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Jermaine Dupri joined Audacy Atlanta V-103’s Big Tigger Morning Show to talk all about his So So R&B Experience going down in Atlanta this weekend, his Brothas & Brews event aimed at getting Black men out to vote in the 2024 election, and more.
LISTEN NOW: V-103's Big Tigger Morning Show with Jermaine Dupri
aking place at the Wolf Creek Amphitheater in Atlanta, GA, on Saturday, October 12, Jermaine promises the So So R&B Experience, despite not being the previously proposed festival last year (that “people still want”), will be a concert filled with people “having a great time, partying…
singing, and all of that.” This is hard to argue given the event's lineup, which includes Muni Long, DVSN, Eric Bellinger, VEDO, and Jermaine Dupri with a special guest, just to name a few.
JD also delved into discussing the 2024 election while plugging his Brothas & Brews event aimed at getting Black men out to vote.
A self-proclaimed true voting participant, Dupri expressed, “this is probably the first time in my life that I've heard how important it is for Black men to be at the front of this election and voting.” And in turn, feels imperative to “do my part to raise awareness of how important this is.” Noting that while he “can't make them go to the polls,” he can at least “bring awareness to it.”
For the remainder of the conversation, the mogul/producer discussed the So So Def Internship, sharing what inspired him to bring it back, and what he hopes to achieve and accomplish. Catch it all in the clip above.
For those who had a chance to catch the conversation with JD Live on V-103. The icon continued his chat with the Morning Show crew off air, to delve into what he thinks is missing in R&B music, from the church to R. Kelly’s musicality.
LISTEN NOW: Jermaine Dupri on what's missing in R&B
Mentioning he noticed Jermaine’s recent Instagram activity talking about how church was missing from R&B, Big Tigger asked Durpi to elaborate.
“These young kids just don't go to church,” JD said, “It's very simple, it’s not… like rocket science, it’s just a fact.” Noting “I listen to the consumers, I listen to the people, I listen to the comments, and people saying why R&B music ain't like it used to be.” Assuredly adding, “that’s one of the missing ingredients.”
Imploring he’s only “expressing what’s missing” and “not here to condone,” Jermaine also spoke on his previous comments about R. Kelly’s musical contributions being an example of that missing component. Expressing, “you cannot make cake without these missing ingredients, and R.Kelly was a very big part of the ingredients in teaching younger artists what R&B is supposed to sound like, and which way to go.”
He continued, “So you don't have that teaching, and then you don't have these guys going to church and getting a free teaching… Where you can go… and your grandmama or somebody put you in the band. and some auntie or some uncle will teach you how to play piano, the drums, different instruments… It’s just a life-changing experience going there.” And while Durpi “didn't grow up in a church like that, “his grandmother “used to take me to the Church and I watched and I witnessed,” and despite “not growing up in a gospel church… having family that takes you, you see it with your own eyes, you still get to absorb that.”
JD went on to share other thoughts on how he thinks we can get back to that sound, and how he’s doing his part with the So So Def Experience, plus a whole lot more. To catch it all, listen to the clip above.