History Music / RhythmNation1814

* TheMinneapolisSound: ''Rhythm Nation'' is still deep in the Music/{{Prince]}-esque sound, but with a more industrial edge, and more prominent new jack swing influence. "Black Cat", co-produced by Jackson and former Time member Jellybean Johnson, has the most Minneapolis influence. After ''Rhythm Nation'', Janet, Jam, and Lewis would de-emphasize the influence of the Minneapolis sound in favour of contemporary R&B.

* SpiritualSuccessor: [[Music/MichaelJackson Michael]]'s ''Music/{{Dangerous}}'' album is probably the closest answer to ''Rhythm Nation'', and had he gotten his way, he would've also had Flyte Tyme on production duties (They respectfully declined, citing loyalty to Janet). Instead, fellow NewJackSwing creator [[Music/{{Guy}} Teddy Riley]] provided the majority of the production, and the album features much of the same themes of ''Rhythm Nation'', but was not a central theme of the album itself, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and also featured]] Music/HeavyD [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking on one of the album's tracks]]. Flyte Tyme would eventually produce several tracks on Michael's ninth studio album ''[[Music/HistoryPastPresentAndFutureBookI HIStory]]'' and its remix compainion ''Blood on the Dance Floor''.[[note]]This was probably because Janet herself contributed to that album.[[/note]]

For this album, she continued to produce a lot of her songs with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. But in addition to her NewJackSwing, she added in some more industrial (specifically the title song itself, "Rhythm Nation"), and even a more explicit dab of the Minneapolis sound. One of the songs, "Black Cat", was produced by [[Music/TheTime Jellybean Johnson]]. The final CD would have a total of 20 tracks; the vinyl version removed most of the interludes except for the intro and the finale, reducing it to 14 tracks.

For this album, she continued to produce a lot of her songs with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. But in addition to her NewJackSwing, she added in some more industrial (specifically the title song itself, "Rhythm Nation"), and even a more explicit dab of the Minneapolis sound. One of the songs, "Black Cat", was produced by [[Music/PrincesAssociates Jellybean Johnson]]. The final CD would have a total of 20 tracks; the vinyl version removed most of the interludes except for the intro and the finale, reducing it to 14 tracks.

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But commercially, ''Rhythm Nation 1814'' sold even more records than ''Control'' did; 12 million worldwide, going six-times Platinum in the US. It would be on the Billboard 200 chart for nearly two years, and was the number-one album of 1990 in the United States.

-->--'''"State of the World"'''

''Rhythm Nation 1814'' was listed #275 on ''Magazine/RollingStone'''s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2003, #277 [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime on the 2012 list]], and #339 [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime2020 on the 2020 list]]. It was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress' UsefulNotes/NationalRecordingRegistry in 2020.

''Rhythm Nation 1814'' was listed #275 on ''Magazine/RollingStone'''s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2003, #277 [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime on the 2012 list]], and #339 [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime2020 on the 2020 list]].

Seven singles were released worldwide from the album: "Miss You Much", "Rhythm Nation", "Escapade", "Alright", "Come Back to Me", "Black Cat", and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)". None of them would peak lower than #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and four hit #1. An eighth single, "State of the World", was made a promotional single last minute, and was thus ineligible chart in the US or the UK because of chart rules at the time.

''Strength in numbers we can get it right''\\
''We are a part of the Rhythm Nation'']]

[[caption-width-right:300:"''We are a part of the Rhythm Nation''"]]

But commercially, ''Rhythm Nation 1814'' sold even more records than ''Control'' did; 12 million worldwide, going six-times Platinum in the US. It would be on the Billboard Top 200 chart for nearly two years, and was the number-one album of 1990 in the United States.

%%Currently working on this. Definitely NeedsWikiMagicLove

''Rhythm Nation 1814'' became the first (and currently only) album to produce #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 in three consecutive calendar years ("Miss You Much" in 1989, "Escapade" and "Black Cat" in 1990, and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" in 1991). Its seven top-10 singles tied a record with her brother (''Music/{{Thriller}}'') and Music/BruceSpringsteen (''Born in the U.S.A.''); they would subsequently be joined by Music/{{Drake}} (''Scorpion'').

* SpiritualSuccessor: [[Music/MichaelJackson Michael]]'s ''Music/{{Dangerous}}'' album is probably the closest answer to ''Rhythm Nation'', and had he gotten his way, he would've also had Flyte Tyme on production duties (They respectfully declined, citing loyalty to Janet). Instead, fellow NewJackSwing creator [[Music/{{Guy}} Teddy Riley]] provided the majority of the production, and the album features much of the same themes of ''Rhythm Nation'', but was not a central theme of the album itself, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and also featured]] Music/HeavyD [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking on one of the album's tracks]]. Flyte Tyme would eventually produce several tracks on Michael's ninth studio album ''[[Music/HistoryPastPresentAndFutureBookI HIStory]]'' and its remix compainion ''Blood on the Dance Floor''.

Indeed, this album was contemporaneous with the rise of GangstaRap, which was generally recognized to tackle Black issues from a more authentic position; a similar attitude would sow the seeds for the downfall of New Jack as a whole. Janet would recognize the naïvete of her approach in hindsight. Looking back 25 years later, Janet would quip in the song "Shoulda Known Better" from the 2015 album ''Unbreakable'':