(people.com) - Janet Jackson might feel " allergic to marriage ," but the pop star is ready to have a baby, says longtime boyfriend Jermaine Dupri. "Yeah, soon," Dupri told PEOPLE Sunday at a dinner party hosted by New Era and Belvedere Vodka at West Hollywood's STK restaurant. "Right after the tour." ( Jackson, 42, recently announced she'll be on the road this fall.) The producer - who has a daughter, Shaniah, from a previous relationship - is so excited to start a family with Jackson, he doesn't even care if it's a boy or a girl. "It really doesn't matter," he explained at the even honoring rapper Nelly. "Janet would be a great mom. She was around so many brothers and sisters all her life, so she's got to know what that is [like]. And her mom is a great mother." According to Dupri, Jackson is also a great companion. "The greatest thing in life is just to have a friend," he said. "When I have problems in life, I share them with her. When she has a problem, she comes to me."