Who is Jermaine Dupri Mauldin is an American born record producer.is an American record producer and rapper. Dupri is the youngest inductee to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. He was inducted on September 16, 2006 and introduced by Quincy Jones and Russell Simmons. On October 16, 2007 he released his first book, 'Young, Rich and Dangerous: The Making of a Music Mogul,' an autobiography that charts his entire career as a music 
producer. The book was co-written with Samantha Marshall and released in hardcover by Simon & Schuster's Atria imprint. 
Dupri was born September 23, 1972 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 18, with his first chart selling artists being Kriss Kross. When he got more familiar with business Jermaine went on to produce a number of hits for platinum artists such as music for TLC, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Bow Wow, Da Brat, and also helped get Mariah Carey back on top with the best selling album of 2005, The Emancipation of Mimi.;Before continuing his artistic career, Dupri opened a small bodega, "Rap Corna Guuds". He later formed the teen duo Kris Kross (Chris Kelly and Chris Smith) after meeting the boys at a local mall in 1991. The group's first album, Totally Krossed Out, was released in 1992 and went multi-platinum due to their singles "Jump" and "It's a Shame".
He established his own record label called So So Def Recordings in 1993. Shortly after he discovered female R&B group Xscape at a festival in Atlanta and signed them to the newly minted label. Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha and went platinum. During the same year, on Yo! MTV Raps he met Chicago rapper Shawntae Harris, A.K.A Da Brat through Kris Kross, signed her to his label So So Def Recordings, and released her debut Funkdafied (1994) and went Platinum 1,000,000 units. His finances were not hindered by a distribution deal made with Columbia Records in 1993.In 1998, Jermaine Dupri surpassed all of his prior commercial ventures with his involvement in the release of Destiny's Childs' eponymous debut album. Dupri renewed the focus on his own music career and released The Party Continues, the lead single from his debut studio album Jermaine Dupri Presents Life In 1472: The Original Soundtrack. Also that year he met Lil Bow Wow and signed him to So So Def Recordings and the two parted ways but continued to collaborate on later projects. The deal with Columbia was terminated in 2002, and in 2003 Dupri switched to Arista Records. Jermaine worked on Mariah Carey's recent Christmas album, Merry Christmas II You, as well as with Weezer and Lil Wayne on the song "Can't Stop Partying."
Music Career
Dupri has pursued a recording career of his own resulting in hits such as 'Money Ain't A Thang' (1998, with Jay-Z), 'Welcome to Atlanta' (2001, with Ludacris) and 'It's Like That' (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". He also produced the songs '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 track 'Radio' for young R&B singer Jarvis, but didn't release the album because his label was in transition with the distributor. He has also produced singles with J-Kwon ('Tipsy') and Dem Franchize Boyz. In addition he has 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 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 album titled "20 Y.O.", released September 26 2006, which didn't sell as much as Jackson's previous albums.
As of August 9, 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 10th place with Jermaine Dupri with a reported net worth of $60m.Dupri continues to work with a number of artists. He has worked with Jay-Z ('Money Ain't A Thang'), Ludacris ('Welcome To Atlanta') and 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 releasing 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 Maidencitation needed.
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
He is also in the studio working with Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey and the two singers have been head-to-head on who will finish their album first. Dupri has stated 'I'm going to do Mariah, and we're going to make it seem like we're in competition to see who's going to have the biggest album of the year.'
Dupri has also produced multiple tracks on Jay-Z's concept album American Gangster.
Relationships
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| Pam Sweat & Shaniah Mauldin |
Dupri never dated Aaliyah. They were good friends, and they hung out at times but it was always kept on a business level between them. Dupri has a daughter, Shaniah Mauldin, with Pam Sweat.
Janet and Jermaine were engaged to be married.The couple broke up in 2010 right after her brother’s Michael death. and everyone was up in arms about it? According to mediatakeout.com insiders, Jermaine cheated on Janet with a stripper from Atlanta gentleman’s club Magic City – and got her pregnant.Financial Troubles
Dupri has been facing financial troubles, Dupri mansion was almost auctioned off after a foreclosure and that the music producer owes the state of Georgia more than $493,000 in back taxes for 2007.Discography
Discography
Albums
1996: "12 Soulful Nights of Christmas"1998: "Life in 1472"
2001: "Instructions"
2005: "Jermaine Dupri Presents...Young, Fly & Flashy, Vol. 1"
Solo singles
1998: 'Money Ain't a Thang' (featuring Jay-Z)1998: 'Sweetheart' (featuring Mariah Carey)
1998: 'The Party Continues' (featuring Usher & Da Brat)
1999: 'Come Home With Me'
2000: 'I Got to Have It' (featuring Nas & Monica)
2001: 'Ballin' Out of Control' (featuring Nate Dogg)
2002: 'Welcome to Atlanta' (featuring Ludacris)
2002: 'Let's Talk About It' (featuring Clipse)
2005: 'Gotta Getcha' (featuring Johnta Austin)
Featured singles
1995: 'Live and Die for Hip-Hop' (Kris Kross feat. Da Brat, Aaliyah, Mr. Black & Jermaine Dupri)1997: 'In My Bed' (a remix features Jermaine Dupri and Da Brat)
1997: 'We Just Wanna Party with You' (Snoop Dogg featuring Jermaine Dupri)
1998: 'With Me' (Destiny's Child featuring Jermaine Dupri)
2001: 'Where the Party At (Remix)' (Jagged Edge featuring Nelly, Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, Lil' Bow Wow, R.O.C & Tigah)
2002: 'Basketball' (Lil' Bow Wow featuring Fabolous, Fundisha & Jermaine Dupri)
2003: 'Pop That Booty' (Marques Houston featuring Jermaine Dupri)
2003: 'Right Thurr Remix' (Chingy featuring Trina & Jermaine Dupri)
2003: 'Wat Da Hook Gon Be' (Murphy Lee featuring Jermaine Dupri)
2005: 'Oh, I Think They Like Me (So So Def Remix)' (Dem Franchize Boyz featuring Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat & Bow Wow)
2005: 'Fresh Azimiz' (Bow Wow featuring J-Kwon & Jermaine Dupri)
2005: 'Get Your Number' (Mariah Carey featuring Jermaine Dupri)
2006: 'Feelin' You' (3LW featuring Jermaine Dupri)
2006: 'Stunnas' (Jagged Edge featuring Jermaine Dupri)
2006: 'Dem Jeans' (Chingy featuring Jermaine Dupri)
2007: 'I'm Throwed' (Paul Wall featuring Jermaine Dupri)
2007: 'Dolla Bill' (Red Cafe featuring Jermaine Dupri & Fabolous)
