MARIAH CAREY SPLITS WITH LONGTIME MANAGER JERMAINE DUPRI

Mariah Carey has shook up her camp. The “elusive chanteuse” has parted ways with her manager Jermaine Dupri  Mariah Carey is on to the next one. 

The So So Def mogul confirmed the split in a statement to Billboard.

“I’m a very hands-on person when it comes to my work,” said J.D. “I put my all into every project. But when I’m not allowed to do what I do, then I know it’s time for me to move on. Mariah and I enjoy working together and will continue to make great music together in the future.”

Dupri has produced some of Carey’s biggest hits including “We Belong Together” and “Always Be My Baby,” and served as the executive producer of her latest album, Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse.

The announcement comes in the wake of the disappointing sales of Chanteuse. Despite its critical acclaim, the album has sold only 103,000 copies since its May 27 release, and has fallen off the Billboard 200 after just eight weeks.

In an interview, J.D. defended the sales. “I actually feel like it’s probably one of her best albums she’s ever made,” he said. “I’m excited to see where the album ends up. I tell a lot of people, this era of music and this genre, they don’t understand records that come out small and sell a lot of records.”

According to Billboard, Carey has been working closely with Kevin Liles, who manages Trey Songz and Ty Dolla $ign. While nothing official has been inked, the two recently collaborated on the launch of Go N’Syde’s Carey-branded Butterfly beverage.