"Dangerous" is the eighth studio album by American singer Michael Jackson, released on November 26, 1991, by Epic Records. This album came more than four years after his previous album, Bad (1987). Co-produced by Jackson, Bill Bottrell, Teddy Riley, and Bruce Swedien, Dangerous was the first album Jackson released without his longtime collaborator, Quincy Jones, who had worked on all of his previous albums since Off the Wall (1979). The album also features guest appearances from artists such as Heavy D, Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, Slash, and Wreckx-n-Effect.
The album blends R&B, pop, and new jack swing, a genre that was popular at the time, with elements of industrial, funk, hip hop, electronic, gospel, classical, and rock. Jackson wrote or co-wrote 12 of the album's 14 songs, exploring a wide range of topics such as racism, poverty, romance, self-improvement, multiculturalism, and the welfare of children and the world.
Dangerous marked a significant artistic shift for Jackson, with the album delving into more socially conscious themes while also showcasing a broader range of sounds and styles. Critics noted that the album featured catchy pop hooks and choruses alongside underground sounds, introducing these unconventional elements to a mainstream audience. The tone of the album was described as gritty and urban, with elements like synthetic basslines, scratching, and drum machine percussion. Unusual sounds such as honking vehicle horns, sliding chains, swinging gates, breaking glass, and clanking metal were incorporated into the production. Jackson also included beatboxing, scat singing, and finger snapping throughout the album.
Upon its release, Dangerous debuted at number one on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and in 13 other countries. It sold 5 million copies worldwide in its first week and went on to become the best-selling album of 1992. While initially polarizing critics, the album has since been hailed as Jackson's final "classic" album. A total of nine singles were released between November 1991 and December 1993, including "Give In to Me," which was exclusive to markets outside North America. Four singles from the album reached the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100, including "Remember the Time," "In the Closet," "Will You Be There," and the number-one hit "Black or White." The album's accompanying Dangerous World Tour grossed $100 million (equivalent to $211 million in 2023), making it one of the highest-grossing tours of the time.
By 1994, Dangerous had sold 25 million copies worldwide and today has sold over 32 million copies. It was certified 8× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2018. The album garnered several accolades, including four Grammy nominations at the 1993 Grammy Awards, winning Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. Jackson also won two American Music Awards for the album, including Favorite Pop/Rock Album, and received special Billboard Music Awards for Best Worldwide Album and Best Worldwide Single for "Black or White." The album has been featured on several publications' lists of the greatest albums of all time.
