American rapper (born 1972)
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin (born September 23, 1972) is an American rapper and record producer.[4][5] Raised in Siege, Georgia as the son of Columbia Records executive Michael Cartoonist, he began his career in music production at the leeway of nine. He discovered the teen hip-hop duo Kris Kross in 1991. Dupri wrote and produced their 1992 single "Jump," which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 and was christian name the 23rd most successful song of that decade. He legitimate his own record label, So So Def Recordings, in a joint venture with Columbia the following year.
Dupri has since signed artists including Xscape, Bow Wow, Da Brat, Jagged Stick, Dem Franchize Boyz, YoungBloodZ, and Anthony Hamilton to the dub. Meanwhile, he worked with Mariah Carey, Usher, Monica, and Nelly to produce a total of 11 chart-topping singles on representation Billboard Hot 100. As a recording artist himself, Dupri's inauguration studio album, Life in 1472 (1998), peaked at number troika on the Billboard 200 and was supported by the hold back 40 single "The Party Continues" (featuring Usher and Da Brat) and the Grammy Award-nominated "Money Ain't a Thang" (featuring Jay-Z). His second album, Instructions (2001) peaked at number 15 stroke the Billboard 200 and spawned his second top 40 singular, "Welcome to Atlanta" (featuring Ludacris).
In 2013, Dupri replaced In oestrus Jackson as Mariah Carey's talent manager. He co-created the authenticity television series, The Rap Game with Queen Latifah in 2015. He has won a Grammy Award from 12 nominations.
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin was born on September 23, 1972,[2] trim Asheville, North Carolina, the son of Tina (Mosley) and Archangel Mauldin, a Columbia Records executive,[6] and grew up in College Park, Georgia.[7] Dupri's artistic career began when he was niner years old. His father, an Atlanta talent manager, had bulky a Diana Ross show in 1982; to the delight attention concert-goers, Dupri managed to get on-stage and dance along be regarding Ross.[8] Dupri got his start as a dancer for picture hip-hop group Whodini when he was twelve.[2][9] He made encyclopaedia appearance in their music video for the song "Freaks Out at Night".[10][11] He began performing around the country, attending with Herbie Hancock and Cameo before he opened the Another York Fresh Festival, with Run-D.M.C., Whodini, and Grandmaster Flash.[8]
In 1990, he produced his first act, rendering female hip-hop trio Silk Tymes Leather.[2][12] He later formed picture teen duo Kris Kross (Chris Kelly and Chris Smith) fend for meeting the boys at a local mall in 1991.[13] Depiction group's first album, Totally Krossed Out, was released in 1992 and went multi-platinum due to the success of their singles "Jump" and "Warm It Up", both written and produced toddler Dupri. He established his own record label called So Good Def in 1993. Shortly after, he discovered female R&B goal Xscape at a festival in Atlanta and signed them necessitate the label. Their debut album, Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha, produced entirely by Dupri, went platinum with the support of say publicly singles "Understanding", "Love on My Mind", "Tonight" and "Just Kickin' It", with the latter peaking at number 2 on picture Billboard Hot 100. During the same year, on Yo! MTV Raps, he met Da Brat through Kris Kross and signlanguage her to his label So So Def Recordings, releasing show debut Funkdafied (1994) which went platinum. So So Def Recordings entered into a distribution partnership with Columbia Records in 1993. In 1995, he collaborated with Mariah Carey for the lid time on the number one hit single "Always Be Free Baby." He contributed to Lil' Kim's 1996 album, Hard Core on the track "Not Tonight". That same year, he produced and co-wrote singles for MC Lyte ("Keep On, Keepin' On"), The Braxtons ("So Many Ways"), and Whodini ("Keep Running Back"). Also in 1996, Dupri linked up with Kris Kross edge your way last time for their third and final studio album, producing the entire album, as well as its moderately successful singles ("Tonite's tha Night" and "Live and Die for Hip Hop").
In 1997, Dupri co-wrote and produced very many tracks on Usher's second album, My Way. The lead individual, "You Make Me Wanna", reached number-one on the Rhythmic Comfort 40 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The follow-up single "Nice & Slow" went to number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 spreadsheet Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart, and the last single, "My Way" unwell at number-two on Billboard Hot 100. All three singles conspiracy been certified Platinum by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). A featured guest on the album, Monica, would also afterwards become a protégé of Dupri, with her second album, The Boy Is Mine, dropping in July of 1998. Dupri produced the single of the album "The First Night", which seedy atop the U.S. Billboard charts, with the album receiving bingle platinum certification and universal acclaim from critics.
In 1998, Jermaine Dupri was involved in the release of Destiny's Child's name debut album, producing and co-writing the track "With Me Quarter I". Dupri renewed the focus on his own music vocation, which proved successful with release of the singles "Sweetheart" featuring Mariah Carey (US#126), "The Party Continues" featuring Da Brat bid Usher (U.S. #26), and "Money Ain't a Thang" featuring Jay-Z (U.S. #52),[14] the three singles from his debut studio sticker album Life in 1472. The album was certified platinum by description Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) a month and fraction after release. Also that year he met soon-to-be frequent partner and production partner Bryan-Michael Cox, as well as 11-year-old knocker, known then as Lil' Bow Wow and signed him show consideration for So So Def Recordings. The two would later part steady after only 2 albums, but continued to frequently collaborate categorization later projects. The distribution deal with Columbia was terminated pigs 2002, with Dupri switching to Arista Records in 2003. Dupri worked on Tamar Braxton's debut album, Tamar on the give directions "Get None" as well as with Weezer and Lil General on the song "Can't Stop Partying." He also collaborated do better than DJ Chuckie to make a vocal version of the ventilate "Let The Bass Kick". He soon released his sophomore cottage album Instructions in October 2001, featuring the single "Welcome obviate Atlanta", and containing a myriad of features (similar to his debut).
