Thats the way legends go.

But the then-27-old singer had something to prove and prove it she did.

For better and for worse.

Janet Jackson ‘Janet.’ album cover

‘janet.’ by Janet Jackson.Virgin Records

While not as groundbreaking as her two previous albums,Janetwas the musical equivalent of a summer blockbuster.

Big, bloated, and engineered to like.

TheJanetera was sexy, empowering, it was fun, and kids we weredancing.

And, holding the No.

1 spot for eight consecutive weeks, it also became the biggest single of Jackson’s career.

That kind of run is the stuff icons are made of.