Editing So So Def Recordings

{{Short description|US record label}}
{{infobox record label
| bgcolor     = #000000
| name        = {{color|white|So So Def Recordings}}
| image       = So So Def Recordings logo.svg
| image_size  = 200px
| parent      = {{plainlist|
* [[Sony Music]] (1993–2003; back catalogue)
*[[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]] (2003-2005)
* [[EMI]] (2005–2007)
* [[Universal Music Group|Universal]] (2007–2009) }}
| founded     = {{Start date and age|1993}}
| distributor = {{plainlist|
* [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] (1993–2003)
* [[Arista Records|Arista]] (2003–2005)
* [[Virgin Records|Virgin]] (2005–2007)
* [[The Island Def Jam Music Group|Island Def Jam]] (2007–2009)
* [[Malaco Records|Malaco]] (2009–2016)
* [[Epic Records|Epic]] (2016–2023)
* [[Create Music Group]] (2024-present)}}
| genre       = {{hlist|[[Hip-hop|Hip hop]]|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]}}
| country     = [[United States]]
| location    = [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], U.S.
}}

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

==Beginnings==
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|Sony]] and [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]. Its first act was [[Xscape (band)|Xscape]], whose debut album was released in the fall of the same year and went [[RIAA certification|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 [[RIAA certification|Platinum]] album sales. In 1996, [[Kandi Burruss]] brought [[Jagged Edge (American 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 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 (musician)|Anthony Hamilton]].

==Distribution ==

In late 2002, So So Def's distribution deal with Columbia ended.  The following year, Dupri moved So So Def to [[Arista Records|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 [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]], So So Def was shifted from Arista to [[Zomba Group of Companies|Zomba]].

In 2005, Dupri was appointed Executive Vice President of Urban Music at [[Virgin Records|Virgin]], causing So So Def to move again, this time over to Virgin and [[EMI]]—resulting in the loss of [[Bone Crusher (rapper)|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 Music Group|Universal's]] [[Island Records|Island]], resulting in So So Def once again making a move to UMG's [[The Island Def Jam Music Group|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rapbasement.com/jermaine-dupri/011509-jermaine-dupri-moves-his-so-so-def-label-to-sony-bmg.html|title=JD Moves So So Def To Sony|website=Rapbasement.com|access-date=9 March 2015}}</ref> In 2010, Mississippi-based independent label [[Malaco Records]] distributed So So Def's release of the ''[[Why Did I Get Married Too?]]'' soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://airplayresource.com/janetjackson/1004_nothing/uac.htm|title=Janet Jackson "Nothing" (So So Def/Malaco Music)|website=Airplayresource.com|access-date=9 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://addboard.mediabase.com/SignIn.asp|title=AddBoard - Sign In|website=Addboard.mediabase.com|access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref>

In 2014, So So Def partnered with [[Primary Wave Music|Primary Wave]] for the release of [[Jagged Edge (American group)|Jagged Edge]]'s album ''[[J.E. Heartbreak 2]]''. In June 2016, So So Def partnered with Epic for current distribution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Jermaine-Dupri-So-So-Def-Label-Team-with-Epic-Records-LA-Reid-20160628|title=Jermaine Dupri & So So Def Label Team with Epic Records & L.A. Reid|website=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref> In 2024, Dupri signed a multi-year distribution deal with [[Create Music Group]] for the So So Def label.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Horowitz |first1=Steven J. |title=Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Recordings Strikes Multiyear Deal With Create Music Group |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/jermaine-dupris-so-so-def-recordings-multiyear-deal-create-music-group-1235900409/ |website=variety.com |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=2024-09-02}}</ref>

