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He's an entrepreneur, he's a producer, he's a major label executive and he's an artist - he's Jermaine Dupri and he's the
Star Maker of the Year!
Where to begin... 2005 started off with Jermaine Dupri being appointed president of Virgin Records Urban Music, a new
division at the label. As part of the arrangement, Dupri brought the So So Def label into the Virgin family, and would oversee
Virgin's entire urban music operation. In addition, he would be able to record as a solo act and produce artists on the Virgin
roster, as well as provide his production services to the entire EMI family of labels.
All that aside, probably his biggest accomplishment of 2005 was playing a major role in the comeback of Mariah Carey.
Oh, and he just received four Grammy Award nominations...
Back to the Carey collaboration... Dupri has just claimed his 19th No. 1 R&B hit in 15 years with Carey's "Don't
Forget About Us." The smash single reached No. 1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop chart this week. JD's work on Carey's
monster success, "The Emancipation of Mimi," has helped make it one of the biggest victories of Carey's career and
one of the most talked about comebacks of all time. She and Dupri will vie for Grammys in the Record of the Year, Song of
the Year, Album of the Year and Best R&B Song at the 48th annual awards in February 2006.
Earlier this year, Dupri became one of only a few producers to garner four positions in the Top 10 on Billboard's Hot
100 chart at one time (a feat accomplished by only two other producers) and the top three spots on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts
with "We Belong Together" and "Shake It Off" by Carey and "Like You (Bow Wow & Ciara)" and
"Let Me Hold You" (Bow Wow featuring Omarion), songs he produced and co-penned. With "We Belong Together"
and "Shake It Off," he and Carey became the first artists
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| JD and his stylish Cartier shades |
since The Beatles to hold the top two spots at the same time.
Widely known and respected for his hit making work with artists including Carey, Bow Wow, Usher, Alicia Keys, TLC, Da
Brat and Anthony Hamilton, Dupri got his start in the music business at the tender young age of 14. At 19, he founded So So
Def and captured worldwide attention with the crossover success of Kris Kross. He has received numerous awards and accolades
from his peers including several
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| Despite the haters, Ms. Jackson and JD are still kickin' it, in business, love and life! |
Grammy nominations and ASCAP's prestigious Golden Note and Songwriter of the Year awards.
As president of urban music at Virgin Records, Dupri helped the label earn its firstNo.1 R&B/Hip-Hop hit in years
with Dem Franchize Boyz' sizzler, "I Think They Like Me" from the So So Def compilation, "Jermaine Dupri Presents
... Young, Fly and Flashy Vol. 1."
Currently he's busy completing albums for one of his newest proteges, crooner Johnta Austin, and pop icon (and girlfriend),
Janet Jackson.
Dupri hasn't stopped there... this year he opened Café Dupri in the heart of Buckhead and has plans to build a hotel.
Recently, he teamed with the prestigious Cartier brand to design a limited series of eyewear with proceeds to benefit the
Hurricane Relief Fund. The glasses feature rimless frames with bubinga wood, a platinum finish and a fade lens. JD's signature
is placed in the lens, while the frame contains Cartier's "C" logo.
"I've been a long time supporter of Cartier and they know this," Dupri explained. "So, I was in the store
one day getting something fixed and the thought [to create the eyewear] came to my mind. I asked for the manager and I'm thinking
they gonna say 'hell no,' but they took a shot and thought it was a cool idea."
On December 7, the producer hosted a private fund-raising event for Cartier at the House of Cartier in Atlanta. Guests
at the invitation-only affair included Slim of 112, Usher, Monica, Nelly, Kenny Burns and NBA player Kevin Willis. A percentage
of the proceeds will be donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and City of Refuge - both local liaisons for the Hurricane
Relief Fund.
The glasses are valued at $1,500. The eyewear was a hit among the celebrities with 13 pairs of the exclusive sunglasses
sold that night.
Throughout the years, JD has been acknowledged by the Grammys for his work with Usher, Alicia Keys and TLC (to name a
few) with song nominations. In 2004, he received four nods for his work on Usher's mega-smash, "Confessions."
JD has been responsible for producing 18 No. 1 R&B songs over the past decade,
In 2005, JD has ruled the music scene with his songs for Mariah Carey and Bow Wow. In September 2005, he had the honor
of becoming one of the few producers to hold the top four positions on the Billboard charts at one time - a feat accomplished
by only a select group of artists including The Beatles.
Congratulations Jermaine Dupri - Star Maker of the Year!
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