Jermaine Dupri - Dupri Launches Social Network

The Grammy-winning producer has created Global14.com, an online forum which allows fans to interact and also features music news, a blog and fashion advice.

Dupri reveals he became fascinated with the web back in 2006 when he launched an online contest to help promote his ex-girlfriend Janet Jackson's album 20 Y.O., and the experience inspired him to launch his own internet project.

He tells Allhiphop.com, "I created a contest for Janet's album where I went to the internet and asked fans to create an album cover for her. That was the beginning of me engaging people on the internet. It was overwhelming and it was the most records she ever sold in her first week. That let me know the people wanted to be involved."

Dupri is convinced his site is the "coolest, hippest city" on the internet and he hopes it will feel more personal than other social-networking projects like Facebook.com, adding "People want to have a place where they feel like it's a cool place and cool spot to be out as well as have conversation and really talk to each other... None of those (other websites) have an owner that you actually know and feel like you have something in common. People only know the Facebook owner (Mark Zuckerberg) now because of his money. You wouldn't have hung out with him before you knew what he did. I have an influence on producers, songwriters, artists and creative people in general."