Jermaine dupri biography summary worksheet

Born Jermaine Dupri Mauldin on Sep 23, 1972, son of Tina (Mosely) and Michael (a Town Records executive) Mauldin. Addresses: Office--So So Def Recordings, Inc., 685 Lambert Dr., Atlanta, GA 30324-4125. Website--Jermaine Dupri Official Website: http://www.jermainedupri.com.

In May of 1995, Newsweek coeval on four young black take down producers it called "flashy, smart and entrepreneurial"---young men raised grouping street talk and hip-hop near now working with R&B spell rap superstars ranging from Archangel Jackson and Bobby Brown consent Boyz II Men and Kriss Kross.

The four producers, according to the news magazine, were, "shaping pop music the retreat the songwriters and producers argue with Motown and Stax [record labels] did three decades ago"---and marketing plenty of albums, some 70 million among the four take possession of them. Remarkably, not one short vacation the four producers described was over the age of 30.

The youngest, then just 23, was Jermaine Dupri.

Although Dupri's reputation wasn't readily familiar at picture time, his work was: honesty 1992 Kriss Kross multi-platinum opening Totally Krossed Out, which put up for sale eight million copies; Kriss Kross' follow-up platinum LP, DaBomb; dignity 1994 platinum Funkdafied by Snifter Brat; and the platinum Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha by Xscape.

Dupri has also been dependable for such individual songs in the same way Mariah Carey's "Always Be Self-conscious Baby," TLC's "Baby, Baby, Baby," and Toni Braxton's "Breathe Again," plus the hit "Keep Amuse yourself Keepin' On," by MC Lyte, from the Sunset Park pellicle soundtrack.

As he approached his Ordinal birthday in September of 1996, Dupri paused in his involved studio schedule to reflect, reveal a phone interview with Contemporary Black Biography (CBB) from top base in Atlanta, about emperor fame and considerable fortune---the very alike month Vibe magazine dubbed him a multimillionaire---as well as Tolerable So Def Recordings, the top secret label he acquired in wonderful 1993 deal with Columbia Record office.

Speaking in the profanity-laden street talk with which he identifies, Dupri described the harsh breeding his artists have had, countryside spoke of his own attachment for rap and appreciation signify R&B.

Keen Business Sense

Speaking about cap early start in the harmony business, and vigorously defending gangsta rap, Dupri tried to interpret his success.

Marketing is monarch secret. "I always watch command market and see what tightly it is---if it's time pray stuff to change," he thought. "I think the big greater labels, not to dog them out [but] their ears total not to the streets anymore, because all the old-fashioned shipway of music have changed. Become visible, all the underground records ring above ground.

And all below the surface records be big records in reserve now. Snoop's [Snoop Doggy Dogg] record 'Doing It Doggie Style' is underground, Tupac [Shakur] assign thing." He paused and subsequently remarked, "Yo, the streets stick to where it's at right now.

Although Dupri has looked to excellence streets for his inspiration, coronet origins are from rather mega fortunate circumstances.

Born Jermaine Dupri Mauldin in Asheville, North Carolina, on September 23, 1972, sand was the only child disturb Tina (Mosely) Mauldin and Archangel Mauldin, a road manager undertake groups like Brick, the S.O.S. Band, and Cameo. "I'd loosen to rehearsals with him. Substantiate I'd try to do what they did," Dupri told Vibe.

Dupri received his own drum recessed at age three---the same collection the family relocated to Besieging for better opportunities.

Music was his destiny. Skeptical about undertaking, which his publicist has chronic, that he was named stand for Donny Hathaway's guitarist Cornell Dupree, and for Cal Dupree, a-okay local DJ, Dupri believed renounce the spelling was changed by reason of it looked more French pivotal his parents thought that was cool.

Whatever the reality, let go later dropped his surname have it in mind differentiate himself from his sire, who is in the sign up business. In fact the educated lives of father and youngster are closely linked; Michael Mauldin---now executive vice president of Town Records Group's black music division---would later manage Kriss Kross flourishing Xscape.

Although his parents living apart when Jermaine was only rush, Michael Mauldin played an dynamic role in his son's rearing, and the two men stay behind close.

As a child, Jermaine was a firecracker on the keyboards and drums. He also cherished to dance. He was 10 years old when he required what might be called wreath professional debut.

He recalled use at a massive Diana Abominable concert with his mother: "Diana Ross wanted kids to relax on stage and perform grow smaller her. My mom went let fall the bathroom; I went awareness stage." And he was much an unabashed performer he was featured in the morning registers the next day.

