Usher’s "That’s What It’s Made For" Was Originally Intended for Janet Jackson

#NOLAZINE - Usher’s Confessions is widely regarded as one of the greatest R&B albums ever recorded. Released in 2004, the project delivered unforgettable hits such as “Yeah!,” “Burn,” “Confessions Part II” and “My Boo.” However, one of the album’s most memorable deep cuts nearly belonged to another R&B icon.

According to Grammy Award-winning musician and producer Bobby Ross Avila, “That’s What It’s Made For” was originally intended for Janet Jackson.

The revelation adds an interesting chapter to the history of the provocative record. Avila helped write and produce the song alongside his brother IZ Avila and Janet’s longtime collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. While developing music during that period, the creative team was working with both Usher and Janet Jackson, whose albums Confessionsand Damita Jo were released in 2004.

“That’s What It’s Made For” ultimately landed in Usher’s hands and became the 13th track on Confessions. The song explored temptation, intimacy and the possible consequences of an unprotected encounter, making it a natural fit within an album built around secrets, relationships and personal mistakes.

Usher’s confident delivery and storytelling made the record feel as though it had been created specifically for him. His vocals transformed it into one of the album’s most recognizable non-singles and a longtime favorite among dedicated R&B listeners. Its production also carried the polished, sensual sound associated with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis—the legendary duo responsible for helping Janet Jackson create some of the most important music of her career.

Knowing the song was initially intended for Janet makes it fascinating to imagine what her version might have sounded like. Her soft vocals, controlled delivery and ability to balance sensuality with vulnerability could have taken the record in an entirely different direction. The production certainly contains elements that would have complemented her signature style.

Music history is filled with songs that were written for one artist before becoming classics for someone else. In this case, the decision helped strengthen one of the biggest albums of Usher’s career. Confessions became a defining release of the 2000s, and “That’s What It’s Made For” contributed to the album’s mature storytelling and late-night R&B atmosphere.

Although Janet Jackson never released her own version, the song’s connection to her gives fans another reason to revisit it. It also demonstrates how closely connected the creative worlds surrounding Confessions and Damita Jo were at the time.

More than two decades later, “That’s What It’s Made For” remains proof that the right voice can completely change a song’s destiny. The record may have started with Janet Jackson in mind, but Usher made it his own and turned it into a fan-favorite piece of R&B history.

The story was discussed by Bobby Ross Avila and is also reflected in Billboard’s oral history of Usher’s Confessions.