Jermaine Dupri

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Jermaine Dupri also known simply as JD (born Jermaine Dupri Mauldin on September 23, 1973) is an American record producer and rapper. Dupri is notable as the youngest ever inductee to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 16, 2006, introduced by Quincy Jones and Russell Simmons.

[edit] Early life

Jermaine Dupri Mauldin was born in Asheville, North Carolina. He grew up in the College Park community of Atlanta, Georgia. His father is Michael Mauldin a former president of Columbia Records. Dupri was first introduced to the music business by his father, a concert promoter and manager of rap and R&B groups, at an early age. He dropped his last name as a teenager and started out as a breakdancer for artists such as Diana Ross and Cameo. Dupri became the youngest charting producer in the history of music at age 14. He went on to produce a number of hits for platinum artists such as TLC, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Bow Wow and also helped get Mariah Carey the nickname "the Comeback Queen" with the best selling album of 2005, The Emancipation of Mimi.

[edit] Music career

Jermaine Dupri is the founder, President and CEO of his own label, So So Def Records, which has been the home to several artists such as Da Brat, Jagged Edge, and Xscape. Juvenile rap acts such as Kris Kross and Bow Wow have been some of his biggest successes; Dupri earned significant amounts of songwriting royalties by ghostwriting for such acts.

In addition, Dupri has pursued a recording career of his own, which has resulted in hits such as "Money Ain't A Thing" (1998, with Jay-Z), "Welcome to Atlanta" (2001, with Ludacris) and "Get Your Number" (2005, with Mariah Carey), and "Gotta Getcha" featuring Johnta Austin. He became involved with a dispute between Eminem and Dr. Dre in 2002.

So So Def, a label specializing in Southern hip hop, R&B, and bass music, was originally distributed through Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment. In 2003, Dupri was appointed president of Arista Black Music and moved So So Def and its artists there. In 2004, Dupri was appointed President of Urban Music at Virgin Records and moved So So Def over to Virgin. Meanwhile, Dupri also expanded his business ventures, buying into Chicago-based distillery 3 Vodka and opening his own boutique restaurant, Cafe Dupri.

In 2004 and 2005, Dupri worked with R&B singers Usher and Mariah Carey on their releases, Confessions and The Emancipation of Mimi (the top-selling albums of 2004 and 2005) respectively. He produced some of the biggest hits of those years including "Burn", "Confessions, Pt. 2" and the remix featuring Kanye West, Shyne, and Twista, and "My Boo" with Usher and "It's Like That", "We Belong Together", "Shake It Off", "Get Your Number", and "Don't Forget About Us" with Carey. He produced the hit track "Radio" for young R&B sensation Jarvis, but didn't release the album because his label was in transition with the distributor. He has also scored hit singles with J-Kwon ("Tipsy"), Dem Franchize Boyz and many more. He also worked with St. Louis rappers, Nelly, Chingy, & St. Lunatics.

Dupri's 2005 single, "Gotta Getcha" featuring Johnta Austin, is featured on the July 2005 release Jermaine Dupri presents...Young, Fly & Flashy, Vol. 1. The album is a compilation of tracks produced by and featuring Jermaine Dupri. So far, "Gotta Getcha" has peaked at #60 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The controversial music video for the song features his girlfriend, singer Janet Jackson, in a x-rated peep show club. Dupri also worked with Jackson on her new album titled 20 Y.O., released September 26, 2006.

In fact, as of August 9th, 2006, Dupri is in the list of the top ten richest people in Hip-Hop. Numbers 1 to 10 were: Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jay-Z, Russell Simmons,Damon Dash, The Neptunes, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Nelly tied at 10nth place with Jermaine Dupri.

Dupri continues to produce and deliver guest appearances for today's hottest artists. He has worked from many of the major artists ranging all the way from Jay-Z ("Money Ain't A Thang"), Ludacris ("Welcome To Atlanta") to Warren G ("Havin' Thangs"). His current roster as of April 2006 includes Young Capone, Dem Franchize Boyz, Da Kid Slim, Daz (aka Daz Dillinger & Dat Nigga Daz), T. Waters, and Johnta Austin. He plans on dropping Daz's album, tentatively titled "So So Gangsta," in 2006. Daz's album is to include production by Dupri, Scott Storch and Daz.

Singer Monica's new album, The Makings of Me features production from Jermaine Dupri with the lead single "Everytime Tha Beat Drop". He also helped start the career of Deandre Maiden.

