Jermaine Dupri Mauldin is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, record executive. Raised in Atlanta as the son of Columbia Records executive Michael Mauldin, he began his career in music production at the age of nine. He discovered the teen hip hop duo Kris Kross in 1991. Dupri wrote and produced their breakout 1992 single "Jump," which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 and was named the 23rd most successful song of that decade. He established his own record label, So So Def Recordings in a joint venture with Columbia the following year.
"Mesmerize" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule. It was released on December 16, 2002, as the second single from his fourth studio, album The Last Temptation (2002). Containing a sample from the 1974 song "Stop, Look, Listen " by Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye, the song was produced by Irv Gotti and features R&B artist Ashanti. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2003, making it Ashanti's and Ja Rule's fourth top-10 hit as a duet.
"Always on Time" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule from his third studio album, Pain Is Love (2001). Produced by Irv Gotti, it was written by Ja Rule, 7 Aurelius, and Gotti. Originally set to feature Brandy, it features guest vocals from singer-songwriter and labelmate Ashanti. The song was released as the album's second single on November 27, 2001, through Island Def Jam Music Group, Def Jam Recordings and Gotti's Murder Inc. Records.
"Jumpin', Jumpin' " is a song by American group Destiny's Child for their second studio album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999). The song was co-written and co-produced by group member Beyoncé Knowles and Chad Elliott, with additional writing from Rufus Moore and production assistance from Jovonn Alexander. It was released as the fourth and final single from The Writing's on the Wall on July 14, 2000, by Columbia Records.
"Survivor" is a song recorded by American group Destiny's Child for their third studio album of the same title (2001). It was written and composed by group member Beyoncé, Anthony Dent, and Mathew Knowles. "Survivor" was inspired by a joke that a radio station had made about the fact that three members had already left the group, comparing the band to the reality game show Survivor. Beyoncé was inspired to take the negative comment and turn it into a positive by writing a song out of it. The song was released as the lead single from Survivor on March 6, 2001, by Columbia Records. It marked the first single released by the trio of Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams.
"Sexy Love" is the fourth and final US single and the second and final international single released from American R&B singer Ne-Yo's debut album, In My Own Words (2006). The song reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. In the United Kingdom, the single charted at number 21 on downloads alone. It rose 16 places and peaked at number five once the physical single was released.
"Remedy" is a song by American rock band the Black Crowes from their second album, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (1992). It appears as the second track on the album. "Remedy" reached number one on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart in May 1992 and stayed there for 11 weeks. On the Billboard Hot 100, the song peaked at number 48. It also reached number 24 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's highest-charting single in the United Kingdom, and entered the top 10 in New Zealand and Norway.
"Slow Down" is the debut single of American singer Bobby Valentino, released from his first self-titled album, Bobby Valentino, on February 14, 2005. Produced by Tim & Bob, the song spent four consecutive weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and has since been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Slow Down" also peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as number four in the United Kingdom. The music video was directed by Erik White.
"Where the Party At" is a song by American R&B group Jagged Edge featuring guest vocals from Nelly. The song spent three weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart. It was the group's highest-charting single on the US Billboard Hot 100, spending five weeks at number three in September 15, 2001. The song was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 44th Grammy Awards in 2002, a brand new category at the time. It lost to Eve and Gwen Stefani's "Let Me Blow Ya Mind".
"Let's Get Married" is a song by American contemporary R&B group Jagged Edge from their second studio album, J.E. Heartbreak (1999). Released on April 11, 2000, the song spent three weeks atop the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart in 2000 and reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2001, the song was issued in Australia as a double A-side with "Promise" and reached number two on the Australian Singles Chart. The music video features Fredro Starr and Kent Masters-King as the fictional couple deciding on whether they should get married or not.
"Understanding" is a song by American R&B group Xscape. Written by Manuel Seal, the song was released as the group's second single from the group's 1993 debut album Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha. The song reached number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spent two weeks at number one on the Hot R&B Singles chart.
"Hey Lover" is a song by American rapper LL Cool J, released as the first single from his sixth album, Mr. Smith (1995). The song features vocals from American R&B group Boyz II Men. It was released on October 31, 1995, for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by The Trackmasters and LL Cool J. The song samples Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life" from his 1982 hit album Thriller; thus Rod Temperton, the writer of that song, was given credit as a writer of this song. On the B-side is the "I Shot Ya" remix.
Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha is the debut studio album by American R&B singing group Xscape. Released on October 12, 1993, by So So Def Recordings and Columbia Records, the album produced the singles "Just Kickin' It", "Understanding", "Love on My Mind" and “Tonight”, and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, becoming certified platinum by the RIAA with sales over one million copies sold.
"If I Ever Fall in Love" is the debut single by American R&B-soul quartet Shai, released by Gasoline Alley and MCA in September 1992 from their debut album of the same name (1992). The song reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1992 and peaked at number one on the Billboard R&B chart. It spent eight weeks at number two on the Hot 100, which at the time was the second-most number of weeks that a song held the position without topping the chart, behind Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You". The song was also their only top-40 hit in the UK, peaking at number 36.
"Hush" is the second single from American rapper LL Cool J's 10th studio album, The DEFinition (2004). Produced by 7 Aurelius, who provides additional vocals, the song was released on September 7, 2004, by Def Jam Recordings. "Hush" charted at number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 11 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart, and number 14 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. The single became a top-10 success in the United Kingdom, where it debuted and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart in February 2005.
"Stay" is a song written by Bob Khozouri and Mark Stevens, and originally recorded by American singer Glenn Jones. It was released in 1990 by Jive Records from his fifth album, All for You (1990), reaching number six on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. The song became a worldwide hit for British girl group Eternal in 1993 and 1994.
Xscape is an American girl group from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1990 by Kandi Burruss, Tamera Coggins, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, LaTocha Scott, and Tamika Scott. The following year, Coggins left the group and Xscape became a quartet. They were discovered by Jermaine Dupri who signed the group to his So So Def label. The group released their debut album Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha in 1993, which spawned two top-ten Billboard Hot 100 hits, "Just Kickin' It" and "Understanding". The album sold over one million copies in the United States, earning a platinum-certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"Livin' It Up" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule featuring singer Case, released in July 2001 through Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records, as the lead single from Ja Rule's third studio album, Pain Is Love (2001). The song, produced by Lil Rob and Irv Gotti, samples Stevie Wonder's 1982 song "Do I Do". In the United States, "Livin' It Up" peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. It received a re-issue in the United Kingdom in 2002 and peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart. Retired NBA All-Star Baron Davis and former pornographic actress Sunny Leone make appearances in the video.
American girl group Xscape has released three studio albums, two compilation albums, one extended play, and twenty singles, including four as featured artists.
Tamika Scott is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and ordained minister. She rose to fame in the early 1990s as a member of Xscape. Scott sang lead on the group's singles "Love on My Mind", "Who Can I Run To", and "The Arms of the One Who Loves You", the latter two which peaked in the Billboard Hot 100 and became earn platinum and gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. During the group's hiatus, Scott ventured into acting. She appeared in Tyler Perry's stage production Meet the Browns in 2004.
