Not this page number, dd.
I think The Velvet Rope is the perfect amalgamation of how Janet was progressively developing and producing album statements in the 90s. It took the long-form structure that started with Rhythm Nation alongside the social/personal identity politics and introspection from janet.; all these next bolstered by the burgeoning presence of the Internet and how relationships, sex, and interpersonal connectivity were being impacted by NSA-access. It even works too as a foil to janet., both in its shift from self-discovery, coming of age, sexual growth - to how those elements have their own ying and yang of not-so-positive downsides - trauma, abuse, shame, isolation... That's reflected in their respective artwork as well - with janet. finding her doe-eyed and fully embracing her newfound self-exploration, next to The Velvet Rope's imagery of a face essentially shrouded from acknowledgement, cowering and dismissive of the camera's gaze.
When I think of it in comparison to Unbreakable, the latter is almost the fusion of all the themes present in her 90s' works. Someone that's taken their naive absorption of the world's supposed idealism and regurgitated the lessons that life has given and forced upon them. Even in 2015, there was such a somber, winking-ly aware, yet withdrawn and "at peace" energy that permeated its soundscape. I used to think the trilogy for me was 1989 - 1993 - 1997, but most days now - I find it to be janet., The Velvet Rope, Unbreakable. Thematically there is a flow and obvious pathway of self-reflection and settling within herself, and The Velvet Rope is the centerpiece in anchoring both of the albums that stand at its side.