Jermaine Dupri

R&B producer Jermaine Dupri, the boyfriend of Janet Jackson, has confirmed to The Associated Press that he resigned from his top executive position at Virgin Records, squashing rumors that he was forced out.

"Since there are so many rumors running rampant about my position at Virgin Records, I feel that it is necessary to set the record straight," Dupri tells AP. "I was not forced out of the company, I made a decision that it was in my best interest to leave."

Dupri became head of urban music at Virgin, a unit of EMI Group PLC, just last year. His sudden departure comes after the disappointing sales of Jackson's new album "20 Y.O." Dupri was an executive producer of the album and helped determine its creative vision, along with Jackson and her longtime producers, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

Dupri declined further comment on his departure.