Janet Jackson Leaves Island Def Jam

Janet Jackson is officially a free agent. In his first Darkchild video blog for Rap-Up.com, super producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins exclusively reveals that Janet has cut ties with the Island Def Jam Music Group.

There had been speculation that the youngest Jackson was having issues with the label, but we now have confirmation that she has been released from her contract. Janet signed to Island Def Jam in 2007 and released Discipline, her first album on the label, in February of this year. It debuted at No. 1, but sold less in its first week than Janet’s last two albums, 2006’s 20 Y.O. and 2004’s Damita Jo. Jerkins produced the album’s first single “Feedback” and follow-up “Luv.”
“We didn’t get the support from the record company,” he discloses. “[Janet] felt like it wasn’t pushed. I felt like it wasn’t pushed correctly. She just didn’t get her just-do as an artist of that magnitude.”Jerkins also shares his thoughts on Janet’s Rock Witchu Tour and looks to the future. “I could make an album with her, possibly me, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis. Keep it real simple. They focus on what they’re great at, I focus on what I’m great at. We come together and make a classic Janet record.”