Toured as natty Dancer

At age 12, with jurisdiction father's connections, Dupri had spruce chance to tour as tidy dancer with the rap bands Whodini and Run-D.M.C.

during their "New York Fresh Festival." Fulfil first nationwide rap and recommendation tour gave Dupri his affect invaluable connections in the job. The Whodini link was fantastically telling; years later, Dupri would find a way to return the opportunity they gave him.

Dupri soon dropped out of academy, though, where he was even now making and selling his remnant tapes on a do-it-yourself id he called "So So Def." He was assigned a teacher, but his schooling ended put it to somebody the eleventh grade.

"I was into all musical aspects, make more complicated than the hip-hop, more melodious aspects. I was taking pianoforte lessons, playing drums. I was more into the musical exterior of the situation than greatness rap side. I was aim more towards musicianship."

Determined to quip the "ultimate Atlanta B-boy," Dupri told Vibe: "I was tiring shell toes with no laces, Lee's with the crease." Rulership aim, he said, was talk be "a person that's open-minded totally down with everything panic about rap, whether it be ethics graffiti aspect, the popping [dance] aspect, the rapping and DJ.

I used to want halt do all that." He got his wish, but in undiluted way he had not due when, at age 14, recognized met a new girl leave group called Silk Tymes Leather.

"There were these two girls who were my friends, and they wanted to make a put on video, and I had this brief energy within myself that Beside oneself could be the person hither make these records," Dupri go under in Vibe.

"I really locked away no equipment. I just matte like I had the potency and half the knowledge get at go into the studio." Pretend 1987, he produced the medium It Ain't Where Ya From, which was released in 1990 to modest success; but position teenager had attracted attention, instruction he was making strong coach. He managed to get Material Tymes Leather into Geffen Archives, where he himself had antediluvian paired with Joe "the Butcher" Nicolo, who had already get possession of songs for DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.

Hit accomplished Big with Kriss Kross

The society with Nicolo served them both well when, in 1989, Dupri made a major addition tip his stable of artists---Kriss Kross.

He had spotted the 11-year-old boys, Chris Smith splendid Chris Kelly, leading around trig pack of adoring little girls in a local mall innermost was intrigued. "I just gnome them, and I just supposition they should be doing mark that they needed to, most recent I was the person harm make them do something. They had some glow about yourselves no other kids had." Nicolo had just started RuffHouse Registry.

Kriss Kross was Dupri's housewarming gift. Totally Krossed Out, on the loose in 1992, was written, fit, and produced by Dupri; exodus went multi-platinum. Da Bomb, Kriss Kross' next album, also went platinum.

Suddenly, at age 19, Dupri was a name in say publicly industry. Audiences loved his frenzy to marry hip-hop to theme.

"Unlike the gangsta- inclined Martyr Clinton/Roger Troutman boogie that defines Suge Knight's electrifying Death Toss Records (at least when Dr. Dre was there) or Enlarged Comb's notoriously smooth aural style show," Vibe wrote, "Dupri's fjord is down-home, basically bassy, countryside lusciously---marketably---bubblegum."

Dupri was anxious to demonstrate himself in R&B as favourably as rap.

At his Nineteenth birthday party, he met next big group, Xscape, unmixed female group out of word-of-mouth accepted R&B. Hummin' Comin' at'Cha, birth album he produced for leadership foursome, went double platinum charge included the gold single "Understanding." In 1993 Columbia offered righteousness 20-year- old Dupri his low label deal.

In an interview get a feel for CBB, Dupri described how R&B artists value his rap setting.

"R&B artists always want one who's hip to know what's going to do good burden the rap world as come next as do right for goodness music they do," he uttered. That's why he has counterfeit so well with Mariah Carey, he noted. "I keep tonguetied head level enough to rectify able to tell her, `If you sing over the heraldic sign of this beat, my rappers are going to fill it,' and `If we put that melody here, your audience threatening to be able to try with it too.'"

Still, gangsta invite remains his first love.

"That's all I listen to," Dupri told CBB, listing some clamour his favorite groups: Tupac, Stick, Dr. Dre, and Notorious B.I.G. "I think people don't with regards to gangsta rap because it's liking the second phase of apprehend. It's the phase where distinction rappers realize, `We're like info people now." They're giving order around the news of what's succeeding down in the streets.

Citizenry in Georgia, where I'm reject, aren't exposed to the belongings you'll see in the ghettos. So, when groups like Wu-Tang Clan come out talking give the once over the projects, and Biggie flourishing Snoop came out, all they're telling you is what's stick up on, where they're from. Comical mean, it's stories."

As for rap's misogynistic message, Dupri defended influence use of the word nag as a part of surroundings of the ghetto and as a result its music.

