Jermaine Dupri - underappreciated?

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I dont know where or when this is from, nabbed from another mess. board but:

NEW YORK (AP) -- The stars in Jermaine Dupri's universe couldn't look more spectacular these days.

The producer's handiwork on Mariah Carey's latest album, including the Dupri-produced smash "We Belong Together," has played a key role in her stunning comeback. Dupri was also responsible for three of Usher's biggest hits last year, helping the R&B crooner make the leap to superstardom with the album "Confessions."

Recently, he was given the task to revamp Virgin Records' meager urban-music department into a black music powerhouse. And then there's his personal life -- he's got Janet Jackson as a girlfriend, strutting around in a revealing stripper's getup in his latest video, "Gotta Getcha."

Yet despite all these accomplishments -- or maybe because of them -- the sometime rapper feels underappreciated.

"The thing I'm going through is probably like the same thing that Little Richard and all these other artists go through, that I hear about them, saying, 'Oh damn, you ain't gonna give me nothing till I die,' " Dupri said with resignation. "I feel like I'm one of those type of great people that just going to have to wait till it's all over with for people to really sit around and talk about it."

While comparisons to the groundbreaking legend may be exaggerated, it's true that Dupri's decade-plus career as a hitmaker hasn't garnered as much fanfare as other producing sensations.

Unlike Pharrell from the production duo The Neptunes, Dupri doesn't have a sneaker deal or a producer of the year Grammy; even Lil Jon got more attention for producing Usher's "Yeah!" than Dupri garnered for all the rest of Usher's smashes last year.

"A lot more people get recognition for one or two songs, where I got to do millions of records," the diminutive star griped during a recent lunch at a posh restaurant in Manhattan (where he divided his attention among a cell phone, a Blackberry and a sidekick).

Particularly disappointing for Dupri this year was Usher's loss to icon Ray Charles for best album. Charles' posthumous "Genius Loves Company" swept the Grammys while Usher's "Confessions," the year's biggest-selling album, failed to win awards in major categories.

"I don't mind losing to Ray Charles, but at the same time, the way I look at things is, me and Usher might not make another better album than this. And if we don't, we missed our opportunity," he said.

"To me, people look at me like, 'You'll do it again, don't worry about this time.' No, I want it now, everything now," he said with a wry smile.

While Dupri may not have everything, he seems pretty close. He recently opened a restaurant in his hometown of Atlanta, is negotiating to open a hotel, and is working on book, which he describes as a guide for kids trying to get into the business.

And despite his belief that he's been denied accolades or attention, Dupri's stock in the music industry has only increased -- which is why Virgin Chairman Matt Serletic wooed Dupri to the label.

"Young, Fly & Flashy" is a compilation including Dupri and artists on his label, So So Def."It's very rare that you have a guy who's artistic and able to make great records, who at the same time understands the business and has a drive to win," Serletic said. "I think he really has helped make us more competitive, from the artist roster to the demeanor of the staff, all the way through."

A taste of what Dupri has in store for Virgin's future was revealed this week with the release of the hip-hop compilation disc "Young, Fly & Flashy, Vol. 1." It features not only Dupri but other artists soon to be rolled out on the Virgin label and his imprint, So So Def.

"I feel like I've done my first layer," said Dupri. "The next layer is to release records and make sure that the records aren't just duds when they come out and they do what they gotta do, and that I bring some stars in the building."

One superstar already in the building has been struggling -- girlfriend Janet Jackson. Her last album, "Damita Jo," released after her Super Bowl fiasco, was a commercial and critical disappointment.

During the scandal that surrounded the incident, Dupri stood by his woman -- he quit the Recording Academy when those in charge of the Grammy telecast wanted to keep her off the show that year, and remains irked at the suggestion that Jackson's flash was planned: "What really made me mad about it was people, or the press, thought that Janet actually needed a boost in her career."

