So So Def Recordings: Американдық жазба лейбелінің тарихы

US record label

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 managed artists such as Bow Wow, Kris Kross, Xscape, TLC, Usher, Dem Franchize Boyz, Anthony Hamilton, Jagged Edge, and The Ghost Town DJs.

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, Maestro Harrell, The Ghost Town DJs, INOJ, J Kwon, Trina Broussard, 3LW, and Anthony Hamilton.

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.

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 artists1999The MovementHarlem WorldJ. E. HeartbreakJagged EdgeRIAA: 2× Platinum2000UnrestrictedDa BratRIAA: PlatinumBeware of DogLil' Bow WowRIAA: 2× Platinum2001Jagged Little ThrillJagged EdgeRIAA: PlatinumInstructionsJermaine DupriDoggy BagLil' Bow WowRIAA: Platinum2002So So Def Presents: Definition Of A RemixJermaine Dupri / Various2003Drankin' PatnazYoungBloodZRIAA: GoldAttenCHUN!BoneCrusherComin' From Where I'm FromAnthony HamiltonRIAA: PlatinumLimelite, Luv & NiteclubzDa BratHardJagged EdgeRIAA: Gold2004Hood HopJ KwonRIAA: Gold2005Ain't Nobody Worryin'Anthony HamiltonRIAA: GoldYoung, Fly & Flashy, Vol. 1Jermaine Dupri2006On Top of Our GameDem Franchize BoyzRIAA: GoldPoint of No Return3LWSo So GangstaDaz Dillinger2007Money Power and TechsHot DollarBaby Makin' ProjectJagged Edge2008Self MadeRocko100 Laws Of Power 2.0Hot Dollar2014J. E. Heartbreak 2Jagged Edge2018The ReturnDa BratSo So Def 25th Anniversary (1993 2018)Jermaine Dupri / Various