So So Def Recordings

So So Def Recordings
Parent company
Founded1993; 33 years ago (1993)
FounderJermaine Dupri
Distributors
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LocationAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.

So So Def Recordings is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, founded by producer Jermaine Dupri in 1993. Specializing in Southern hip hop, R&B, and bass music, the label has signed musical acts such as Bow Wow, Kris Kross, Xscape, Dem Franchize Boyz, Anthony Hamilton, Jagged Edge, INOJ, J-Kwon, and the Ghost Town DJ's. Lathun Grady, The ROC

History

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 and Columbia. Its first act was Xscape, whose debut album was released in the fall of the same year and went Platinum—as did their 2nd and 3rd albums, released in 1995 and 1998. In 1994, the label released the debut album of Da Brat, who became the 1st solo female emcee to be certified for Platinum album sales. In 1996, Kandi Burruss brought 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 Lil' Bow Wow in 2000. Other acts on the label have included: Dem Franchise Boyz, The Ghost Town DJs, INOJ, J-Kwon, Trina Broussard, 3LW, and Anthony Hamilton.

1993–2002: Columbia, Xscape, Da Brat, Lil Bow Wow

So So Def closed out 2001 with the December 18 release of Lil' Bow Wow's second studio album, Doggy Bag. The album featured guest appearances from several labelmates, including R.O.C., Fundisha, Xscape, Da Brat, and Jagged Edge. Production was primarily handled by Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, with Dupri also serving as executive producer. Commercially, Doggy Bag proved to be another major success for the young rapper, debuting at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 after selling approximately 319,000 copies in its first week. The album was subsequently certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It would ultimately mark Bow Wow's final studio album released under the So So Def label.

2005–2006: Virgin and Dem Franchize Boyz era

On January 24, 2005, Jermaine Dupri was appointed president of Virgin Records America's newly established Urban Music division. Under the agreement, So So Def joined Virgin's roster, while Dupri also signed as a solo artist and agreed to produce artists on Virgin and other EMI labels. Later that year, Dupri signed Atlanta, Georgia-based rap group Dem Franchize Boyz to the label.

So So Def kicked off 2006 with the February release of Dem Franchize Boyz's On Top of Our Game, their second studio album and only full-length studio release under the label. Production was primarily handled by Jermaine Dupri, who also served as executive producer. Guest appearances from So So Def labelmates included Dupri, Da Brat, and Bow Wow. The album achieved considerable commercial success, debuting and peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and quickly earning a gold certification from the RIAA. Later that October, Dupri resigned from his position as president of Virgin Records' Urban Music division, taking So So Def with him as he departed the company. However, this move resulted in the loss of Dem Franchize Boyz.

Distribution

In late 2002, So So Def's distribution deal with Columbia ended. The following year, Dupri moved So So Def to Arista. 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 re-consolidation of labels caused by the merger of its former Sony parent and BMG, So So Def was shifted from Arista to Zomba.

In 2005, Dupri was appointed Executive Vice President of Urban Music at Virgin, causing So So Def to move again, this time over to Virgin and EMI—resulting in the loss of Bone Crusher and YoungBloodZ. So So Def, meanwhile, was able to retain J-Kwon and Anthony Hamilton, despite them still being signed to Zomba. In 2006, Dupri had a falling-out with Virgin, resulting in him leaving his post at the company. Intermittent, he was appointed President of urban music at Universal's Island, resulting in So So Def once again making a move to UMG's The Island Def Jam.

In 2009, it was reported that Dupri had been terminated from his post at Island. Later in the same year, it was rumored that So So Def had moved back to Sony, where it reportedly operated under Zomba 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 partnered with Primary Wave for the release of Jagged Edge's album J.E. Heartbreak 2. In June 2016, So So Def partnered with Epic for current distribution. In 2024, Dupri signed a multi-year distribution deal with Create Music Group for the So So Def label.

In April 2025, So So Def signed a distribution deal with Hybe America, reuniting Dupri and Hybe America CEO Scooter Braun, who began his music career working for So So Def. On June 2, 2025, Dupri announced the signing of R&B duo Dvsn, the first artists signed to So So Def and Hybe America under the venture.

Discography

Year Title Artist Certification
1993 Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha Xscape RIAA: Platinum
1994 Funkdafied Da Brat RIAA: Platinum
1995 Off the Hook Xscape RIAA: Platinum
1996 Anuthatantrum Da Brat RIAA: Gold
Young, Rich & Dangerous Kris Kross RIAA: Gold
1997 A Jagged Era Jagged Edge RIAA: Gold
1998 Traces of My Lipstick Xscape RIAA: Platinum
Life in 1472 Jermaine Dupri RIAA: Platinum
12 Soulful Nights of Christmas Various artists –
1999 The Movement Harlem World –
J.E. Heartbreak Jagged Edge RIAA: 2× Platinum
2000 Unrestricted Da Brat RIAA: Platinum
Beware of Dog Lil' Bow Wow RIAA: 2× Platinum
2001 Jagged Little Thrill Jagged Edge RIAA: Platinum
Instructions Jermaine Dupri –
Doggy Bag Lil' Bow Wow RIAA: Platinum
2002 So So Def Presents: Definition Of A Remix Jermaine Dupri / Various –
2003 Drankin' Patnaz YoungBloodZ RIAA: Gold
AttenCHUN! BoneCrusher –
Comin' From Where I'm From Anthony Hamilton RIAA: Platinum
Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz Da Brat –
Hard Jagged Edge RIAA: Gold
2004 Hood Hop J-Kwon RIAA: Gold
2005 Ain't Nobody Worryin' Anthony Hamilton RIAA: Gold
Young, Fly & Flashy, Vol. 1 Jermaine Dupri –
2006 On Top of Our Game Dem Franchize Boyz RIAA: Gold
Point of No Return 3LW –
So So Gangsta Daz Dillinger –
2007 Money Power and Techs Hot Dollar –
Baby Makin' Project Jagged Edge –
2008 Self-Made Rocko –
100 Laws Of Power 2.0 Hot Dollar –
2014 J.E. Heartbreak 2 Jagged Edge –
2018 The Return Da Brat –
So So Def 25th Anniversary (1993-2018) Jermaine Dupri / Various –


Artists

References

  1. ↑ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (April 7, 2025). "Dvsn Signs to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
  2. ↑ "Dupri To Head Virgin's Urban Division". Billboard. Retrieved 26 August 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ "Dem Franchize Boyz rapper Buddie dies, Jermaine Dupri confirms". 11Alive. Retrieved 26 August 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "Johnson & Friends Bow at No. 1, Grammys Spur Sales". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  5. ↑ Moody, Nekesa Mumbi (25 October 2006). "Jermaine Dupri Exits Virgin Records". CBS News. Retrieved 26 August 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ "JD Moves So So Def To Sony". Rapbasement.com. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Janet Jackson "Nothing" (So So Def/Malaco Music)". Airplayresource.com. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "AddBoard - Sign In". Addboard.mediabase.com. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Jermaine Dupri & So So Def Label Team with Epic Records & L.A. Reid". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  10. ↑ Horowitz, Steven J. "Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings Strikes Multiyear Deal With Create Music Group". variety.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  11. ↑ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (April 7, 2025). "Dvsn Signs to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
  12. ↑ Samuels, Keithan (June 2, 2025). "Dvsn Signs to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings". Rated RnB. Retrieved 2025-06-03.