Yet Dupri is candid about why he feels "Damita Jo" flopped: "The last record was a poor choice of music ... they just put the record out on the strength of who it was. I think the whole album was not done in the right manner."

Dupri believes Jackson still has the potential to deliver another blockbuster album -- even though at 39 she's competing against younger artists.

"People wanna always count older artists out, just because. Mariah Carey for an example ... (Janet) has sold so many more records than every other (new) artist. ... That's the way I look at it."

― deej.., Friday, 29 July 2005 19:03 (twenty years ago)

JD gets a lot of shit, some of it he deserves (like dissing Timbo and Dre) etc., but he really does have an amazing resume. I was talking to pd the other day about how it's also interesting how many teen rap acts he's signed & produced, but was a teenager himself when he started w/ Kriss Kross and everything. I mean, he was like the youngest svengali ever.

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 29 July 2005 19:11 (twenty years ago)

JD's pretty alright with me. He is toiling basically in the shadows. He made Usher, Da Brat, Kriss Kross, Xscape, and Jagged Edge no doubt. And though I hate that fucking song, "Money Ain't A Thang" is still pretty catchy.

― Candicissima (candicissima), Friday, 29 July 2005 19:21 (twenty years ago)

he will always produce more (good) songds than you even realize, but he has to realize this is a strength: he will never have even half the pressure someone like lil jon will have when his cultural 15 minutes are up to reinvent himself.

also this

is a little disingenuous when richard (or whomever) was probably talking about being ripped off by the record industry and worrying about dying in penury, when dupri clearly isn't doing too badly for himself and obviously has a certain status and position of power within the industry.

― strng hlkngtn, Friday, 29 July 2005 19:24 (twenty years ago)

I'm pretty interested to see how things pan out w/ him as president of Virgin's urban music dept. (especially since one of the first acts he signed was Bossman from Baltimore), I'm betting he's gonna do a much better job that Jay-Z over at Def Jam

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 29 July 2005 19:31 (twenty years ago)

And wasn't Lil Jon producing things for So So Def Bass All Stars back in the day? He should be bragging that without him, he's nothing (or whatever).

xpost And JD always struck me as a pretty good businessman. It was always unclear to me (cause I didn't really give a shit) about how hands on Jay is, but I always pictured JD as a 9-6 sort of dude.

― Candicissima (candicissima), Friday, 29 July 2005 19:36 (twenty years ago)

those so so def bass all stars CDs are fantastic. I listen to them all the time.

Also DJ Lil John at wgci here in chicago played "Warm it Up, Kris!" the other day in the middle of a throwback mix and it was awesome! Kris Kross weren't half bad. (literally. One of the dudes was pretty good.)

― deej.., Friday, 29 July 2005 19:40 (twenty years ago)

I think his business sense has always informed his production, which usually just has a sort of a ghost of a character (a lot of times via his 808-throwback sensibility) as it surveys what's hot and mimicks it. He just makes really smart decisions (like, duh, giving Mariah a sparse backing and plenty of room to freak the fuck out, eg. "We Belong Together").

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 29 July 2005 20:07 (twenty years ago)

Oh, I should add that Bow Wow's Wanted -- almost entirely produced by Dupri -- is in my Top 10 of the year so far. I can't wait to see how he guides Janet.

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 29 July 2005 20:09 (twenty years ago)

Whoever made that lil bow wow cover needs a chin-check.
I do need to check out the music though. Its good you say? I remember being indifferent to the single.

― deej.., Friday, 29 July 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

I think the album -- especially the second half, which gets Radio minimal -- is really just...endearing without getting too cutesy. I posted the next single, a duet with Ciara here. I'm pretty obsessed with it, but then, I like "Let Me Hold You" (the first single, featuring Omarion) a lot.

