Jermaine Dupri Mauldin is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive, entrepreneur, and DJ. Raised in Atlanta, he began his musical career at the age of nine, as the son of Columbia Records executive Michael Mauldin. In 1991, he discovered the teen hip hop duo Kris Kross. 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.
So So Def Recordings is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, founded by producer Jermaine Dupri in 1993. Specializing in Southern hip hop, R&B, and bass music, the label has managed artists such as Bow Wow, Kris Kross, Xscape, TLC, Usher, Dem Franchize Boyz, Anthony Hamilton, Jagged Edge, and The Ghost Town DJs.
Johntá Moore Austin is an American singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer, and rapper from Atlanta. He is best known for his production and songwriting work with hometown native Jermaine Dupri and his label, So So Def Recordings. He signed with the label as a recording artist in 2005 and guest appeared on Dupri's single "Gotta Getcha" that same year, which entered the Billboard Hot 100. The following year, his guest performances on labelmate Bow Wow's 2006 singles "Shortie Like Mine" and "Outta My System" both peaked within the top 40 of the chart. As a lead artist, Austin released a number of singles—including "Turn It Up" that same year—in promotion for his debut studio album Ocean Drive, which was never released.
Bryan-Michael Paul Cox is an American record producer and songwriter who is notable for his work with artists such as Usher, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and Toni Braxton. Among his most notable productions are "Be Without You" for Mary J. Blige, "Burn", "Confessions Part II" and "U Got It Bad" for Usher, and "Shake It Off", "I Stay In Love" and "You Don't Know What To Do" for Mariah Carey.
So So Gangsta is the eighth solo studio album by American rapper Daz Dillinger. It was released on September 12, 2006 via So So Def/Virgin Records simultaneously with an instrumental album entitled So So Gangsta - The Album Sampler. Recording sessions took place at Studio Atlantis and at the Crippin Kitchen in Los Angeles, at the Hit Factory Criteria and at Poe Boy Studios in Miami, and at SouthSide Studios in Atlanta. Production was handled by Jermaine Dupri, No I.D., Scott Storch and Daz himself, with LRoc, Ivan Johnson and Soopafly serving as co-producers. It features guest appearances from Avery Storm, Ice Cube, Jagged Edge, Johntá Austin, Kurupt, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, Soopafly and The Kid Slim. The album debuted at number 35 on the Billboard 200 with just over 23,000 albums sold its first week. It has reached 150,000 moved units according to SoundScan on October 10, 2007.
A Jagged Era is the debut studio album by American R&B group Jagged Edge, released on October 21, 1997, by So So Def and Columbia Records. The quartet worked with So So Def head Jermaine Dupri on the majority of the album. A Jagged Era peaked at a number 104 on the US Billboard 200 and at number 19 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Despite its disappointing peak, the album was moderately successful with sales of over 500,000 copies in the United States, earning a Gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2009, the album was the best-selling album in cassette format.
J.E. Heartbreak is the second album by the American R&B group Jagged Edge. It was released by So So Def and Columbia on January 18, 2000, in the United States. The title of the album is a reference to R&B group New Edition's 1989 hit "N.E. Heart Break". Upon its release, the album peaked at number eight 8 on the US Billboard 200 and atop the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It was also certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and reached silver status in United Kingdom.
Jagged Little Thrill is the third studio album by American R&B group Jagged Edge. It was released by So So Def and Columbia on June 26, 2001, in the United States. The album's name is a spin on Alanis Morissette's album Jagged Little Pill (1995). The album debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 215,000 copies in the US, outranking their previous album, J.E. Heartbreak (1999) which had peaked at number eighth on the chart; the album is the group's highest peaking album to date. However, it was not as successful as the group's previous album, though still successful; achieving Platinum status by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Jagged Little Thrill has sold 1.5 million copies in the US.
Instructions is the second studio album by American producer and rapper Jermaine Dupri, released by So So Def Recordings and Columbia Records on October 30, 2001. The album debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 on November 17, 2001.
"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.
Traces of My Lipstick is the third studio album by American R&B group Xscape. The album was released on May 12, 1998, through So So Def Recordings and Sony Music Entertainment. The album was preceded by the release of three singles: "The Arms of the One Who Loves You", "My Little Secret" and "Softest Place on Earth".
"Puppy Love" is the third single by rapper Lil' Bow Wow's debut album Beware of Dog (2000). The song was written by Bryan-Michael Cox Brian Casey, Brandon Casey and Jermaine Dupri. It features R&B group Jagged Edge and samples the beat of LL Cool J's song "Kanday" from his album Bigger and Deffer. The music video premiered on June 19, 2001, and features singer and actress Solange Knowles as the rapper's love interest.
Baby Makin' Project is the sixth studio album by American group Jagged Edge. It was released through So So Def Recordings and Island Records on September 25, 2007 in the United States. Chiefly produced by longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri and co-producer Manuel Seal, Jagged Edge also worked with musicians Selasi, Sick Cents, Tha Corna Boyz and Crackpot on the album. Following its release, Baby Makin' Project debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200, selling about 78,000 copies in its first week. The song "Put a Little Umph in It" featuring singer Ashanti served as the first single off the album and peaked at number 49 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
"Put a Little Umph in It" is the first single from Jagged Edge's studio album Baby Makin' Project. It features pop–R&B singer Ashanti. The song was their first single since being dropped from Columbia Records and getting signed to Island Def Jam.
Xscape is an American girl group from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1991 by Kandi Burruss, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, LaTocha Scott, Tamera Coggins-Wynn, and Tamika Scott. The following year Coggins-Wynn 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 of their biggest hits, "Just Kickin' It" and "Understanding". The album was certified Platinum on February 1, 1994. Xscape has sold more than 9 million records worldwide.
The Remedy is the seventh studio album by American R&B group Jagged Edge. It was released on June 21, 2011. The new project boasts a mix of the old and new; Jagged Edge’s sexy R&B sound and contemporary beats by producers such as Casey Boyz, Cool & Dre, Cainon Lamb, Mad Skrews, Adam Ledgister, Bigg D and Jim Jonsin. The album debuted at number 35 on the Billboard 200 with 12,400 copies sold in the first week.
Dondria Nicole Fields, better known by her stage name Dondria Nicole, is an American R&B singer, currently signed to So So Def Recordings. Before getting signed, Dondria was known to post YouTube videos singing cover songs.
"He Can't Love U" is a song performed by American contemporary R&B group Jagged Edge, issued as the second single from their second studio album J.E. Heartbreak. Co-written by group members Brian and Brandon Casey, the song peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999.
J.E. Heartbreak II is the eighth studio album by American R&B group Jagged Edge. The album was released on October 27, 2014, by So So Def Recordings and Hard Case Records. It is a sequel to their multi-platinum album J.E. Heartbreak (2000).
