to sing a couple verses as to inform Ja Rule his music career is a wrap and no matter how hard he tries nobody cares.

Can't leave you without talking about Barack. Hillary and her cohorts went crazy with the photo of Barack dressed in the garb of his father's homeland and now they're trying to make a raucous because his middle name is "Hussein." The last time I checked, you have no option in the name you are given at birth. So Hill, please fall back and FIND SOMETHING TO DO, since winning isn't something you have the capacity to do. And if you need a picture to see what a winner looks like, because there's not one staring back at you in the mirror, here you go.

(insert picture here)

All right well I'll see you next week; until then always remember to PACKLIGHT, NOW GET BACK TO BALLIN'

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