― Rich (Rich), Friday, 29 July 2005 20:19 (twenty years ago)

He's totally unappreciated. I love Jermaine! Visit my myspace. http://myspace.com/elevensevens

― Chris Zabaneh, Friday, 29 July 2005 21:52 (twenty years ago)

JERMAINE DUPRI: GOTCHA?
by Ethan Padgett

Jermaine Dupri needs no introduction. From his days starting out as a breakdancer in the early '80s to his recent Billboard number ones with Mariah Carey and Usher, no other Southern producer has had a lasting career like this College Park originator. Dupri's So So Def introduced the world to ATL bass, gave Lil' Jon his first real shine, and has always boasted a wide range of artists from Da Brat and Xscape to Youngbloodz and Bone Crusher. Besides his roles as producer and businessman, Jermaine still hits the streets as a solo rap artist, collaborating with almost every MC you could name and holding the claim for one of the definitive Georgia anthems with 2001's "Welcome To Atlanta".

Last year J.D. was appointed Executive Vice President of Urban Music at Virgin Records and moved So So Def over to the label. Now, as he prepares to release his new compilation "Young, Fly & Flashy" and new albums from recent signings SunNY and T. Waters, he talked with DV8 magazine about his role in Southern hip-hop and the origins of crunk music, his relationship with Janet, upcoming projects, and exactly what he thought about seeing Da Brat on TV's "The Surreal Life".

What can you tell us about the Young, Fly, and Flashy compilation you got coming out?

It's hot! Its gonna be a great compilation, it's a mixture between southern rap and crunk rap, as I guess you would call it. It's not all crunk, and it's not all just regular rap. We have Franchize, Pastor Troy, Bun B, Bow Wow, the usual suspects, you know. We got KP & Envi on there. Then you got our new artists like Young Capone and T. Waters. It's just a mixture of good music, good new records to play in the South, and good records to break outta the South.

Damn, you brought back KP & Envi! Now I had seen the video for the new single off that called "Gotta Getcha", you got Janet in it and all that, now I had originally heard that on a mixtape with Missy on it, what happened to her?

Atlantic, they just wouldn't clear it. They was tryna put her record out at the same time and they gave me a lot of troubles clearing it so I had to go take her verse off it.

You got the video for that, you got your girl Janet in the video, so you looking to go big places with that?

Yeah, you know. I'm just looking for people to respond to it the best way that they can. We got the song out there now.

How are you and Janet right now, I heard y'all are engaged?

Nah, we not engaged....

Well y'all still tight?

Of course!

That's good to hear. Now you said you had Franchize on the compilation, I know you on the remix to the song "I Think They Like Me", and you had done remixes for other independent or street songs like Gucci Mane's "Icey" and cuts like that, how does that come about for you?

I look at it like this, me being from Atlanta, I've been puttin' it down for a long time, I go a lot of places that other artists don't. You never hear about Franchize being in New York, you hear about Franchize being in Atlanta. Gucci Mane is the same. I just be putting my verses on these records to give them a little bit more length. I don't care if it's a remix or not. With "Icey" that wasn't a remix, I just took the beat and put a verse on there cuz I thought the song was hot. Me and the Franchize kids, we did a record, I put a verse on "White Tees" and it became the remix, it became the version that people liked. So I fuck with Franchize and I wanted them on my compilation, so I said let's make it the official remix.

You are also President at Virgin, what business have you been up to as far as who you been signing?

Well as President that means I got a whole lot of things I gotta do besides A&R. I hired a couple A&R people to do that. We got a lot of artists, a good little roster that we deal with. Big Boi brought his artists for Purple Ribbon, we brought in T. Waters, Daz Dilinja, we got the kid SunNY from 106 & Park who I'm excited about. There's just a bunch of stuff that we coming with, a lot of new artists.

Let's talk about So So Def in general, y'all put out those Bass Allstar compilations and those were real big back in the 90s, do you feel that y'all laid the ground for crunk music and the dominance of Atlanta in general right now?

Of course! You know, Lil' Jon was behind that so it was the beginning of Lil' Jon's whole movement, and crunk music all comes from bass music. I think those records were very instrumental in being the first taste of Atlanta domination.