He is currently working with Kaisuan who's album should be out late '07 early '08 and Ashanti for her album due in 2007.

He is also currently working on the new Bone Thugs-N-Harmony album Strength & Loyalty. He produced the second single of the album, "Lil L.O.V.E." featuring Mariah Carey & Bow Wow

[edit] Feuds

Dupri had a minor feud with famous hip-hop producer Dr. Dre in 2002. In an interview, Dupri claimed that he did more complete work on production than either Dre or Timbaland. Dre proceeded to insult Dupri on Eminem's track "Say What You Say" from The Eminem Show, namely with the lines, "Over 80 million records sold/And I ain't have to do it with ten or eleven-year olds." The song ends with a recording of Timbaland saying, "Yo, this is Timbaland/Tell him I said he can suck [DJ scratches] MY dick." Eminem and Xzibit, who was affiliated with Dre's Aftermath label at the time, also insulted Dupri on the Xzibit track "My Name." Xzibit also released a diss track on a DJ Kay-Slay mixtape called 'Short People' that contains a sample from the Randy Newman song and insults JD on his height among other things.

Dupri replied to the Dr. Dre and Eminem insults with an underground track called "JD's Reply" which he leaked to the internet. On the track, he implies Dr. Dre is a homosexual and calls him a "gayass mark." Dupri states that Dr. Dre is not doing any work in the studio and other producers are ghostwriting for him and makes remarks referring to Timbaland using the same style of beats on his production. At the end of the track, he says, "If you come at me again, I'm gonna come back at you three times harder."

After "JD's reply" was released, the previously mentioned track "Say My Name" by Xzibit featuring Eminem and Nate Dogg was released on Xzibit's album "Man Vs. Machine". In the last verse of this track, Eminem greatly insults Dupri. Since this track was released, Dupri has not commented in a song.

• The verse was as follows:(Note the lines are read from the first point to the last)

• I never really smashed on Jermaine's a**, Dre smashed him
• Nobody ganged up 'til he came back and jacked him
• I never really brought it to his a**, I tapped him
• I coulda been like Treach, boom-bapped and slapped him
• purple, for mimickin him with two rappin Urkels
• I coulda snapped, took it past rap and hurt you
• But I didn't, I kept it on wax and served you
• I "Square Dance" cause I'm sick of rappin circles
• around these clowns, stready tryin to call me out
• It's like I'm listenin to motherf***in dogs meow
• You'd probably do better tryin to come and stomp me out
• You don't want it with rap, this is what I'm all about - c'mon
• (I) No gangsta you ain't either
• (Will) But I know that I spit "Ether"
• (Not) I shoulda crossed your belly
• (Lose) Show you I'm not R. Kelly
• X, pass me the weed, I'ma put my ashes out on his a**
• For the last time man.. [scratched] - "Watch your f***in mouth"

Jermaine Dupri recently was appointed President of urban music at Island Records. Where he will oversee all urban artists and operations under the label. The job is effective immediately.

[edit] Accolades and Recognition

JD was named as one of the top 25 greatest southern artists by Ozone Magazine in a piece written by Rohit Loomba. A segment was run on MTV Jamz in conjunction with the issue of the magazine as well.

[edit] Net Worth

It was recently confirmed that Dupri was in the top 100th of the wealthiest hip hop entertainers. He and Nelly tied at 10th place both grossing $60 million.^{[citations needed]}

[edit] Albums

[edit] Compilation Albums

Album cover	Album information
	12 Soulful Nights of Christmas Released: 1996 Chart positions: #57 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums U.S. Sales: N/A Last RIAA certification: Singles:
	Life in 1472 Released: July 21, 1998 Chart positions: #3 US Billboard 200 U.S. Sales: N/A Last RIAA certification: Platinum Singles: "Money Ain't a Thang", "Sweetheart", "The Party Continues", "Going Home with Me"
	Instructions Released: October 2, 2001 Chart positions: #15 US Billboard 200 U.S. Sales: N/A Last RIAA certification: Platinum Singles: "Welcome to Atlanta", "Ballin' Out of Control"
	You Know What This Is Released: 2007 Chart positions: N/A U.S. Sales: N/A Last RIAA certification: N/A Singles: "U better stop"
Album cover	Album information
	Young, Fly & Flashy, Vol. 1 Released: July 25, 2005 Chart positions: #43 US U.S. Sales: Last RIAA certification: Singles: "I Think They Like Me [Remix]", "Gotta Getcha"
	Young, Fly & Flashy, Vol. 2 Released: 2007 Chart positions: 'TBA' U.S. Sales: Last RIAA certification: N/A Singles:

[edit] Singles

Songs listed here are chart singles on which Dupri was namechecked, either as the main or featured performer.

