Jermaine Dupri
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1972-09-23
    • Born Place: Asheville, North Carolina, USA
  • Also Known As:

    JD, Don Chi Chi, Jermaine D. Mauldin

Jermaine Dupri

Jermaine Dupri Mauldin, born on September 23, 1972, in Asheville, North Carolina, is a highly influential American songwriter, record producer, rapper, and music executive who grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. His career began at a young age, starting as a breakdancer for the group Whodini at age 12. In the early 1990s, he discovered the teen hip-hop duo Kris Kross and wrote and produced their massive 1992 hit "Jump," which was one of the most successful songs of the decade. The following year, in 1993, he established his own record label, So So Def Recordings, in a joint venture with Columbia Records, which became a powerhouse for Southern hip-hop and R&B, signing acts such as Xscape, Da Brat, Jagged Edge, and Bow Wow. Dupri's prolific work as a producer and songwriter has resulted in numerous chart-topping singles for iconic artists including Mariah Carey, Usher, Monica, Nelly, and Alicia Keys. He has personally released two studio albums, Lifein1472 (1998) and Instructions (2001), which featured hits like "Welcome to Atlanta." Dupri's career achievements include winning a Grammy Award from 12 nominations and being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018, making him the second hip-hop artist to receive this honor. He also co-created the reality television series TheRapGame with Queen Latifah, which aired from 2015 to 2019.

Person History