So So Def Recordings is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, founded by producer Jermaine Dupri in 1993. Specializing in Southern hip hop, R&B, and bass music, the label has signed musical acts such as Bow Wow, Kris Kross, Xscape, Dem Franchize Boyz, Anthony Hamilton, Jagged Edge, INOJ, J-Kwon, and the Ghost Town DJ's. Lathun Grady, The ROC

History 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 and Columbia. Its first act was Xscape, whose debut album was released in the fall of the same year and went Platinum—as did their 2nd and 3rd albums, released in 1995 and 1998. In 1994, the label released the debut album of Da Brat, who became the 1st solo female emcee to be certified for Platinum album sales. In 1996, Kandi Burruss brought 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 Lil' Bow Wow in 2000. Other acts on the label have included: Dem Franchise Boyz, The Ghost Town DJs, INOJ, J-Kwon, Trina Broussard, 3LW, and Anthony Hamilton.

Virgin and EMI

On January 24, 2005, Jermaine Dupri was appointed president of Virgin Records America's newly established Urban Music division. Under the agreement, So So Def joined Virgin's roster, while Dupri also signed as a solo artist and agreed to produce artists on Virgin and other EMI labels. Later that year, Dupri signed Atlanta,Georgia-based rap group Dem Franchize Boyz to the label.

Dem Franchize Boyz released On Top of Our Game, their second and only studio album with So So Def, in February 2006. The album debuted and peaked in the top five on the Billboard 200, and was certified gold by the RIAA. That October, Dupri resigned as the president of Virgin's Urban Music division, taking with him So So Def. However, this move resulted in the loss of Dem Franchize Boyz.

Distribution

In late 2002, So So Def's distribution deal with Columbia ended. The following year, Dupri moved So So Def to Arista. 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 re-consolidation of labels caused by the merger of its former Sony parent and BMG, So So Def was shifted from Arista to Zomba.

In 2005, Dupri was appointed Executive Vice President of Urban Music at Virgin, causing So So Def to move again, this time over to Virgin and EMI—resulting in the loss of Bone Crusher and YoungBloodZ. So So Def, meanwhile, was able to retain J-Kwon and Anthony Hamilton, despite them still being signed to Zomba. In 2006, Dupri had a falling-out with Virgin, resulting in him leaving his post at the company. Intermittent, he was appointed President of urban music at Universal's Island, resulting in So So Def once again making a move to UMG's The Island Def Jam.

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

In 2014, So So Def partnered with Primary Wave for the release of Jagged Edge's album J.E. Heartbreak 2. In June 2016, So So Def partnered with Epic for current distribution. In 2024, Dupri signed a multi-year distribution deal with Create Music Group for the So So Def label.

In April 2025, So So Def signed a distribution deal with Hybe America, reuniting Dupri and Hybe America CEO Scooter Braun, who began his music career working for So So Def. On June 2, 2025, Dupri announced the signing of R&B duo Dvsn, the first artists signed to So So Def and Hybe America under the venture.

Discography YearTitleArtistCertification1993Hummin' Comin' at 'ChaXscapeRIAA: Platinum1994FunkdafiedDa BratRIAA: Platinum1995Off the HookXscapeRIAA: Platinum1996AnuthatantrumDa BratRIAA: GoldYoung, Rich & DangerousKris KrossRIAA: Gold1997A Jagged EraJagged EdgeRIAA: Gold1998Traces of My LipstickXscapeRIAA: PlatinumLife in 1472Jermaine DupriRIAA: Platinum12 Soulful Nights of ChristmasVarious artists–1999The MovementHarlem World–J.E. HeartbreakJagged EdgeRIAA: 2× Platinum2000UnrestrictedDa BratRIAA: PlatinumBeware of DogLil' Bow WowRIAA: 2× Platinum2001Jagged Little ThrillJagged EdgeRIAA: PlatinumInstructionsJermaine Dupri–Doggy BagLil' Bow WowRIAA: Platinum2002So So Def Presents: Definition Of A RemixJermaine Dupri / Various–2003Drankin' PatnazYoungBloodZRIAA: GoldAttenCHUN!BoneCrusher–Comin' From Where I'm FromAnthony HamiltonRIAA: PlatinumLimelite, Luv & NiteclubzDa Brat–HardJagged EdgeRIAA: Gold2004Hood HopJ-KwonRIAA: Gold2005Ain't Nobody Worryin'Anthony HamiltonRIAA: GoldYoung, Fly & Flashy, Vol. 1Jermaine Dupri–2006On Top of Our GameDem Franchize BoyzRIAA: GoldPoint of No Return3LW–So So GangstaDaz Dillinger–2007Money Power and TechsHot Dollar–Baby Makin' ProjectJagged Edge–2008Self-MadeRocko–100 Laws Of Power 2.0Hot Dollar–2014J.E. Heartbreak 2Jagged Edge–2018The ReturnDa Brat–So So Def 25th Anniversary (1993-2018)Jermaine Dupri / Various–

Artists Kris Kross Trina Broussard Xscape Monica (management only) Bow Wow Whodini Dem Franchize Boyz Harlem World Ghost Town DJ's TLC (management only) YoungBloodZ Bone Crusher Anthony Hamilton Daz Dillinger 3LW Rocko DJ Felli Fel Hot Dollar Johntá Austin Leah Labelle (deceased) R.O.C. Jagged Edge J-Kwon dvsn

References

External links Official site