Jermaine Dupri Mauldin, an individual born in 1972, is a highly accomplished personality in the American music industry.
He possesses a diverse skill set as a record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive.
Having been brought up in Atlanta under the guidance of his father, who held a prominent position at Columbia Records, Jermaine embarked on his musical journey at the tender age of nine.
In 1991, he stumbled upon the talented duo Kris Kross and went on to write their immensely popular single “Jump” in 1992.
Building on his success, Jermaine took the bold step of establishing his very own record label, So So Def Recordings, in collaboration with Columbia in 1993.
REAL FACTS ABOUT JERMAINE DUPRI
FULL NAME: Jermaine Dupri Mauldin
DATE OF BIRTH: September 23, 1972
PLACE OF BIRTH: Asheville North Carolina, U.S
NATIONALITY: American
OCCUPATIONs: Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, DJ, Record Executive
LABELs: So So Def,Columbia,Def Jam,Arista
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin, born on September 23, 1972, in Atlanta, Georgia, had the privilege of being raised by his parents, Tina and Michael Mauldin, who happened to be a Columbia Records executive.
Growing up in the vibrant neighborhood of College Park, he was introduced to the world of music at a tender age of nine.
His early experiences on stage, which included an unforgettable dance performance with the legendary Diana Ross in 1982, served as a catalyst for his musical journey.
Remarkably, by the time he turned twelve, he was already showcasing his dancing skills as a member of the renowned hip hop group Whodini, and even made appearances in various music videos.
Jermaine Dupri’s remarkable performances alongside esteemed acts such as Herbie Hancock and Cameo played a crucial role in establishing the solid foundation for his future accomplishments in the music industry.
CAREER
In 1990, Jermaine Dupri began his music career by producing Silk Tymes Leather.
The following year, he formed the successful teen duo Kris Kross, known for their hits “Jump” and “Warm It Up.”
In 1992, Dupri established his own label, So So Def, and discovered talented acts like Xscape and Da Brat.
Throughout his career, Dupri collaborated with renowned artists such as Mariah Carey and Lil’ Kim.
He also produced hits for MC Lyte and The Braxtons. Dupri continued his work in music production, including the production of Kris Kross’ final album in 1996.
In the late 1990s, Dupri achieved further success through collaborations on hit singles like Usher’s “You Make Me Wanna” and “Nice & Slow.”
He also introduced new talent to the industry, including Monica and Destiny’s Child. His debut album, “Life in 1472,” achieved platinum status.
Later on, Dupri worked with artists like Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, and Lil’ Bow Wow.
In the following years, Dupri partnered with Bryan-Michael Cox and ventured into different genres such as pop, rock, and electronic music.
He continued to make diverse contributions to the music industry, releasing his second album, “Instructions,” in 2001.
In 2006, Jermaine Dupri signed Dem Franchize Boyz and Daz Dillinger to his record label, So So Def.
Previously, they were signed to Arista Records, but now they were under Virgin Records.
In the following years, they released albums such as “So So Gangsta” by Daz Dillinger and “On Top of Our Game” by Dem Franchize Boyz, which included popular songs like “I Think They Like Me” and “Lean wit It, Rock wit It.”
Dupri also collaborated with Janet Jackson on her albums, producing successful singles like “Rock With U.”
He continued to work with various artists, producing tracks for Jagged Edge and contributing to Jay-Z’s album “American Gangster” in 2007.
Throughout the years, Dupri worked with other notable artists such as Usher, Mariah Carey, and Ashanti, lending his production skills to their respective projects.
In 2009, he produced singles for Fabolous and Bow Wow.
In 2013, Dupri took on the role of Mariah Carey’s talent manager, replacing Randy Jackson.
They collaborated on multiple albums together. In 2014, he produced tracks for both Mariah Carey and Jagged Edge.
Additionally, in 2015, he co-created a reality TV show called The Rap Game with Queen Latifah.
In 2018, Dupri was honored with induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
That same year, he celebrated the 25th anniversary of his “So So Def” brand at the Grammy Museum.
More recently, in 2022, he collaborated with R&B duo Dvsn on the song “If I Get Caught” and released a single featuring Nelly, Ashanti, and Juicy J in 2024.
PERSONAL LIFE
Shaniah Mauldin, one of Jermaine Dupri’s daughters, made an appearance on the reality TV show Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta.
During the years 2002 to 2009, Jermaine Dupri was romantically involved with singer Janet Jackson, which also resulted in a collaboration in the music industry.
