Jermaine Dupri has taken credit for breaking down regional barriers when he introduced JAY-Z to rap’s audience in the South.
Speaking on the I Am Athlete podcast earlier this week, JD explained that he had people in his life that didn’t know who Hov was prior to him collaborating with the Brooklyn-bred mogul on 1998’s “Money Ain’t A Thang.”
“I got n-ggas from my hood that didn’t never listen to JAY-Z until I made ‘Money Ain’t A Thang.’ This is people that told me this, this is not me saying this: ‘I ain’t never heard of JAY-Z before you made that song.’
“I want people to understand, I knew who JAY-Z was or I wouldn’t have put him on my song … I knew who he was, but the area [didn’t], right? I’ve been saying this, me and JAY-Z came out in 1996 and people that worked for me back then, I was telling them like, ‘Yo listen, it’s rappers in New York that n-ggas in Atlanta don’t never hear.'”
“Money Ain’t A Thang” arrived in May 1998 and landed on both the So So Def founder’s Life in 1472 album and JAY-Z’s Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life in the same year.
The JD-produced anthem went on to reach No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1999 Grammy Awards.
It should also be noted that later in 1998, Jay headed south to hop on Juvenile’s “Ha” for an official remix that Cash Money Records didn’t even know was happening at the time he recorded it.
Elsewhere in the interview, Jermaine Dupri recalled a time 2 Chainz shunned his attempt to sign the Drench God to So So Def Records in a joint venture with JAY-Z involved as well. Chainz went on to ink a deal with Def Jam Records in January 2012.
“I tried to sign 2 Chainz one day,” he revealed. “I was in JAY-Z office one day and I called 2 Chainz. I’m like, ‘Yo, me and Hov wanna sign you.’ He said, ‘OG, respectfully, it’s a young man’s game.’ And I said, ‘You do know who you talking to, right?'”
Jermaine seems to spend a lot of time trying to remind people of his accomplishments or things he did first. The brother is definitely talented and made his mark in the music game but let your talent and skills speak for themselves.
That’s just the thing though…he doesn’t get enough credit for what he’s done for music… and I think that’s mainly because he’s from South. If he doesn’t speak up for himself then who will
JD music was always more NYC influenced. Especially his music with Da Brat and his 2 solo albums. I’d say Big Pimpin did more for Jay Z buzz in the south than Money Ain’t A Thing.
When did that Juvenile remix featuring Hov come out? I think that song played a part as well for Hov getting love in the south.
That was 1998 but it was a shitty verse tbh. I think it was the other way around with HA making more East Coast radio stations and audience playing Juvenile.
Really didn’t listen to Jay-Z until he made that song with UGK Big Pimpin. JD should get a lil credit tho cause that song was a hit for both of them.