Though fiercely private, Janet Jackson went all sorts of public with her relationship with hitmaker Jermaine Dupri.
The couple famously dated for almost six years before calling it quits in 2009 – the same year Jackson’s brother Michael passed away.
In the time since, both have remained coy about the split and – more broadly – about each other.
Still, with their names very much intertwined, it was little surprise that Dupri was quizzed about his iconic ex – who has since married Qatari billionaire Wissam Al Mana – while doing the promo rounds at the 2015 BET Awards. Especially given that she was the night’s MVP after receiving the the Ultimate Icon honor.
What did he have to say about Ms. Jackson while speaking with Hot 97‘s Nessa? Find out below, where Dupri also dishes on his blunt approach to working with Mariah Carey.
On Janet:
“I’m a Janet Jackson fan. I think she’s the right person — I think she’s the only person (BET) should be honoring with this award. I’m happy to see that. She’s got a new record. I’m happy to see Jimmy (Jam) & Terry (Lewis) back in the studio. Those are idols of mine and I’m happy to see them doing what I watched and wanted for me and my artists. So to see them make (another) record with her — and I hope it’s the whole album — that’s a teaching to this new generation about how you’re supposed to make records.”
On Earlier Comment That Mariah Carey Isn’t Taking The Music Industry Seriously:
“One thing people need to pay attention is the fact that I am a producer.
One day I had a session with Aretha Franklin and I wasn’t saying anything because it’s “Aretha Franklin.” Then, she got on the mic and said “what are you doing here if you’re not going to tell me what to do?”
From that day forth, I knew what my job was. My job is to say to these artists that I work with when I see a problem or when I feel there is a problem. I am the person that is supposed to speak up and say it.
The crazy thing is that the fans — although they backfired on me about Mariah — they know that I’m the person that’s going to say it to the artist. That’s what I do. If the artist is taking a left turn, I’m the person in the room who’s going to say “the fans are saying we need to do this, let’s do this.” Me and the artists we argue and we go back and forth. But this was not an argument between me and Mariah. And it was no shade to Mariah. Somebody asked me a question about why the press are always saying something bad about her. And I just said, sometimes I think she doesn’t pay attention to “that” enough. I wasn’t saying that she doesn’t take her career serious enough. I won’t say that. I think she doesn’t pay attention to the fact people are always saying something about her, so you have to go above and beyond to make sure it doesn’t happen.”
Put simply, JD is essentially keeping it cute in regard to Janet and, from where we’re standing, spouting a lot of truth as pertains to Mariah.
An educated reading of his comments clearly highlights that Mimi was likely tuning out all the talk about her worrying performances, which in turn won’t help her better them.
Say what folk do about JD, it’s warming to know that not everyone in camp Mimi is a “yes, you slayed that honey” (even though she didn’t) type.
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How much did Elijah Blake sell first week?
Tyga sold 2K in the first week. Such a sad time in music LMAO!
His album debut at #50 just missing the top 40 lol
http://www.billboard.com/album/6613674/shadows-diamonds
Mariah Carey is an ICON, she has paved the way for songwriters and singers for years. She has sold 200 million records. Have some respect. Like you Nasty fat gays have never sang WE BELONG TOGETHER when your trick dumped your basic Azzzz.
Rihanna – is Not a Singer, Not a songwriter, people give her songs and she sings them. That’s it. Her voice has no range. Tick Tock…… her time is almost done.
Janet jackson – Is an ICON, A legend, she has been in this game for 40 years. She is worthy of respect. The real Queen.
Mariah is NOT a cow. Its amazing how the GAYS and Angry Black women on this site are so nasty and so rude. Angry and hatred just Run through your veins. Most of you should have been Aborted to rid the net of your nasty comments.
Janet’s new song out peaked EVERY single released by MC & Madonna in the past year on the Hot 100. She needs start promoting! Janet needs a dance hit ASAP! Oh, and Jermaine is BLAH! Good-day.
So it out peaked ONE single by Mariah then? What an annoying comment. You purposely make it sound like Mariah has been releasing singles left and right. Call back when she has a genuine hit this decade.
Shut Up! And, let me Jackson SHINE!
@Stephon
Look. Janet´s career is amazing and yes we should let her shine.
BUT you mentioned Mariah and Madonna for no damn reason to make Janet shine??? And what a bad argument you used btw. This peak position is BAD (it won´t go higher) and compared to Madonna´s and Mariah´s chart performances these last 5 years, it is mediocre. After so many years the anticipation for Janet should be really big. It just isn´t being.
No need to give me your old men lecture. I was just being messy Stephy. I understand everything you’re saying. Calm down, grandpa
You make no sense, they all promoted and released videos, Janet has not!
That’s sweet of JD!!! I think deep down he knows he and Janet working together wasn’t the best move for both of them. I wish him the best.
That was really nice what he said about Janet.
