You make one little comment about the dude that shamed your girlfriend in front of millions, and it’s all anyone wants to talk about. At least that’s what Jermaine Dupri is experiencing above, and unleashes a curiously video-taped (and expletive laden) tirade [NSFW]. A few weeks ago, The New York Post reported that the Little Producer That Could dissed Justin Timberlake in his biography, stating JT could be “any skinny white kid from the suburbs of Orlando,” and questioning Timberlake’s star power. Now Dupri’s being called upon to answer for the remarks, and he’s none too pleased. In the clip, Dupri rails against whoever’s on the other end of the line (we’re guessing it’s directory assistance or the automated weather service), stating the whole incident is “the dumbest f*ck” and “I don’t need no f*cking press off Justin Timberlake.” Do you think Dupri is overreacting?

Jermaine Dupri is releasing an autobiography (why?) about his life, natch, entitled “Young, Rich and Dangerous.” Inside the pages he takes a little dig at America’s favorite pelvic-gyrating pop star Justin Timberlake, writing “I think Justin Timberlake is a talented performer. But he’s very ordinary-looking. He could be any skinny white kid from the suburbs of Orlando. You could go to the mall and find another Justin. He doesn’t make his style interesting even when he’s onstage. To me, he just doesn’t look like a star.”

Woah there! Does JD really want to start beef with the TimberKing over - of all things -  his looks? Last time we check he wasn’t ranking that high on the sexy scale either (and isn’t he like, a lot shorter than Janet?) Sure Dupri was worth $60 million in 2006, but JT’s catching up - according to Forbes his tour alone brought in $41 million for April to August. Maybe Jermaine should put down his pen and head out to some mall in Orlando and find himself the next Justin .   [NYP. Images: Getty]

Janet Jackson’s career is about to get a face lift unlike any it has seen since she got her…face lift. The big news is that Janet’s next album, which she says should be out early next year, may not end up including any contributions from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the production gods that single-handedly turned her into a megastar by outfitting her with the robotic Minneapolis funk that defined her initial musical success. Starting with 1986’s Control, Jam and Lewis have been Janet’s key collaborators, contributing more to each album since than any other outside producer she enlisted. Together the three of them are R&B Voltron. Today, the robot sleeps.

Janet revealed the news during a press conference for her new film Why Did I Get Married?, when she revealed that Ne-Yo, Rodney Jerkins and (everyone groan all together) Jermaine Durpri are on her list of collaborators, but Jam and Lewis are not…at least for now.

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Usher’s next album, the follow-up to his gazillion-selling 2004 disc Confessions, was set to drop later this year (you know, when every other artist in the history of recorded sound is set to release their new album in an attempt to cash in on the holiday-buying frenzy). However, word is that it’s been delayed till 2008. The official unofficial story is that Usher’s pregnant wife, Tameka Foster, has him whipped — she’s demanding that he cater to her and their coming child (due later this year) before he devotes himself to the necessary promotion of his album.

That a tidy tale that serves to further vilify Tameka (she’s already hated by fans), but what if the problem lies not in Tameka’s demands, but in Usher’s producer Jermaine Dupri?

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Album Wars: Janet vs. Mariah
Uber-producer Jermaine Dupri is pitting Mariah Carey’s upcoming album against his girl Janet’s brand new joint, in hopes that the pseudo-competition will boost buzz and sales for both divas. JD’s producing Mimi’s new record too - isn’t Ms. Jackson a little jealous? [Mollygood]

Nicole & Joel: Fighting in Public
The dad-to-be reportedly unleashed his temper on his tiny lady friend, dropping a few F-bombs while the starlet stayed silent. Let’s hope they make peace before the baby arrives. [Star Magazine]

Super-sick Christina Cancels Gig
The little lady with the big voice had to cancel some stops on her latest tour to rest in bed with a bad case of the flu. [People]
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Jermaine Dupri has revealed that his girlfriend Janet Jackson is following in his footsteps by moving from Virgin Records (where Jermaine was the president of the urban-music department and where Janet has been releasing records since 1993’s janet.) to Island Def Jam. Unlike with Janet’s flop 2006 album 20 Y.O., Jermaine, now the president of Island Records Urban Music, says he’s keeping his hands off her next album:

“She’s on Island, but it’s more or less [Def Jam CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid's] project. I let him deal with that on a day-to-day basis…I don’t really know what he’s got in mind at this point. His past record isn’t shabby so I’m going to let him do what he’s going to do. I’m going to do [the new] Mariah [Carey album], 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.“

While the release of Janet’s next disc is as yet unknown, Mariah’s follow-up to The Emancipation of Mimi has been tapped for a Nov. 20 release. The two titan divas going head-to-head is an exciting prospect, however, I get the feeling that this could all be settled with a few rounds of mud wrestling or foxy boxing. They both have the boobs for it.

But really, Jermaine is widely blamed for the failure of 20 Y.O. His lack of involvement could be the best thing for Janet’s career since getting those ribs removed liposuction she became, like, really hot via a sensible diet and strenuous exercise. [Billboard.com / Image credit: Getty]

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