NEW YORK, NY (Virgin Records) - After having just received four Grammy Award nominations, the prestigious music industry honors taking place on February 8th, super producer/songwriter and Virgin Records' Urban
Music President, Jermaine "JD" Dupri, has claimed his 19th No 1 R&B hit in 15 years, with songstress Mariah Carey's "Don't Forget About Us." The smash single reached No 1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop chart this week and marks the fifth No 1 of her career, tying Monica's record for the most chart toppers in this format.
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 this year's 48th Annual awards. Carey also received nominations in four other categories for the classic album.
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 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 Grammy nominations and ASCAP's prestigious Golden Note and Songwriter of the Year awards.
As the recently named President of Urban Music at Virgin Records, Dupri helped the label earn it's first No 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, Janet Jackson.
