At age sixteen in 1982, Janet Jackson signed a recording contract with A&M, releasing her self-titled debut album the same year. Janet Jackson faced criticism for her limited vocal range, and for being yet another member of the Jackson family to become a recording artist. Beginning with her third studio album Control (1986), Janet Jackson began a long-term collaboration with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Her music with Jam and Lewis incorporated elements of rhythm and blues, disco, funk, and rap with sample loop, triplet swing and industrial beats, which led to crossover appeal in popular music. In addition to receiving recognition for the innovation in her albums, choreography, music videos, and prominence on MTV, Janet Jackson was acknowledged as a role model for her socially conscious lyrics.
