Janet Jackson

When Janet Jackson announced she was in "Control" on the dance-or-drop title track from her '86 breakthrough album, she wasn't kidding. Stepping out from the shadow of her famous family, the littlest Jackson claimed her own share of the spotlight and more, owning the '80s, '90s, and beyond with hit after hit after hit, from the flirtatious beats of her first #1, "When I Think of You," to her latest chart-capper, the sultry R&B stunner "All for You." From the sweet escape of "Escapade" to the miss-you groove of "Together Again," all our Janet Basics are stone smashes — and even more await in Next Steps.

Over the years Janet Jackson has tried on styles and sounds to suit her moods, yet each and every monster hit is still perfectly Janet. From the scorching guitar and fierce feline vocals of the #1 hit "Black Cat" to the lonely, late-night ballad "Come Back to Me" to the too-hot-to-handle hip-hop duet with Busta Rhymes, "What's It Gonna Be," Janet commands her own particular brand of passion and presence, and the result is nothing less than true superstardom. She never stops, so why should you? Click Deep Cuts for more Janet genius.

Here's where we "Go Deep" into all things Janet, digging out the best of her pre-superstar dance-pop — a groove-soaked "Say You Do," an adorably '80s "Don't Stand Another Chance" — alongside choice one-offs like "The Best Things in Life Are Free," her Top 10 duet with fellow R&B titan Luther Vandross. When Janet croons "You Want This," on yet another of her sexy dance-floor declarations, you know it's just too true.

She may be Michael's little sister, but Janet Jackson is very definitely her own woman, a solid-platinum superstar who grabbed hold of the dance floor, the airwaves, and the charts and never let go. She was the first artist to score seven Top 5 hits from one album (the righteous Rhythm Nation 1814), including the chart-tipping million-sellers "Miss You Much" and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)." Yet, just when it seemed Janet couldn't go any higher, she followed it all up with a sexy new image, and the biggest hit of her career, "That's the Way Love Goes," a sultry urban jam that parked at the Pop Singles chart's #1 spot for eight straight weeks. There's so much more, and we've brought it all together here, with three full playlists of Janet's hits and highlights.