All for You

“All For You” is the seventh studio album by American recording artist Janet Jackson. Released on April 24, 2001 by Virgin Records America, its development and theme was rooted in Jackson’s separation from husband René Elizondo, Jr, experiencing dating for the first time. Unlike The Velvet Rope, which saw Jackson tackling darker issues such as domestic violence and depression, All for You showcased an upbeat dance-pop sound, incorporating rock, house, and funk, as well as soft rock and Oriental music. Its composition focuses on passion, romance, and intercourse, also discussing themes of betrayal and deceit. The explicit language and sexual content of several songs drew media controversy, causing the album to be banned in several countries.

All for You was well received by music critics, who commended its upbeat nature and the sonic innovation of several songs. It was also considered one of her sexiest albums and among the best of her career. The album received three Grammy Award nominations, including Best Pop Vocal Album, winning Best Dance Recording for its title track. It became Jackson’s fifth consecutive album to debut at number one in the United States and had the biggest opening week sales of her career. Upon its release, it also had the second highest first week sales from a female artist in SoundScan history. It reached the top five of most countries internationally and was the biggest selling international album of the year in Japan.

Three singles were released following “Doesn’t Really Matter”, a single from the soundtrack of the comedy film The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, which starred Jackson. Lead single “All for You” became one of Jackson’s most successful singles and broke multiple airplay records. It was the biggest hit of the year, peaking atop the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. “Someone to Call My Lover” also achieved success, reaching number three and within the top ten and twenty in many countries internationally, while “Son of a Gun” attained moderate success. “Come On Get Up” was released as a promotional single in Japan. The album campaign was ended prematurely following financial losses from other artists on the Virgin label, despite its success. All for You was the year’s twelfth biggest selling album worldwide. In support of the release, Jackson embarked on the All for You Tour, which ranked her as the year’s third most successful touring act.

In promotion for the album, Jackson was declared MTV’s inaugural icon, receiving a televised tribute titled MTV Icon: Janet Jackson. The special honored Jackson’s legacy within music and popular culture, in recognition of “one of the most influential and beloved tastemakers in contemporary pop.” Jackson was presented numerous career accolades, including the American Music Award’s Award of Merit, TMF Award’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and Recording Academy’s Governor’s Award.