Producer Jermaine Dupri will be getting a little help from his friends when he hits the studio this summer to record his second solo LP, Instructions, due in stores September 11th. According to a spokesperson for Dupri's So So Def Recordings, Jagged Edge, Lil' Bow Wow, Da Brat and R.O.C., all of whom are signed to So So Def, will appear on the album, as well as Ludacris, Jadakiss and Jay-Z. The hip-hop mogul's debut album, Life in 1472, featured appearances by Nas, Keith Sweat, Usher and Mariah Carey .

Not one to rest on his laurels, Dupri, who recently signed a two-year extension with Columbia to continue distributing So So Def, will release Jagged Edge's third album, Jagged Little Thrill, on July 10th. He also plans to have new albums from Lil' Bow Wow and Da Brat in stores by late fall.

As a testament to his success, the twenty-seven-year-old producer will be awarded with his third ASCAP writers' award when he hosts the 2001 Rhythm & Soul Music Awards in Atlanta on June 7th.

JOE HAULER
(May 24, 2001)