Jermaine Dupri Mauldin, born in 1972, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. Raised in Atlanta by his father, a Columbia Records executive, he started his music career at nine years old. He discovered Kris Kross in 1991 and wrote their hit single “Jump” in 1992. He then founded his own record label, So So Def Recordings, with Columbia in 1993.
Profile Summary
| Full Name: | Jermaine Dupri Mauldin |
| Date Of Birth: | September 23, 1972 |
| Place Of Birth: | Asheville North Carolina, U.S |
| Nationality: | American |
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation(s): | Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, DJ, Record Executive |
| Labels: | So So Def,Columbia,Def Jam,Arista |
| Net Worth: | $2.5 Million |
Early Life
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin was born on September 23, 1972, to Tina and Michael Mauldin, a Columbia Records executive. Growing up in College Park, Atlanta, he entered the music scene at just nine years old.
His early moments on stage, including dancing with Diana Ross in 1982, sparked his journey. By age 12, he was dancing for the hip hop group Whodini and made appearances in music videos.
Jermaine Dupri’s performances alongside iconic acts like Herbie Hancock and Cameo laid the foundation for his future success.
Career
In 1990, Jermaine Dupri produced his first act, Silk Tymes Leather, kicking off his music career. He then formed the successful teen duo Kris Kross in 1991, launching hits like “Jump” and “Warm It Up.” In 1992, he founded his own label, So So Def, and discovered acts like Xscape and Da Brat.
Dupri collaborated with artists such as Mariah Carey and Lil’ Kim, while also producing hits for artists like MC Lyte and The Braxtons. He continued to work on music production, including Kris Kross’ final album in 1996.
In the late 1990s, Jermaine Dupri achieved success through collaborations on hit singles, such as Usher’s “You Make Me Wanna” and “Nice & Slow”. He also introduced new talent like Monica and Destiny’s Child. His debut album “Life in 1472” went platinum, and he later worked with artists like Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, and Lil’ Bow Wow.
The following years saw Dupri partnering with Bryan-Michael Cox and exploring different genres like pop, rock, and electronic music. Dupri’s diverse musical contributions continued as he released his second album “Instructions” in 2001.
In 2006, Jermaine Dupri signed Dem Franchize Boyz and Daz Dillinger to his label, So So Def, previously with Arista Records but now under Virgin Records. The albums “So So Gangsta” by Daz Dillinger and “On Top of Our Game” by Dem Franchize Boyz, including hit songs like “I Think They Like Me” and “Lean wit It, Rock wit It,” were released in subsequent years.
Dupri also worked on albums with Janet Jackson, producing hit singles like “Rock With U.” He continued to produce singles for various artists, including tracks for Jagged Edge and contributions to Jay-Z’s album “American Gangster” in 2007.
In the following years, he collaborated with Usher, Mariah Carey, and Ashanti, among others, on their respective projects. In 2009, Dupri produced singles for Fabolous and Bow Wow.
In 2013, Jermaine Dupri became Mariah Carey’s talent manager, replacing Randy Jackson. They worked together on several albums. In 2014, he produced tracks for Mariah Carey and Jagged Edge. He then co-created a reality TV show with Queen Latifah called The Rap Game in 2015.
In 2018, Dupri was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. That same year, he celebrated 25 years of his “So So Def” brand at the Grammy Museum. Recently, in 2022, he collaborated with R&B duo Dvsn on “If I Get Caught” and released a single featuring Nelly, Ashanti, and Juicy J in 2024.
Personal Life
One of Jermaine Dupri’s daughters, Shaniah Mauldin, was featured on Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta.
Jermaine Dupri had a relationship with singer Janet Jackson from 2002 to 2009, leading to a musical collaboration.
Jermaine Dupri Net Worth
As of 2024, Jermaine Dupri’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $2.5 million.
Discography
Some of the notable albums and singles in Jermaine Dupri’s discography include:
Albums
Life in 1472
Instructions
Young, Fly & Flashy, Vol. 1
Global 14, Vol. 1
Singles
Money Ain’t a Thang (with Jay-Z)
Welcome to Atlanta (with Ludacris)
Pull Up (with Ne-Yo)