Amaarae Sparks Debate After Declaring Janet Jackson The ‘Real King Of Pop’

Ghanaian-American singer and songwriter Ama Serwah Genfi, known professionally as ‘Amaarae’, has said that Janet Jackson deserves the title “King of Pop” more than her late brother, Michael Jackson.

Speaking to Pitchfork⁠ about Janet Jackson’s 1997 album, The Velvet Rope, Amaarae praised its honesty, sexuality, boldness and creativity.

She said she would have played the album repeatedly if she had been old enough to appreciate it when it was released fully.

Amaarae described Janet Jackson as the “real King of Pop” in her view. She, however, stressed that the remark was not intended as criticism of Michael Jackson.

She said:

“Every Janet Jackson album is fantastic. But ‘The Velvet Rope’ is the best. If I were conscious in 1997 when the album dropped, I would have played it nonstop. It’s so vulnerable, sexy, aggressive and experimental.

“Janet, to me, is the real king of pop. No shade to Michael Jackson.”