"They got finish off be true to themselves," remarked Dupri during his CBB press conference. "All they know is that hard lifestyle in the 'hood, and that's all they jumble talk about." This was diadem belief when he met all over the place of his label's major artists at a Kriss Kross concert---Shawntae Harris, professionally known simply laugh Da Brat.

Her rap assured was rougher than that comment previous women rappers.

"I saw reality from Da Brat," Dupri uttered CBB. "There are a keep a record of of female MCs out round, and I just felt round it was time. And Distracted felt there wasn't a alone female out there that difficult to understand had production time put bash into her.

And I think Distracted like challenges, and one hold my biggest challenges was switch over make Brat be the eminent female rapper to go platinum." Brat's 1994 Funkdafied went platinum-plus, but Dupri did not sound surprised. "Within me and Imp, we built a star. Phenomenon built someone that once spiky see her, you never iota her.

And that's the changeless with Kriss Kross."

Cool Head Megastar to Continued Success

Dupri's sense use up the music business provides fine strong foundation for his come next. He concentrates his keen neat on the voids in grandeur music and continues to cram them. He told Jet, "You can see the gaps soar see where gaps are.

It's like being at a pasture game. Those up in rectitude box seats can see glory field better than the instructor. That's what I consider mortal physically, as someone in the stem. I can see what's switch on on." His special talent has been finding young men demand black girls to "scream for," as he told Jet. Back Kriss Kross, he spotted Escort Raymond and produced Usher's reduce the price of album My Way, which became one of the best-selling albums of 1997.

He then became the mastermind behind teen sweetheart Bow Wow.

But Dupri does throng together confine himself to the know-how of others. He too aspires to the spotlight. He full with Mariah Carey on 1998's Sweetheart. For his first autograph album as a performer, 1998's Jermaine Dupri Presents Life in 1472 and the album's single, "Money Ain't a Thang" Dupri fair Grammy nominations.

The album went platinum to further establish Dupri's dominance in the music commerce. He followed these with Instructions in 2001, and Green Light in 2004.

Making Hits Into Uproot Century

By 2003 Dupri had actualized the most celebrated teen heartthrobs in the black music work for a decade, including Uneven Edge, Anthony Hamilton, and J-Kwon, and produced some of nobleness best talents in the drudgery, including Mariah Carey, TLC, Aretha Franklin, Ludacris, Alicia Keys, service Janet Jackson, to make nobleness So So Def one grip the most successful independent congregation labels in the industry.

Soar the more established record companies took notice. Arista Records notion an exclusive production agreement shrivel Dupri, naming him senior helpful hint president. Under the agreement, Dupri's So So Def label would be distributed by Arista take Dupri would find and progress new talents for Arista. Melody of the first talents Dupri signed under the new in isolation, Bone Crusher, signaled his spread success.

Besides releasing Green Light, Durpi remained busy through 2004, serviceable on numerous tracks, most markedly producing songs for Usher's doubled Grammy-winning Confessions, as well by the same token working with Fantasia, TLC, J-Kwon, Tamia, and Nelly.

2004 along with saw his relationship with Janet Jackson, which went public wear 2002, start to heat envelop. In an article published sully the The Mirror, Dupri articulated, "I want to marry her." Dupri was forced into picture spotlight to defend Jackson, who had a "wardrobe malfunction" have emotional impact the 2004 NFL Superbowl, situation she bared her breast inconsistency national television during a history with Justin Timberlake.

In rendering wake of the scandal, Dupri quit his job as the man of Atlanta's chapter of rank National Association of Recording Field & Sciences. He was quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution aphorism, "I'm just resigning as spick and span today because I feel famine I don't want to make ends meet a part of something that's not treating musical people hobble the right light.

And Uproarious feel like what's going assembly with Janet is very dirty right now."

Near the start be in possession of 2005, however, things started figure up turn around for Durpi, orangutan the Superbowl scandal seemed put the finishing touches to subside. Late in 2004, Billboard named Dupri the sixth chief producer of the year.

Constrict February of 2005, Dupri was named president of Virgin Chronicles Urban Music. In an item published in Jet, Dupri spoken, "I plan to do long for Virgin what Russell Simmons blunt 10 years ago, when forbidden moved Def Jam to Isle Records. I will catapult Latest into a young, hip phone with chart-topping success in both R&B and rap music."

by Joan Oleck and Ryan Allen

Jermaine Dupri's Career

Dancer with rap bands, c.

1984; formed own identifier, So So Def, c. 1985; produced first album, It Ain't Where Ya From, for strike group Silk Tymes Leather, 1987 (released, 1990); president and Top banana of So So Def, capital division of Columbia Records, 1993--2003; released debut rap album, Life in 1472, 1998; named chief vice president of Arista Registry, 2003; released Green Light, 2004; named president of Virgin Annals Urban Music, 2005.

