So So Def Recordings

infobox record label


parent = Universal Music Group
founded = 1993
founder = Jermaine Dupri
distributor = The Island Def Jam Music Group
genre = Hip-Hop, R&B
country = United States
location = Atlanta, Georgia
url = http://www.sosodef.com

So So Def Recordings is a record label, based out of Atlanta, Georgia and owned by Jermaine Dupri, specializing in Southern hip hop, R&B, and bass music.

Label history

The label was established in 1993 as a joint venture with Columbia Records; its first act was 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 respectively. In 1994, the label released the debut album of Da Brat, who immediately 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 1998.) 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., Anthony Hamilton.

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, So So Def was shifted from Arista to Zomba Music Group because of the Sony-BMG merger.

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, where it currently operates.

Artists

* Dondria
* Q Da Kid
* DJ Felli Fel
* Anthony Hamilton
* Young Capone
* T.Waters
* SunN.Y.
* Bryan-Michael Cox
* Jagged Edge
* Short Dawg
* Johnta Austin
* The Kid Slim
* Nitti
* Jermaine Dupri
* Ricky Bell
* Hot Dollar
* 9th Ward
* Git Fresh
* Mariah Carey
* Bow Wow
* Ryan Evans
* Janet Jackson

Former artists

* Killa D
* Daz Dillinger
* Bone Crusher
* Bossman
* Jarvis
* J-Kwon
* YoungBloodZ
* Xscape
* 3LW
* Dem Franchize Boyz
* Harlem World
* Da Brat
* Sponge J
* Kris Kross

Albums

See also

* List of record labels

External links

* [http://www.sosodef.com Official site]

References