You also had a hand in Usher's career since the start and you produced on his Confessions record just last year, how has the success of that affected your career? It got some Grammys I believe and it's sold about 11 million copies by now...

I mean, it's just a chapter in my book! Just part of my life. As I producer, I hope that all the records I produce are always big. Usher is a project that I always look forward to, prior to that as well from 8701 to My Way to this Confessions album it's just been a growth period. To see Confessions do what it did, we've been growing with each other as songwriters and musicians and artists, we just created that level of music that's there and made it be so huge.

I gotta ask about Da Brat, she was on that TV show "The Surreal Life", did you watch that?

Yeah, sometimes. I think it's cool that she did it, you know all rappers can't do the same thing. Rappers can't always follow each other, and for Da Brat to be on the show, she was just bringing something that nobody else did. Some people got a problem with rappers doing things that they ain't seen nobody else do, so I told her, I think you should do it. Just do it and be cool about it, let it be something that you did in your life and keep it moving.

Now with So So Def y'all have always been right between "street" and what you would call "radio" or "club" music, a lot of folks don't talk about how you worked with C-Murder, UGK, Pastor Troy... how do you keep it in that balance, do you feel like you gotta go back and forth between those two worlds?

The streets is always important in anything. The streets like our music, and that's all we try to do. Street records, in the South it's getting to be outta control a lil' bit the way it is with them. We don't make those street records, they way they consider it in the South. We make commercial records, or records that's street meaning you can listen to them in the streets but they might not be street-oriented kinda records. But some of the new artists we got are gonna do that, like Daz Dillinger his CD is called "So So Gangsta" not So So Def. It's gonna be so different from anything else we have had on the label. Each one of our artists is coming and they are gonna instill something into it.

Do you still work with J-Kwon?

Somewhat, not really as much as before.

You did some records for Mariah as well?

Yeah I did all the records she has got right now. I'm real excited about that, those are the biggest records in the world right now.

Who do you see yourself working in the future after this compilation project?

Well like I said I got the Daz record, I'm gettin' ready to get that record out. I got T.Waters, SunNY, I just worked on Juvenile's record...

What song did you do on Juve's record?

We just did a new record, I don't even know the name of it. We was just in the studio last night. We did a new song for his album. I'm just constantly working with people, I did Bow Wow's whole new album. The production never stops, I'm just constantly working with people and on my new album, it's called Back on the Block and will probably be a December or February release.

Aight well it was good talking to you man.

You too, just remember- July 19th, get that Young, Fly and Flashy, and everybody try to be that way in your life everyday.

― 3, Friday, 29 July 2005 22:01 (twenty years ago)

thats just a preliminary write-up to use on the press for the magazine launch, im sittin down w/ j.d. again next week to ask more questions and make it 3-4 pages worth

― 3, Friday, 29 July 2005 22:02 (twenty years ago)

and before anybody says it, my editor suggested the title!!!

― 23, Friday, 29 July 2005 22:06 (twenty years ago)

That Gotcha could've only been better with an !.

― Candicissima (candicissima), Friday, 29 July 2005 23:17 (twenty years ago)

I like a lot of his productions but man do I hate his voice.

― miccio (miccio), Friday, 29 July 2005 23:23 (twenty years ago)

what magazine is this for?

― bnw (bnw), Friday, 29 July 2005 23:26 (twenty years ago)

cover story for 1st issue of DV8 magazine, new rap dvd mag from the publishers of CRUNK (which i write for already

― 3, Friday, 29 July 2005 23:36 (twenty years ago)

good interview, ethan! do me a favor and when you talk to JD again, ask him about Bossman's deal w/ Virgin, so I can relay some info about that back to his local fans.