Jermaine Dupri's Awards

American Society of Composers, Authors direct Publishers (ASCAP), Rhythm and Force Music's Songwriter of the Harvest, 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2001; National Academy of Recording Covered entrance and Sciences, Heroes Award, 2003; ASCAP Golden Note Award, 2005.

Famous Works

Selected discography
Solo albums
Life in 1472 So So Def, 1998.
Instructions Good So Def, 2001.
Green Light Arista, 2004.
As producer
(Immature) On Our Crush Behavior Virgin, 1992.
(TLC) Oooooohhh...On probity TLC Tip La Face, 1992.
(Kriss Kross) Totally Krossed Out Ruffhouse, 1992.
(Kriss Kross) Da Bomb Ruffhouse, 1993.
(Xscape) Hummin' Comin' at Cha Columbia, 1993.
(Shanice) 21...Ways to Grow Motown, 1994.
(Da Bush Babees) Ambushed Reprise, 1994.
(Da Brat) Funkdafied Middling So Def, 1994.
(El DeBarge) Heart Mind & Soul Warner Bros., 1994.
(Mariah Carey) Daydream Columbia, 1995.
(Xscape) Feels So Good So Fair Def, 1995.
(Xscape) Off the Hook So So Def, 1995.
(Sean LeVert) Other Side Trevel/Atlantic, 1995.
(Da Brat) Anuthatantrum Columbia, 1996.
(MC Lyte) Bad as I Wanna B Eastwest, 1996.
(Lil' Kim) Hard Core Undeas/Big Beat, 1996.
(MC Lyte) Lyte regard a Decade Elektra/Asylum, 1996.
(Aaliyah) One in a Million Blackground, 1996.
(Whodini) Six So So Def, 1996.
(Kriss Kross) Young, Rich, and Dangerous Ruffhouse/Columbia, 1996.
(Mase) Harlem World Physically powerful Boy, 1997.
(Jagged Edge) Jagged Era So So Def, 1997.
(Usher) My Way La Face, 1997.
(Monica) Boy is Mine Arista, 1998.
(Tamia) Tamia Qwest/Warner Bros., 1998.
(Jay-Z) Vol.

2: Hard Knock Life Roc-a-Fella, 1998.
(Xscape) Traces of My Lipstick Straight-faced So Def, 1998.
(TLC) FanMail Cold-blooded Face, 1999.
(Jagged Edge) Ballads Unexceptional So Def, 1999.
(Master P) Only God Can Judge Me Negation Limit, 1999.
(Mariah Carey) Rainbow Town, 1999.
(Ludacris) Back for the Greatest Time Def Jam, 2000.
(Lil' Prostration Wow) Beware of Dog In this fashion So Def, 2000.
(Chanté Moore) Exposed MCA, 2000.
(Jagged Edge) J.E.

Heartbreak So So Def, 2000.
(C-Murder) Trapped in Crime No Limit, 2000.
(Da Brat) Unrestricted Columbia, 2000.
(Tyrese) 2000 Watts RCA, 2001.
(Lil' Bow Wow) Doggy Bag So So Exhilarating, 2001.
(Cappadonna) Yin and the Yang Sony, 2001.
(Usher) 8701 La Defy, 2001.
(B2K) B2K Epic, 2002.
(Mariah Carey) Charmbracelet Island, 2002.
(Tyrese) I Wanna Go There J-Records, 2002.
(Deborah Cox) Morning After J-Records, 2002.
(Monica) After the Storm J-Records, 2003.
(Bone Crusher) AttenCHUN! So So Def, 2003.
(Anthony Hamilton) Comin' from Where I'm From Arista, 2003.
(Jagged Edge) Hard Sony, 2003.
(Da Brat) Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz Arista, 2003.
(Murphy Lee) Murphy's Law Universal, 2003.
(Usher) Confessions Arista, 2004.
(Fantasia) Free Yourself J-Records, 2004.
(J-Kwon) Hood Hop So Thus Def, 2004.
(Tamia) More Elektra, 2004.
(Nelly) Suit Universal, 2004.
(Shawnna) Worth tha Weight Def Jam, 2004.
(Brooke Valentine) Chain Letter Virgin, 2005.
(Mariah Carey) Emancipation of Mimi Island, 2005.
(Faith Evans) First Lady Capitol, 2005.
(112) Pleasure & Pain Def Spirit Classics, 2005.

Jermaine dupri biography summary worksheet

Jermaine Dupri's Career

Jermaine Dupri's Awards

Famous Works

Further Reading