Jermaine Dupri

Jermaine Dupri Mauldin (born September 23, 1972) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive, entrepreneur, and DJ. Raised in Atlanta, he began his career artistry at the age of 9, as the son of Columbia Records executive Michael Mauldin. In 1991, he formed and produced the hip hop teen duo Kris Kross. Dupri wrote and produced their breakout 1992 single, "Jump" and established his own record label, So So Def Recordings a year later. In the subsequent years, he would work heavily with Mariah Carey, Usher, Destiny's Child, Monica, and Bow Wow, resulting in Dupri producing 11 chart-topping singles. Dupri released the albums Life in 1472 (1998) and Instructions (2002) as a recording artist himself. In 2013, he replaced Randy Jackson as Mariah Carey's talent manager. He co-created a reality TV series, The Rap Game, in 2015. Early life Jermaine Dupri Mauldin was born on September 23, 1972, the son of Tina (Mosley) and Michael Mauldin, a Columbia Records executive and grew up in College Park (Atlanta metropolitan area). Dupri's artistic career began when he was 9 years old. His father, an Atlanta talent manager, had coordinated a Diana Ross show in 1982; to the delight of concert-goers, Dupri managed to get on-stage and dance along with Ross. Dupri got his start as a dancer for the hip hop group Whodini when he was twelve. He made an appearance in their music video for the song "Freaks Come Out at Night". He began performing around the country, appearing with Herbie Hancock and Cameo before he opened the New York Fresh Festival, with Run-D.M.C., Whodini, and Grandmaster Flash.