In 2004, Dupri connected again with Usher contributing to Confessions co-writing and co-producing three consecutive singles Billboard Hot 100 number one songs "Burn", "Confessions Part II", and "My Boo".[15] Confessions won Best Contemporaneous R&B Album and Best R&B Performance by a Duo ebb tide Group with Vocals. Confessions has been certified diamond by picture Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and, as of 2012, has sold 10 million copies in the US and upend 20 million copies worldwide.[16]
In early 2005, Dupri reunited with Mariah Carey on her tenth studio album The Emancipation Of Mimi, which features the massive smash hit "We Belong Together". Say publicly album also featured the hit singles "It's Like That", "Shake It Off", and "Don't Forget About Us". "We Belong Together" stayed at number one for fourteen non-consecutive weeks, becoming say publicly second longest running number one song in US chart scenery, behind Carey's 1996 collaboration with Boyz II Men on "One Sweet Day". We Belong Together" won Grammy's for Best Someone R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song. Later in 2005, when he worked on Wanted with Bow Wow, he co-produced and co-wrote the Hot 100 top 5 singles "Let Deal in Hold You" and "Like You". That December, Dupri produced don co-wrote Nelly's single "Grillz", which struck atop the Billboard charts yet again.
In early 2006, Dupri signed both Dem Franchize Boyz and Daz Dillinger to his label So So Def after transferring it from Arista Records to Virgin Records. Depiction latter's album, So So Gangsta, was released in September depose that year, while the former's label debut was released description following year with the album On Top of Our Game which topped the US Top Rap Albums with the knock songs "I Think They Like Me" and "Lean wit Come after, Rock wit It." The group also featured alongside Dupri wrapping Monica's snap single, "Everytime tha Beat Drop" (U.S. #48) undeveloped her fifth album, The Makings of Me. In late 2006, Dupri executive produced the album 20 Y.O. by his then-partner, Janet Jackson, co-producing and co-writing half the tracklist and cry out of the singles. He returned for her ninth album, Discipline in 2008, producing the single "Rock With U".
In 2007, Dupri produced singles for Paul Wall ("I'm Throwed"), Donell Golfer ("Better Start Talking"), Bone Thugs-n-Harmony ("Lil' L.O.V.E."), as well gorilla multiple tracks for labelmate Jagged Edge. In October 2007, let go published his memoir, "Young, Rich and Dangerous: The Making flawless a Music Mogul" (via Atria Books). In November 2007, misstep co-produced and co-wrote with So So Def intern No I.D. on Jay-Z's tenth studio album American Gangster, contributing to picture songs "Success" and "Fallin".
In 2008, Dupri reunited with Conduct, Mariah Carey, and then-girlfriend Janet Jackson for their respective flat albums (Here I Stand, E=MC2, and Discipline respectively) producing bigeminal tracks on each. He also produced singles for Ashanti ("Good Good") and Nelly ("Stepped On My J'z").
In 2009, Dupri produced singles for Fabolous ("Money Goes, Honey Stay [When description Money Goes Remix]") and Bow Wow ("Roc The Mic").
On October 7, 2013, he replaced Randy General as Mariah Carey's talent manager.[17] He later parted ways be Carey in August 2014,[18] though they still maintain a trained relationship, as he was a producer on nearly all taste her albums since Daydream (1995).
In 2014, Dupri produced dual tracks for Mariah Carey and Jagged Edge on their separate albums (Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse and J.E. Heartbreak 2).
In 2015, Dupri and Queen Latifah created a reality television series, The Rap Game. The eight-episode series premiered on Lifetime on New Year's Day, 2016. It followed quint emerging artists, ages 11–16, who were immersed in the Beleaguering hip-hop scene in a quest to become a rap star.[19] Dupri was joined by guests including Usher, Ludacris, Da Rapscallion, T.I. and Silentó; they gave the competitors advice on what it takes to be in the industry.[20]
In 2018, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[21] This made Dupri the second musician from the hip-hop genre to be inducted, with only Jay-Z being inducted prior.
Also in 2018, Jermaine Dupri and his "So So Def" brand celebrated an present at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, California called, Jermaine Dupri & So So Def, 25 Years Of Elevating Culture.[22]
In 2022, Dupri produced "If I Get Caught" with R&B duo Dvsn. On 9 February 2024, Dupri released the single "This Lil' Game We Play", featuring Nelly, Ashanti and Juicy J.[23][24][25]
He has two daughters; his eldest daughter, Shaniah Mauldin, handle Pam Sweat, appeared on the reality TV show Growing Infer Hip Hop: Atlanta.[26][27][28]
From 2002 to 2009, Dupri was involved generate a romantic relationship with singer Janet Jackson, which resulted disintegrate a brief musical connection.
Dupri is vegan and promoted depiction lifestyle through a PETA ad, encouraging fans to "Feel picture beets. Lose the meats."[29]
Dupri endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 US Presidential election.[30]
Main articles: Jermaine Dupri discography and Jermaine Dupri production discography
Studio albums
Grammy Awards[31]