>
Jermaine Dupri — superproducer, rapper, and the boyfriend of — has confirmed to The Associated Press that he has quit as a top executive at Jackson’s label, Virgin Records, amid disappointing sales of Jackson’s new album.
“Since there are so many rumors running rampant about my position at Virgin Records, I feel that it is necessary to set the record straight,” Dupri said Wednesday in a statement released to the AP. “I was not forced out of the company, I made a decision that it was in my best interest to leave.”
Dupri became head of urban music at Virgin, a unit of EMI Group PLC, just last year. His abrupt departure comes after the underwhelming performance of Jackson’s latest release, “20 Y.O.” Dupri was an executive producer of the record and helped determine its creative vision, along with Jackson and her longtime producers, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Jackson’s album failed to debut at the top of the charts last month, then steadily fell. It has sold 443,000 copies since its release Sept. 26, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Jackson’s 2001 album, “All for You,” debuted at No. 1 with more than 605,000 copies sold in a single week.
Coming after the flat performance of 2004’s “Damita Jo” and Jackson’s infamous Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction, “20 Y.O.” was seen as an opportunity for Jackson to re-establish herself as the multiplatinum hitmaker she has been for most of her 20-year-plus career.
Now that’s love. How many men will quit their jobs for their women? For love? In this day where the dollar seems to rule everything, it’s refreshing to see that the heart can prevail.
The Lo Zone 
>I would quit my job for you Lo. Just FYI, I don't like to be woken up before 11am.
LikeLike
>That was too cute matt!Lo! aint it good to know some men still stand by there women with no limit. thats a solider and the kind of love that is to the soul!I love janet and mary J blidge and i have suporrted each album. how ever they have a lot of YOUNG competition – our generation is not a target audience anymore! we's 2 old i guess???
LikeLike
>See what PLEASURE PRINCIPAL PUSSY does to young men!!!!!
LikeLike
>Hmmm…Good pussy? Good weed? Good publicist? Good Question.
LikeLike
>Okay, is that glass half full or half empty.JD didn't need the job so it wasn't like he left there to go to unemployment. Shawty got plenty of cheddah.So, you produce and package an album that by all accounts is only okay and the public doesn't embrace it so you quit your job to show a united front with your honey against the record company who you blame for the lackluster sales. I love JJ and probably have been to the last three of her tours and will go to this one, but let's face it when it comes to singing her name will never appear on anyone's top ten list. Now as far as performers I will list her with the best which include (in my opinion) Tina Turner, Bette Midler, Diana Ross (in her day) and a few others. These performers give you a full SHOW. So in JJ's case you don'ty 'mind that she may not be singing all of the words because the visuals are so nice.Now, I give JD credit but not for quiting his job that didn't cost him a thing. I give him a credit for respecting and loving the girl right and apparently making her happy.
LikeLike
>This was going to be Janet's last album at Virgin anyway…No big deal.
LikeLike
>I agree with Juan. JD is a millionaire (or pretty damn close), him leaving that job was not that big of a deal. Keeping Janet happy, now I give him big ups on that!
LikeLike
>considering the success he had with mariah and usher, and the flop he did with janet…maybe it's not him but just janet herself???…….and dupri probably wrote a check HIS ego can't cash. he could be starting another label and draggin' some supa-dupa stars with him. who knows?…or maybe he's getting tired of the game and maybe wants to settle down (been doing it from the 80's, 'member kris-kross, "jump! jump!"). and that would be a good idea janet "hint, hint". settle down. he has the money, no doubt and credentials to get outta the game, rethink and jump back in later.hey, money ain't a thang…
LikeLike