He’s saying off the wall stuff for press. I heard he’s broke. He was a horrible producer for Janet and a bad manager for MC, but then again, she’s a fat lazy bad singer, so it’s her fault for the 20 years of smoke and mirrors. The Queen is bad and the P** and attention hooker fans will deal.
JABBER IS NOT BACK. A 67 PEAK ON BILLBOARD AFTER RECEIVING THE ICON AWARD? LOL. YOU ALL HAVE SUCH LOW STANDARDS.
Look you goat worshipping b1tch. When your 3rd world islander fave stops smoking ten packs a day then you can come and talk sh1t about the Queen because unlike your yodeling mountain goat, she actually had an unmatched voice once as credibility. All your space goat fave has is a 12 inch forehead and a bag of coke to hers.
Kiii read the foreheaded who’re @OMG LOGIC.
@mark
What the f***??? And what about the fact Mariah can outsing Janet even now in 2015?
Why are you so pressed about Mariah??? What an inferiority complex OMG. Nobody mentions her or Madonna in these posts excepts Janet fans. If this single is a success (LOL) why do you need to talk about the others? Oh wait, it is not a success.
CHILE… I HATE MOO! LIKE I SERIOUSLY HATE HER, BUT WHY TF WOULD SHE PAY ATTENTION TO THEM OR THE MEDIA? WHO THE F*** CARES ABOUT WHAT THESE PPL GOTTA SAY. TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR MISTAKES! THAT’S WHY I LOVE THE QUEEN MADONNA. ADMIT, ACCEPT, AND LIVE YOUR LIFE. EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING ELSE MATTERS TF NOT!!!!!!
You’re starting to become a regular commentator hey? I have a feeling you are the elusive lamb in one of her many alter egos #HannaMontanaTease
KIII! I’M NOT THE ELUSIVE. I STILL USE THE SAME EMAIL ADDRESS I DID IN 2013. GO TO THE 2013 ARCHIVES AND THE GRAVATARS WILL MATCH. SEE WHO I REALLY AM. I CARE NOT. I CHANGED MY NAME. GET OVER IT. DID YOU CREATE AN ACCOUNT JUST TO SAY THIS TO ME?
Sam I see with everything concerning MC you must find the negative yet you praise the likes of Rita Ora, Kelly Rowland, and Jlo who have all done much less chart wise than MC but I see you, you are just as bias as they come. Twentyfive years later when it comes to the soundscan game among females MC is still running things yes she maybe past her prime years but she still manages to keep you and others talking while she is living her and still counting her own coins. Also big up to Janet on 40th chart entry on the billboard hot 100.
Mariahs vocals are pathetic and someone needs to remind her
What’s a Monica though?
And, Monica’s career (whether she serves vocal or not) will ALWAYS be DEAD. Someone needs to remind her to stop releasing music. Because, no one’s gonna care.
Uh no f*****, Mariah’s vocals are dead. Monica is timeless and will sing her into a coma. Thank you.
LMAO!!! I didn’t say MoniWHO’s vocals were DEAD… I simply said her CAREER has been dead since Bill Clinton left office! READ sis. And, Mariah’s “dead” vocals still earning her 500K per show in Vegas tho. Meanwhile, MoniWHO is applying for jobs at her local hospital. She still trying to become a nurse boo???
Stephon, that’s not a Monica fan, he or she is clearly trolling, and trying to get her dragged. I’m sure that’s the same Brandy & Aaliyah troll as well, such a f****** loser.
You really need to STOP TROLLING under Monica’s name, seriously though, you’re f****** annoying.
Oh I’m trolling because MUTEriah sucks? FYI I am not brandy or Aaliyah Stan but if that’s what you want to believe, fine. Your mother is annoying for birthing you f*****.
Grow the f^ck up, and go find something constructive to do with your time.
Take your own advice because you’re doing the same thing as I am. Commenting on a blog. Good day.
I’ve seen you in every post spewing nothing but negativity, you’re a troll, plain and simple. I’m done wasting my time with you.
How can you call someone who writes, produces their ENTIRE catalog “smoke N Mirrors”… But, you stan for Aaliyah & Rihanna???? Your logic is beyond dumb. But, then again… You said The Beatles were the “One Direction” of the 1960s. LMAO!!!
Anyone who thinks Markeisha knows anything about music must be torched along with Markeisha.
RIGHT?!?! I thought Marky Mark was smarter than that. Damn, I guess I was wrong. He straight retarded with his music knowledge. Smh… I had such high respects for Mark. That’s no longer there anymore…
FACT:Janet and Mariah are the only 40+ year old females to chart on the Hot 100 with a solo song this year
FACT:Janet and Mariah are the first and second women respectively to be nominated for the Producer Of The Year Grammy,a category only 6 women have ever been nominated in.
