Mariah Carey left longtime producer Jermaine Dupri to link up with music industry veteran Kevin Liles after a rocky album launch and disastrous record sales, sources told Page Six.
Carey and Dupri announced they were parting ways this week after several albums and nearly 20 years together. The songstress is now working with Liles, the former president of Carey’s label Def Jam who is a partner with Lyor Cohen and Todd Moscowitz at their independent record label 300 Entertainment.
A rep for the singer told us Liles is “consulting with Carey,” but we’re told the 300 camp has spent six months going after the famous diva. Liles and Carey also launched a beverage line together last year, Butterfly.
Carey and multiplatinum producer Dupri have been working together since 1995, churning out hits including “We Belong Together” and most recently producing her latest album, “Me. I Am Mariah . . . The Elusive Chanteuse.” But that album, which was released in May after months of delays, flopped miserably, selling just over 100,000 copies to date.
“When you’re working with one person for so long, and you’re not selling any records, it’s time to make a change,” one music insider told us of the split.
Dupri also arranged Carey’s ill-advised performance for Angolan despot José Eduardo dos Santos and his family for a $1 million paycheck. Carey took a beating from human rights groups for performing for the dictator, who is accused of a multitude of human rights violations and corruption.
Dupri, who has worked with Carey as a producer for years, but signed on as her manager last summer, told Billboard magazine this week, “I’m a very hands-on person when it comes to my work. 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.” He added, “Mariah and I enjoy working together and will continue to make great music together in the future.” Calls and e-mails to Liles were not returned.