Jermaine Dupri Mauldin (born September 23, 1972) is an American songwriter, record producer, rapper, DJ, and music executive whose work helped establish Atlanta as a major center of hip-hop and contemporary R&B. Best known as the founder of So So Def Recordings, Dupri has shaped the careers of several commercially successful artists while also recording under the names Jermaine Dupri and JD.
Dupri entered entertainment at an early age. As a child, he performed as a dancer with the hip-hop group Whodini and appeared in the group's music video for "Freaks Come Out at Night." He later worked as a DJ and began producing in the late 1980s. His first recorded production work included Silk Tymes Leather's 1989 single "Do Your Dance," but his breakthrough came through an encounter that changed the direction of Atlanta rap.
In 1991, Dupri discovered Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith, two young dancers and rappers he encountered at an Atlanta shopping mall. He developed them as Kris Kross and helped write and produce their debut album, Totally Krossed Out (1992). Its lead single, "Jump," became a major international hit and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Dupri also wrote "Warm It Up," giving Kris Kross a second prominent hit. The success was notable not only for the duo's age but also for Dupri's own youth: he was still a teenager when he became a major force behind the records.
Dupri founded So So Def Recordings in 1993. Initially distributed through Columbia Records, the Atlanta-based label became an influential home for Southern hip-hop and R&B. Its roster included Da Brat, Xscape, Jagged Edge, and later Bow Wow. Through the label and his production work, Dupri favored accessible hooks, sharply arranged rhythms, and a close relationship between rap verses and melodic R&B vocals. Da Brat's Funkdafied, Xscape's "Just Kickin' It," and Jagged Edge's early releases helped define the label's sound and commercial identity.
His influence expanded through collaborations with artists outside the So So Def roster. Dupri co-wrote or produced important records for Usher, including "You Make Me Wanna...," "Nice & Slow," "My Way," "Burn," "Confessions Part II," and "My Boo." He also worked extensively with Mariah Carey, contributing to "Always Be My Baby" and the 2005 hit "We Belong Together." The latter won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 2006. Dupri later worked with Janet Jackson, TLC, Jay-Z, Nelly, and other major performers.
As a recording artist, Dupri released Life in 1472 in 1998. The album included "Money Ain't a Thang," a collaboration with Jay-Z, as well as singles featuring Carey, Da Brat, and Usher. He followed it with Instructions in 2001. Although his solo career remained secondary to his production and executive work, the albums established him as a recognizable performer in his own right.
Dupri continued to mentor young artists through projects including the television series The Rap Game, which he co-created with Queen Latifah. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018 and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2020. His later work has included new production, label activity, and the For Motivational Use Only projects with Curren$y. His lasting importance lies in the combination of hitmaking, artist development, and regional leadership that made So So Def a central institution in modern Southern music.