The Life and Times of Jermaine Dupri

Broadcast:
10pm - 01/10/06

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"I read that Kanye said his goal was to be a big producer like Jermaine Dupri and he'd reached that goal. I don’t know if he has! He’s a big star but I think he’s jumping the gun to say he’s reached my stature. Babyface told me, 'You’re nothing till u can do it multiple times'. Kanye's gotta have that conversation with Babyface!" - Jermaine Dupri

"I didn’t know what to expect from JD. I thought he would be kinda flash, 'Mr Money-Aint-A-Thing'. But he was actually quite shy." - Rodney P

:: Born on 23 September 1972.

:: He started out life in the entertainment field as a dancer for rap group Whoodini.

:: 1986 saw Jermaine Dupri become the youngest producer ever to get in the top 100 with 'Silk Tymes Leather'.

:: In 1992 (aged 19) he founded the record label 'So So Def' with the multi-platinum selling Kriss Kross.

:: In 1998 he released his first Jermaine Dupri album 'Life in 1472' which featured big tracks like 'Money Ain't a Thang' with Jay Z and 'Sweetheart' with Mariah Carey.

:: Three years later he returned with follow up album 'Instructions' which featured the smash 'Welcome To Atlanta' alongside Ludacris and 'Ballin Out Of Control' with Nate Dogg.

:: In a 2002 interview with XXL he controversially claimed he was the best producer in the game, better than Dre and Timberland which spilled onto record with diss verses from Dre, Xzibit and Eminem aimed at Dupri.

:: Jermaine Dupri produced tracks for two of the most seminal RnB albums of recent years Mariah Carey's 'Emancipation Of Mimi' and Usher's 'Confessions', both of which have sold well in excess of a million copies.

:: Dupri is one of only three producers to have had four songs inside the top 100 Billboard charts at the same time. At one point he held down the number one, two and three spots (Mariah Carey's 'We Belong Together', 'Shake it Off' and Bow Wow feat. Omarion's 'Let Me Hold You' respectively).

:: In April 2005 he became President of Urban Music at Virgin Records.

:: Not to be out done by other entrepreneurs, JD has bought a cafe, a vodka brand and signed a lucrative book deal.

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