FACT:Janet and Mariah were named by Billboard the two biggest artists of the 90s
oh,when did Rihanna fans start talking about smokes and mirrors?If Mariah’s career is smokes and mirrors for having written 17 of her 18 chart toppers,produced 14 of them,have the bestselling live album of the soundscan era etc etc etc,what can we say about Rihanna who can’t sing,write,produce,act,dance or whatever it takes to have a career in music?The nerve of these Grape Juice trolls
I love Robyn Fenty! She’s a great Pop star. And, plays her POPPY “bad girl” image role very well… But, you ain’t speaking nothing but the truth.
^ Amen! I don’t understand how some of these people harp on women in this age bracket for not charting, when it’s damn near impossible to beat the odds. Those expecting these miracles are probably the same people looking for diamond albums in this decade. It’s a joke! If these haters think a song sucks, say that! Just don’t knock these 40+ YO artists for not landing top 10 hits! None of these women are conquering the charts the way that they did in their peaks!
For all those shading Janet, take a minute to realize that Janet’s charting in her FOURTH decade. Her mile-long list of accomplishments are from mainly 5 eras!! Yes, Jan’s the #2 artist of the 90’s with ONLY 2.5 studio albums, a remix album and a G.H. album. So in other words, when she releases music, it counts! People always try to knock her for under-performing after SB, but while she was blacklisted she still managed to miraculously stay pretty close to what her peers were doing (with 20YO & Discipline, despite having bigger obstacles)! She right under, or matching her peers overall top ten accumulated singles totals & #1 albums (with the few she’s released). Janet’s legend! An opinion on her music is one thing, but that is fact!
I will NEVER understand how some Rihanna fans can be so VOCAL about judging Pop stars with genuine musical talent. Whether it be singing, dancing, performing, writing (not that flimsy adding my name to the credits bs), producing, playing instruments, the truth is she is incredibly MEDIOCRE and passable as a talent and this is coming from someone who actually likes her. Sure, baby girl has a cute tone, is gorgeous and slays the fashion game but what else is she bringing to the table because it’s not like she’s this really skilled vocalist. They need to hush up.
“If Mariah’s career is
smokes and mirrors for having written 17 of
her 18 chart toppers,produced 14 of
them,have the bestselling live album of the
soundscan era etc etc etc,what can we say
about Rihanna who can’t
sing,write,produce,act,dance or whatever it
takes to have a career in music?”
DEATH!!!
Jermaine was a good producer back in the day, he’s made countless hits with many artist, but not everyone is going to mesh well. With that said, i’m just happy Mariah & Janet are still doing what they love, chart success or not, i’m here for it every time, they’re legends.
Some people can’t praise their faves without throwing shades to others. I can’t at @Mark coming for Mariah while praising Janet, truth is that she cannot be compared to Mariah in terms of success, let alone to Madonna. I will never understand why people insists to compare the two, they aren’t on the same level, never were and never will be. Janet is to Madonna what Prince was to Michael Jackson.
It´s hilarious. He really believes (and Sam) that Janet just had a mega successful comeback (when she barely cracked the hot 100, something Mariah and Madonna have been doing repeatedly for the last few years without having the anticipation factor on their side).
So far she’s off to a great start. And for her to chart that high when she had yet to market the song anywhere with no video to really launch the single is a Success. It’s not a mega comeback but she’s on the right track to having an amazing year I think. And while I do think it’s pathetic people wanna bring Madonna and Mariah into this (Mariah’s album last year was great btw) it’s nothing but facts that Madonna has been everywhere performing her three singles in which all but B**** I’m Madonna (No. 84) had failed to chart the hot 100.
Finally! You post a comment I agree with. But, I still love my Janet! Leave her alone H**!
Sam is pathetic. I mean, you stan for Eliyah Blake, who just flopped hard, and many other ultra flops… and have the nerve to come for Mariah on a constant basis????
Man stop the delusions. Even gorgeous Janet Jackson is not more successful than Mariah, not in the past, and not now. Stop the lies.
Mariah is irrelevant yet she’s paid $18m to judge a talent show
Mariah can’t sing yet she’s booked and paid millions to sing at private gigs and concerts
Mariah has no stage presence yet her stiff ass is paid more per show than any other Vegas act
Mariah is fat and ugly yet she has a multi-billionaire chasing after her
Glitter is/was a flop yet she made almost $50m from that flop era (that’s more than these current b****** will ever make from their successful eras)
Bottomline is Mariah can sell ZERO albums today but still make her millions tomorrow.
Jermaine trashed Janet beyond belief a few years ago. He’s stuck with a gigantic tattoo of her on his rib cage too. He’s obviously hard up for cash and trying to get back in her good graces.
What did he say?
Lmao @ DL101 getting dragged ????
Queen Janet
Well that’s funny, because the way I remember it the biggest issue with every fan was that Jermaine was not the right person to manage Mariah’s career. Jermaine was the main one not listening to the fans, not Mariah.
Nice