Genre Hip hop, R&B Parent organization Sony Music Founded 1993 Country of origin United States of America | Location Atlanta, Georgia Founder Jermaine Dupri CEO Jermaine Dupri (1993–) | |
Parent company Sony Music Entertainment Distributor(s) Epic Records (current)
Primary Wave Music(former) Artists Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, Bow Wow, Kris Kross, Jagged Edge Albums JE Heartbreak, Beware of Dog, Doggy Bag, Jagged Little Thrill, Off the Hook Profiles | ||
So So Def Recordings is a record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, and owned by producer Jermaine Dupri, specializing in Southern hip hop, R&B, and bass music. So So Def Recordings has managed artists such as Lil Bow Wow, Kris Kross, TLC, Usher and Da Brat.
Contents
Beginnings
The label So So Def was established in 1993 as a spin-off of Dupri's production company of the same moniker, through a joint venture with Sony Music and Columbia Records. Its first act was the female R&B group Xscape, whose debut album was released in the fall of the same year and went platinum—as did their second and third albums, released in 1995 and 1998. In 1994, the label released the debut album of Da Brat, who became the first solo female emcee to be certified for platinum album sales. In 1996, Kandi Burruss (of Xscape) brought the singing group Jagged Edge to the attention of the label; their debut album, A Jagged Era, was released in 1997. So So Def later released the triple platinum debut album by Bow Wow in 2000. Other acts on the label have included: Dem Franchise Boyz, Maestro Harrell, The Ghost Town DJs, INOJ, J-Kwon, Trina Broussard, R.O.C., and Anthony Hamilton.
Current Artists
Distribution
In 2002, So So Def's distribution deal with Columbia Records ended. The following year, Dupri moved So So Def to Arista Records, where he was appointed president of Black Music. While many of So So Def's acts moved with the label to Arista, Bow Wow and Jagged Edge were forced to remain at Columbia, due to their contracts having been with that company primarily. In 2004, per the reconsolidation of labels caused by the merger of its former Sony Music parent and BMG, So So Def was shifted from Arista to its sister label, Zomba Label Group.
In 2005, Dupri was appointed Executive Vice President of Urban Music at Virgin Records, causing So So Def to move again, this time over to Virgin and EMI—resulting in the loss of acts such as Bone Crusher and the YoungBloodZ. So So Def, meanwhile, was able to retain J-Kwon and Anthony Hamilton, despite their still being signed to Zomba. In 2006, Dupri had a falling out with Virgin, resulting in his leaving his post at the company. Intermittent, he was appointed President of urban music at Universal Music Group's Island Records, resulting in So So Def once again making a move to UMG's The Island Def Jam Music Group.
In 2009, it was reported that Dupri had been terminated from his post at Island Records. Later in the same year, it was rumored that So So Def had moved back to Sony Music, where it reportedly operated under Zomba Label Group once more. In 2010, Mississippi-based independent label Malaco Records distributed So So Def's release of the Why Did I Get Married Too? soundtrack.
In 2014, So So Def Recordings partnered with Primary Wave Music for the release of Jagged Edge's album J.E. Heartbreak 2. In June 2016, So So Def Recordings partnered with Epic Records for current distribution.