In commemoration of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, GRAMMY® Award-winning producer, songwriter, hip-hop artist, author, and DJ, Jermaine Dupri, debuts a brand new single and music video, “Pick It Up” (feat. Jacquees), available today. It arrives as the first offering from his forthcoming EP, which will be released via Mass Appeal and will feature collaborations with artists he has not previously worked with.
Produced by Dupri, the new single teems with a head-nodding soundscape amplified by sizzling hi-hats and charging bass kicks. Jacquees unleashes an anthemic hook in, “Call me and I come through, and I put it down, what you gon’ do?” Dupri follows with an incendiary verse in his instantly-recognizable signature style. The cinematic music video directed by Diesel Films follows Dupri and Jacquees as they turn up at an arcade. It features a flurry of dancing, fashionable fits, and old-school cars.
“This song really reminds me of some new jack swing type vibes,” says R&B artist Jacquees.”It’s always a pleasure to work with JD; that’s my bro and I trust his direction. I love the record too and I think the people will also. It’s time for some feel-good music.”
Earlier this year, Jermaine Dupri and New Orleans-based rapper and founder of Jet Life Recordings Curren$y unleashed their highly anticipated collaborative EP For Motivational Use Only.
Stay tuned for additional updates.
ABOUT JERMAINE DUPRI:
Jermaine Dupri, a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, is one of the most successful producers in the music industry. He has established a prolific career as a hip-hop artist, award-winning producer, songwriter, author, DJ, and CEO of So So Def, which he founded in 1993.
Rather than impacting only one lane, Jermaine Dupri has changed the course of R&B, hip-hop, and pop throughout an illustrious career earmarked by some of the most recognizable hits of all-time. The GRAMMY® Award-winning iconic songwriter, producer, rapper, artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist has powered game-changing and chart-breaking smashes such as Mariah Carey’s 6x-platinum “We Belong Together,” Usher’s 3x-platinum “Nice & Slow,” Xscape’s platinum “Just Kickin’ It,” his own “Money Ain’t A Thang” [feat. JAY-Z], and countless others. “We Belong Together” not only toppled the Billboard Hot 100 for the year, but it also emerged as “the song of the decade” and “fifteenth most popular song of all-time,” according to Billboard. It took home “Best R&B Song” and “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance” at the 2006 GRAMMY® Awards. At the helm of So So Def Recordings as Founder, he has built a catalog of classic albums, including albums including Da Brat, the first solo female rapper to go platinum, debut and historic album Funkdafied; Jagged Edge’s double-platinum J.E. Heartbreak; Anthony Hamilton’s platinum Comin’ From Where I’m From; and more. Simultaneously, he has launched JD’s Vegan as a mega-popular plant-based ice cream alternative available in major retailers such as Walmart. Plus, he notably stands out as the second rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame® following JAY-Z. Meanwhile, the GRAMMY® Museum paid homage to JD and So So Def with a dedicated exhibit entitled Jermaine Dupri & So So Def, 25 Years Of Elevating Culture. He has also appeared on-screen in the Aretha Franklin movie Respect, Hip-Hop Family Christmas, and Step Up. Speaking to his presence, Variety attested, “What isn’t recognized enough is his undeniable influence on the current cultural climate.” However, he never stops setting the pace for the entire game to follow.
ABOUT JACQUEES:
When Jacquees proclaimed himself “King of R&B…of his generation,” he did so with the accolades and achievements to back up such a bold and big claim. Within six years he released his independent breakoutmix-tape Round of Applause, the critically acclaimed full-length debut for Cash Money Records, 4275, which earned a platinum smash in the form of “B.E.D.”— which also received a nomination for “R&B Song of the Year” at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. He joined forces with Dej Loaf for the dynamic duet “At The Club,” which featured in Before Anythang and lent his voice to TK Kravitz’s gold-selling “Ocean,” extending his influence throughout the game. In the midst of selling out headline tour dates coast to coast, he has embarked on show-stopping performances for the Soul Train Awards and Black Music Honors. Received praises from the likes of Vibe, Spin, Complex, Rap-Up, Rated RnB, and lent his voice to bangers by everyone from Young Thug, Snoop Dogg, Chris Brown and Trey Songz. And to top off his incredible musical accomplishments, he’s contributed to “Save The Day” featuring Coi Leray and LouGotCash for the Original Soundtrack Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Averaging more than 5.1M monthly listeners on Spotify, his total stream tally on the platform approached half-a-billion by 2019. As he took over Urban Radio, he maintained a prolific recording pace, paving the way for the arrival of his 2019 sophomore offering, “King Of R&B.” Grammy award winning and multi platinum artist, Future, was the executive producer of his highly anticipated third album. The multi-platinum star is surely on path to cementing his legacy as the King of R&B of his generation.
