Jermaine Dupri Signs Worldwide Label Deal With Arista

Jermaine Dupri has entered into an exclusive label/production deal with Arista Records. The deal brings Dupri’s So So Def imprint to the major label and makes Dupri a Senior Vice President in the company. "I am very excited about this," Dupri told AllHipHop.com. "I think the music business a new look and that’s what I […]

Jermaine Dupri has entered into an exclusive

label/production deal with Arista Records. The deal brings Dupri’s So So Def

imprint to the major label and makes Dupri a Senior Vice President in the company.

"I am very excited about this," Dupri

told AllHipHop.com. "I think the music business a new look and that’s what

I bring to the table."

Under the terms of the deal, So So Def, which

was formely distributed by Columbia, will now be distributed worldwide by Arista

and Dupri will continue to act as a producer and solo artist, as well as produce

exclusively for the BMG group of record labels. Bow Wow and Jagged Edge will

remain with Columbia.

"I feel I bring a lot to the table, and

am definitely happy to do what I have to do in Arista’s very comfortable space.

As SVP, I hope to follow Arista’s path and continue to change the face of music."

In addition to being a successful solo artist

in his own right, JD’s production record is a virtual who’s who in music. Dupri

has produced, executive produced or remixed #1 songs for Run-D.M.C., Jay-Z,

Notorious B.I.G., Ludacris and others.

"Jermaine has been one of the outstanding

creative forces in the Atlanta music scene," Arista CEO Antonio "L.A."

Reid added. "We have known each other for more than a decade, and it has

been a source of personal satisfaction for me to watch him work with and guide

many of Atlanta’s hip-hop and R&B artists to superstar status," said

Mr. Reid. "Jermaine has produced some of the greatest names in contemporary

music, and I welcome the opportunity to bring him into the Arista family."