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 29 July 2005 23:36 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, thanks for the sneak peek, eath! I believe I have talked smack about JD on this board before, but as the man responsible for "That's What I'm Lookin For" he will always, always have a place in my heart.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 29 July 2005 23:45 (twenty years ago)

ok dude i will remember to ask that

― 3, Friday, 29 July 2005 23:48 (twenty years ago)

Nothing special, so not underappreciated. I wonder if Dupri has read "The Manual." I sometimes wonder if every top 40 producer has read "The Manual."

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Saturday, 30 July 2005 01:40 (twenty years ago)

JD doesn't need the manual, he's got...INSTRUCTIONS!

http://image.listen.com/img/0/0/0/0/0/1/6/6/9/2/8/1669285.jpg

― Al (sitcom), Saturday, 30 July 2005 02:15 (twenty years ago)

four months pass...

Heard two songs of his one the radio on my walk thru the massive chicago snowstorm. The Jagged Edge and Voltio one was especially great, only caught the end of the other one. Perhaps someone will tell me what it is...any new JD trakcs out there?

― deej.. (deej..), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:31 (twenty years ago)

maybe something off the Young Fly & Flashy comp?

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:35 (twenty years ago)

He's been amazing this year.

― Zed Szetlian (Finn MacCool), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:49 (twenty years ago)

overhyped.

― retrogurl, Friday, 9 December 2005 04:15 (twenty years ago)

if he stayed quiet on the records he produced, i might like them more. but the stuff hes done for mariah has been great this year. just heard xscape earlier today - he's made some fantastic stuff...

― okok, Friday, 9 December 2005 11:29 (twenty years ago)

seven years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4de0OGVCZXg

lol this is seriously some must-see tv, i was practically in tears

― r|t|c, Monday, 10 December 2012 13:54 (thirteen years ago)

like not in no snobby way but these types of shows always get the real solemn dedicated dudes and jd is just so yeah fuck it whatever winsomely clueless, i mean the whole thing i don't even know where to start quoting

― r|t|c, Monday, 10 December 2012 13:57 (thirteen years ago)

5 mins in. Gold. His stack of sleeveless records, his 'long journey', 'has anyone used this before?'

― pandemic, Monday, 10 December 2012 14:05 (thirteen years ago)

"oh usher! caught up! vinyl. what...? oh this is from the confessions album, huh. i guess. oh and it says it right here on the vinyl. what's crazy is that they still putting out vinyl on confessions album, i didn't even know that but this says the most antpic... anticipated album of the year."

― r|t|c, Monday, 10 December 2012 14:26 (thirteen years ago)

haha, yeah loved that. And the record he sampled for 'money ain't a thing'- *gets album out* "there's probably some other good stuff on here" * puts record back.*

― pandemic, Monday, 10 December 2012 14:33 (thirteen years ago)

i heard a couple circa 05 jd productions on the radio back to back the other day and was thinking "Jermaine Dupri - underappreciated?"

― some dude, Monday, 10 December 2012 14:38 (thirteen years ago)

"to me when you make a record that has a record, that's from a record that people already love, the love is generated to, it's like a second generation of love. so then you take that like and you put that on top of that love, and that record becomes a classic, that's what makes records become classics."

― some dude, Monday, 10 December 2012 14:43 (thirteen years ago)

::holds up Blondie's "Rapture":: "this was the beginning of Kreayshawn!"

― some dude, Monday, 10 December 2012 14:44 (thirteen years ago)

and gwen stefani!

― pandemic, Monday, 10 December 2012 14:45 (thirteen years ago)

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0DA2B4BAA4791B0F

gonna try and get thru all of these but i just watched the toomp one, really great

― r|t|c, Monday, 10 December 2012 18:02 (thirteen years ago)

"the funny thing was, when i did the first cypress album, i had two crates of records, i did the whole album with two crates of records. yknow now i got 15,000 records and i can't get shit done."

muggs with the all-time truth bomb

― r|t|c, Monday, 10 December 2012 18:11 (thirteen years ago)

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