It’s been two decades since Jennifer Lopez officially crossed over to triple-threat status with her debut album, On the 6, and the singing, acting and dancing queen is revisiting her musical milestone by replaying that pivotal moment in her career.
On Saturday (June 1), On the 6 turned 20, and Lopez posted some vintage footage of an interview in which she talks about the significance of the record, her reaction to the news that it reached the top of the charts and how her music, more so than her work in film, is an extension of her identity.
“I wanted everybody to know how I felt about it, that this was not something that was a whim for me, that it wasn’t something that was a gimmick — that I felt like, ‘I’m just going to do it and see what happens,'” she says of her music in the clip. “No. This has always been a part of me since I was very young. That they got to know me first as an actress was a coincidence because I was always gonna do both.”
In a recent conversation with Billboard about On the 6, Lopez echoed how the album — and “Waiting For Tonight,” one of the album’s biggest hits in particular — is an extension of her independence, pride and sense of self.
“I grew up on freestyle music [a Latin music-indebted dance subgenre especially popular in the Bronx],” she said. “My whole thing was when Puffy, who also contributed to the album with ‘Feelin’ So Good,’ and was kind of a mentor to me during that time as well, he said, ‘You have that Latin soul, and you can never go away from that. Just be who you are.’ He always reminded me of that… That went into not just the music, like a song like ‘Waiting for Tonight,’ but went into the styling of who I was.”
Watch Lopez’ throwback below.
Hard to believe it’s been 20 years since I released On the 6!!! Couldn’t have gotten to where I am today without all of your love and support all these years!! I LOVE YOU ALL. ?? See you on tour!! Lots to celebrate! —#JLOItsMyParty #Onthe6 pic.twitter.com/N98Ud0kqso
— Jennifer Lopez (@JLo) June 1, 2019