Mariah vs. Janet, round two
You know how Mariah Carey, after a series of commercial and critical flubs, managed to bounce back and make an unprecedented comeback in 2005? And you know how Janet Jackson, after a series of commercial and critical flubs, managed to flounce on and make an unprecedented flop in 2006? Well, hip-hop producer Jermaine Dupri is the connecting thread to both developments. And now, Dupri is set to repeat things all over again with new albums from both artists, both tentatively scheduled for release later this year. Dupri told Billboard that longtime producer and record executive L.A. Reid will produce Jackson's new album while he does the deed with Carey. "I'm going to do Mariah, and we're going to make it seem like we're in competition to see who's going to have the biggest album of the year."
Uh-oh. Not only does that sound incredibly unromantic - all signs are that Dupri and Jackson are still very much a couple. At first blush, it also sounds incredibly unhelpful for Miss Jackson. Dupri, you see, hasn't helped our one-time favorite "Nasty" girl. In fact, ever since the two got together, he's only hurt her career, first with 2003's middling Damito Jo, then with last year's maddening 20 Y.O. And 20 Y.O., we stress to point out, was intended to be a comeback for Jackson on par (hell, even half-under par) with Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi. He royally failed that challenge, both critically and commercially, resulting in both his and Jackson's eventual departure from Virgin. They're now both at Island Urban, with Dupri the executive in charge.
But despite all that, chances are this really could be the boost needed for Jackson's once-storied, now-suffering career. Reid, after all, actually guided Carey's comeback as head of the Island Def Jam family of labels. And in that capacity, Reid oversees not only Jackson, but also Dupri. (Also: Def Jam's Jay-Z, and his "Umbrella" Rihanna, our new favorite "bad" girl.) Plus, Dupri added this to Billboard: "Janet's record is one that [Reid's] wanted to do for a long time. He's very passionate about it." No word on how Jackson's album is shaping up, or if this means the end of her longstanding relationship with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. But Dupri is effectively out of the picture professionally. And that's nothing but good news. (Metro Weekly)
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