== Discography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Artist
!Certification
|-
|1993
|''[[Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha]]''
|[[Xscape (band)|Xscape]]
|RIAA: Platinum
|-
|1994
|''[[Funkdafied]]''
|[[Da Brat]]
|RIAA: Platinum
|-
|1995
|''[[Off the Hook (Xscape album)|Off the Hook]]''
|[[Xscape (band)|Xscape]]
|RIAA: Platinum
|-
|rowspan="2"|1996
|''[[Anuthatantrum]]''
|[[Da Brat]]
|RIAA: Gold
|-
|''[[Young, Rich & Dangerous]]''
|[[Kris Kross]]
|RIAA: Gold
|-
|1997
|''[[A Jagged Era]]''
|[[Jagged Edge (American group)|Jagged Edge]]
|RIAA: Gold
|-
|rowspan="3"|1998
|''[[Traces of My Lipstick]]''
|[[Xscape (band)|Xscape]]
|RIAA: Platinum
|-
|''[[Life in 1472]]''
|[[Jermaine Dupri]]
|RIAA: Platinum
|-
|''[[12 Soulful Nights of Christmas]]''
|Various artists
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1999
|''[[The Movement (Harlem World album)|The Movement]]''
|[[Harlem World (group)|Harlem World]]
|-
|''[[J.E. Heartbreak]]''
|[[Jagged Edge (American group)|Jagged Edge]]
|RIAA: 2× Platinum
|-
|rowspan="2"|2000
|''[[Unrestricted (Da Brat album)|Unrestricted]]''
|[[Da Brat]]
|RIAA: Platinum
|-
|''[[Beware of Dog (album)|Beware of Dog]]''
|[[Lil' Bow Wow]]
|RIAA: 2× Platinum
|-
|rowspan="3"|2001
|''[[Jagged Little Thrill]]''
|[[Jagged Edge (American group)|Jagged Edge]]
|RIAA: Platinum
|-
|''[[Instructions (album)|Instructions]]''
|[[Jermaine Dupri]]
|
|-
|''[[Doggy Bag]]''
|[[Lil' Bow Wow]]
|RIAA: Platinum
|-
|rowspan"1"|2002
|''So So Def Presents: Definition Of A Remix''
|[[Jermaine Dupri]] / Various
|-
|rowspan="5"|2003
|''[[Drankin' Patnaz]]''
|[[YoungBloodZ]]
|RIAA: Gold
|-
|''[[AttenCHUN!]]''
|[[BoneCrusher]]
|
|-
|''[[Comin' From Where I'm From]]''
|[[Anthony Hamilton (musician)|Anthony Hamilton]]
|RIAA: Platinum
|-
|[[Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz]]
|[[Da Brat]]
|
|-
|[[Hard (Jagged Edge album)|Hard]]
|[[Jagged Edge (American group)|Jagged Edge]]
|RIAA: Gold
|-
|2004
|''[[Hood Hop]]''
|[[J-Kwon]]
|RIAA: Gold
|-
|rowspan="2"|2005
|''[[Ain't Nobody Worryin']]''
|[[Anthony Hamilton (musician)|Anthony Hamilton]]
|RIAA: Gold
|-
|''[[Young, Fly & Flashy, Vol. 1]]''
|[[Jermaine Dupri]]
|-
|-
|rowspan="3"|2006
|''[[On Top of Our Game]]''
|[[Dem Franchize Boyz]]
|RIAA: Gold
|-
|''Point of No Return''
|[[3LW]]
|
|-
|''[[So So Gangsta]]''
|[[Daz Dillinger]]
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|2007
|''Money Power and Techs''
|[[Hot Dollar]]
|
|-
|''[[Baby Makin' Project]]''
|[[Jagged Edge (American group)|Jagged Edge]]
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|2008
|''[[Self-Made (album)|Self-Made]]''
|[[Rocko (rapper)|Rocko]]
|
|-
|''100 Laws Of Power 2.0''
|[[Hot Dollar]]
|
|-
|2014
|''[[J.E. Heartbreak 2]]''
|[[Jagged Edge (American group)|Jagged Edge]]
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018
|''The Return''
|[[Da Brat]]
|
|-
|''So So Def 25th Anniversary (1993-2018)''
|[[Jermaine Dupri]] / Various
|}

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050303172643/http://www.sosodef.com/ Official site]

{{Jermaine Dupri}}
{{Zomba Group of Companies}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American record labels]]
[[Category:Contemporary R&B record labels]]
[[Category:Hip-hop record labels]]
[[Category:Record labels established in 1993]]
[[Category:Sony Music]]
[[Category:Zomba Group of Companies subsidiaries]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]