Congratulations Jermaine! What a great story from Haute Living. Check out the story and very cool, sexy photos at my listing in Atlanta, GA! – Debra –
HAUTE LIVING STORY Jermaine Dupri Reaches New Heights With His Induction Into The Songwriters Hall Of Fame by Violet Camacho Photography: Reginald E. Weekes IV
Jermaine Dupri is a music legend. The talented producer who sprung from the depths of the Atlanta music scene is leaving an indelible mark in hip-hop and R&B, branding his music with that undeniable Southern funk, identifiable even two decades since his iconic label, So So Def Recordings, was born.
His career has been nothing short of stellar, working alongside some of the world’s biggest artists. From the Kris Kross craze to Usher having it his way, and who can forget Mariah’s “We Belong Together”? Dupri’s production roster includes names like Jay-Z, TLC, Ludacris, Alicia Keys, Destiny’s Child and Janet Jackson―and he isn’t done yet. On June 14th, along with Bill Anderson, Robert “Kool” Bell, Ronald Bell, George Brown & James “J.T.” Taylor (aka Kool and The Gang), Steve Dorff, Alan Jackson, John Mellencamp and Allee Willis, he will receive the honor of being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Here, he sits with Haute Living and discusses what he’s afraid of, his biggest career lessons and what he is most proud of. It’s a huge year for you, with the 25th anniversary So So Def, the 20th anniversary of your song with Jay-Z, “Money Ain’t a Thang,” and your induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Would you say this is the most defining moment of your career?
No, I wouldn’t say that. It’s a scary moment, probably the scariest moment in my life. I feel like when music people start looking at you when you get these kind of awards and records start having anniversaries, people start counting you out. I feel like now is my busiest time to make sure that I perform at the level that all of this is happening at. I don’t know many people that get to this point and are still in the mix as I am. I follow a lot people, like when Berry Gordy did Motown 25, I’m not sure that he was as active in the music business and in the culture as much as I am. It feels exciting. I don’t want to take away from the magnitude of that this is, but at the same time, I’ve always been the kind of person that no matter what height of success I achieved, I want to be present to what happens after that success.