[edit] Produced Singles

• 1997: "You Make Me Wanna" (Usher)
• 1997: "My Way" (Usher)
• 1997: "Nice & Slow" (Usher)
• 1997: "I Just Wanna Party with You" (Snoop Dogg featuring Jermaine Dupri)
• 1998: "First Night" (Monica)
• 1998: "Money Ain't a Thang" (featuring Jay-Z)
• 1998: "Sweetheart" (featuring Mariah Carey)
• 1998: "The Party Continues" (featuring Da Brat & Usher)
• 1998: "Traces of My Lipstick" (Xscape featuring Foxy Brown) (unreleased)
• 1999: "Come Home with Me"
• 2000: "Let's Get Married" (Jagged Edge)
• 2000: "Get None" (Tamar Braxton featuring Jermaine Dupri & Amil)
• 2001: "All I Want For Christmas Is You (So So Def Remix)" (Mariah Carey featuring Lil' Bow Wow & Jermaine Dupri)
• 2001: "Where Da Party At?" (Jagged Edge featuring Nelly)
• 2001: "Ballin' Out of Control" (featuring Nate Dogg)
• 2001: "Take Ya Home" (Bow Wow)
• 2002: "Welcome to Atlanta" (featuring Ludacris)
• 2003: "Wat Da Hook Gon Be" (Murphy Lee featuring Jermaine Dupri)
• 2004: "U Should've Known Better" (Monica)
• 2004: "Burn" (Usher)
• 2004: "Confessions Pt. 2" (Usher)
• 2004: "My Boo" (Usher featuring Alicia Keys)
• 2005: "Gotta Getcha"
• 2005: "It's Like That" (Mariah Carey)
• 2005: "We Belong Together" (Mariah Carey)
• 2005: "Shake It Off" (Mariah Carey)
• 2005: "Get Your Number" (Mariah Carey featuring Jermain Dupri)
• 2005: "Let Me Hold You" (Bow Wow featuring Omarion)
• 2005: "Like You" (Bow Wow featuring Ciara)
• 2005: "I Think They Like Me [Remix]" (Dem Franchize Boyz featuring Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, & Bow Wow)
• 2005: "Don't Forget About Us" (Mariah Carey)
• 2005: "Grillz" (Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp)
• 2005: "Fresh Azimiz" (Bow Wow featuring J-Kwon & Jermaine Dupri)
• 2005: "You Know What" (Avant featuring Lil Wayne)
• 2006: "Control Myself" (LL Cool J featuring Jennifer Lopez)
• 2006: "Everytime Tha Beat Drop" (Monica featuring Dem Franchize Boyz)
• 2006: "Pullin' Me Back" (Chingy featuring Tyrese)
• 2006: "Call on Me" (Janet Jackson featuring Nelly)
• 2006: "So Excited" (Janet Jackson featuring Khia)
• 2006: "With U" (Janet Jackson)
• 2006: "Stunnas" (Jagged Edge featuring Jermaine Dupri)
• 2006: "Turn It Up" (Johnta Austin)
• 2006: "Shortie Like Mine" (Bow Wow featuring Chris Brown)
• 2006: "On Some Real Shit" (Daz Dillinger featuring Rick Ross)
• 2006: "Dem Jeans" (Chingy featuring Jermaine Dupri)
• 2007: "Outta My System" (Bow Wow featuring T-Pain)
• 2007: "Lil Love" (Bone Thugs N Harmony featuring Mariah Carey & Bow Wow)
• 2007: "I'm Throwed" (Paul Wall featuring Jermaine Dupri)

[edit] Trivia

• In an unlikely cameo, television evangelist Creflo Dollar appears briefly in Jermaine Dupri's music video for "Welcome to Atlanta".^[1]
• JD is currently dating Janet Jackson.
• He is famous for producing many R&B singles for various artists like Usher and Mariah Carey.

[edit] References

1. ^ Friesen, Don (June 12, 2005). Dust off your Feet and Move on.

[edit] External links

• Jermaine Dupri Official Site