Jermaine Dupri

Jermaine Dupri Mauldin , known as Jermaine Dupri or JD, is an American hip hop recording artist, record producer, songwriter and rapper. He was born in Asheville, NC and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He has worked with and produced Mariah Carey, Usher, JayZ, Nelly, Monica, Da Brat, Xscape, Janet Jackson, TLC, Aretha Franklin, Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Bow Wow.

Jermaine Dupri Mauldin was born on September 23, 1972, son of Tina and Michael Mauldin, a Columbia Records executive. Durpris promising musical career began before he was even ten years old. His father, also a Atlanta manager Michael Mauldin, had coordinated a Diana Ross show in 1982 to the delight of concertgoers, Dupri managed to get onstage and dance along with Ross. Dupri got his start as a dancer for the hip hop group Whodini when he was twelve. He made an appearance in their music video for the song Freaks Come Out At Night. He began performing around the country, appearing with Herbie Hancock and Cameo before he opened the New York Fresh Festival, with RunD.M.C., Whodini, and Grandmaster Flash.

Source: Wikipedia