SoSo Def Recordings #VegasTech ATL based

The label 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 Music and Columbia Records. Its first act was the 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. In 1994, the label released the debut album of Da Brat, who 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 1997. 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.

Distribution[edit]

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, per the reconsolidation of labels caused by the merger of its former Sony Music parent and BMG, So So Def was shifted from Arista to its sister label,Zomba Label Group.

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.

In 2009, it was reported that Dupri had been terminated from his post at Island Records. Later in the same year, it was rumored that So So Def had moved back to Sony Music, where it reportedly operated under Zomba Label Group once more.[1] In 2010, Mississippi-based independent label Malaco Records distributed So So Def's release of the Why Did I Get Married Too? soundtrack.[2][3]

Discography[edit]

YearTitleArtist

1993 Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha Xscape

1994 Funkdafied Da Brat

1995 Off the Hook Xscape

1996 12 Soulful Nights of Christmas Jermaine Dupri

1996 Anuthatantrum Da Brat

1997 A Jagged Era Jagged Edge

1998 Traces of My Lipstick Xscape

1998 Life in 1472 Jermaine Dupri

1999 The Movement Harlem World

2000 J.E. Heartbreak Jagged Edge