Exclusive: Jermaine Dupri Talks Mariah Carey Album, Bryson Tiller Collaboration

From “Always Be My Baby” to “We Belong Together,” Jermaine Dupri is responsible for crafting some of Mariah Carey’s biggest hits. Now, the dynamic duo is back at it again with Mimi’s breakup anthem “I Don’t” featuring YG. In between filming the fourth season of Lifetime’s hit series “The Rap Game,” the So So Def mogul called into Rap-Up to discuss his latest collaboration with the “Mariah’s World” star and what he has in store for her upcoming album.
“We did so many records; it’s just trying to give people something different,” explained J.D. “Something that will be refreshing. I’m not doing every song, but I’m always trying to figure out something that will make the mind spark or say something like, ‘Damn. What made them do that?'”
The new music may include a collaboration with Bryson Tiller, who sampled Mariah’s “Shake It Off” on his 2015 breakout hit “Don’t.”
“He took a piece of ‘Shake It Off’ in his song so therefore I felt it’d be a dope collaboration if they came up with a song like that.,” said J.D.
But don’t expect to see MC do EDM. “Mariah Carey is basically a rapper in a pop diva’s body. That ain’t her flow.”