John Singleton’s Pursuit of Janet Jackson for Poetic Justice Led To A Number 1 Song For Janet AGAIN!

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:00]Janet Jackson went to junior high with filmmaker John Singleton, but she hadn't seen him again until they ran into each other in 1991. Janet told Jon how deeply his debut film, Boys in the Hood, had impacted her. And before parting ways, they exchanged phone numbers. About a year later, Jon approached Janet with a very important question. He asked her if she would be the lead character in his next movie, Poetic Justice. Janet had dreamed of starring in film, and this one fell right into her lap. And it was a dramatic role, which was the kind of part she wanted to start her movie career with. Janet, of course, said yes.

[00:00:33]And good thing for Jon because he had already written the character of Justice with Janet in mind. After Janet wrapped the film, she went back to work on her music. And as she was getting her track list finalized for her fifth studio album, the producers of Poetic Justice asked Janet to create a ballad that would complement the movie. Janet's creative partners, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, remembered a melody that they had messed around with earlier and thought it would be a good fit for the film.

[00:00:58]Janet had found the melody compelling, but the trio didn't seriously consider it for the new album until now. The song again came to fruition after Janet wrote lyrics to that music with both the film and melody in mind. I come from a place that hurts and God knows how I cry.

[00:01:17]>> Poetic Justice debuted at number one in its opening weekend and nearly doubled its gross earnings and again served as the closing track of the film. It was also nominated for best original song at the Golden Globes and Academy Awards.

[00:01:29]And when it was released as the third single from her album, Janet again became her seventh number one hit.

[00:01:38]And I'll never fall in love