JERMAINE DUPRI: Say 'Hello, Mister President!'

By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

Hip-hop superproducer Jermaine Dupri has been appointed as a President of Island Def Jam Records.

Just a couple of months ago, he bolted from his ill-fated gig heading up urban music at Virgin Records.

Today, it was announced that hip-hop super-producer Jermaine Dupri has been appointed president of Island Records Urban Music, a new division of the Island Def Jam Music Group.

As part of the "new deal," Dupri will oversee Island's entire urban music operation, reporting directly to Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid and Island Records/COO President Steve Bartels.

Label spokesperson Laura Swanson said he will be based in Atlanta and New York.

"I'm so excited to be reunited with L.A. Reid because most of my biggest hits were when he and I worked together," Dupri, who worked with Reid during his tenure at Arista Records -- and also produced many of his biggest acts, including TLC, Toni Braxton and Mariah Carey . "And then to be working side by side with Steve Bartels -- I don't think there's a better team because he's by far the best in the game. I can't wait for us to start stuntin' on y'all."

Dupri is one of the most sought after hitmakers in the music business today. He has written, produced, or mixed hit records for many of the industry's top artists including Usher, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Run-DMC, Alicia Keyes, Nelly, Chingy, Monica, Aaliyah, Ciara and his girlfriend Janet Jackson, among others.

He co-wrote and produced Carey #1 hits 'We Belong Together' (for which he shared the Grammy award for Best R&B Song), 'Shake It Off,' and 'Don't Forget About Us.' All three were from her gargantuan comeback opus 'The Emancipation of Mimi,' ranked as the #1 top-selling album of 2005.

"Jermaine's career has grown from strength to strength over the years," said Reid, "as a producer and songwriter and recording artist in his own right, as a respected label executive and entrepreneur, and as a highly esteemed developer of new talent. His deep ties to Atlanta's creative R&B and hip-hop community have been the springboard to working with the greatest names in contemporary music. This is a tremendous step forward for Island Records and its established roster of artists who will benefit enormously from Jermaine's presence."