Jermaine Dupri Reveals the Best Advice Quincy Jones Ever Gave Him (Exclusive)

Quincy Jones has shaped Jermaine Dupri’s life in more ways than one.

Dupri, 52, says that the late producer influenced his music career through Jones’ legendary compositions, albums and singles — but it’s a personal piece of wisdom that sticks out the most.

“The best piece of advice Quincy Jones ever gave me was don’t get married,” Dupri recalls exclusively in his 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me feature in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.

Dupri will pay tribute to Jones, who died in November 2024 at age 91, with an intentionally curated set at the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans in July. The hip-hop producer promises that the performance, which will feature fellow artists Tyrese, Robin Thicke, SWV, Al B. Sure! and more, will be truly unique and unforgettable.

“I decided to do something that was streamlined between myself, who I am, who Quincy is and who Quincy was to me,” he explains. “I learned who Quincy Jones was by reading credits and listening to song after song after song. My set will be that same type of instruction booklet; an educational piece to fans that probably never paid attention to how instrumental Quincy Jones is and was to music.”

Keep scrolling for more personal stories from Dupri, including his favorite song on Mariah Carey’s The Emancipation of Mimi album and the artist he’d love to work with again:

1. My first job was dancing at the New York City Fresh Festival in 1984.
2. My favorite memory with Usher was writing Confessions. People counted him out and believed that he could not go further than he did, and then we made the album.
3. I’ve been to the Essence Festival of Culture so many times and seen a lot of artists fail on the main stage. My set is streamlined between who I am, who Quincy Jones is and who Quincy Jones was to me.
4. I keep my Grammy award right in the front door of my house.
5. The most nerve-racking set I ever performed was when we performed at 2023 Essence Fest. I don’t think I have ever performed in front of that many people.
6. I think all my dream collaborators passed away.
7. The best advice Quincy Jones ever gave me was don’t get married.
8. I listen to a lot of music to get into the right headspace before producing. I go to clubs. I listen to what the artist has been doing prior and the competition.
9. I felt down about producing on TLC’s FanMail because we had just lost Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes. It just wasn’t the same energy.

   Related: Rashida Jones Reads Late Dad Quincy Jones’ Honorary Oscar Speech
   

   Rashida Jones accepted her late father Quincy Jones’ honorary Oscar two weeks after his death. Rashida, 48, and three of her siblings — Martina, 58, Quincy III, 55, and Kenya, 31 — took the stage at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 17, to accept the award honoring their father’s contributions to […]

10. I don’t think I’ve ever been starstruck. I feel like I was supposed to be in the music industry, so when I meet people, I already felt like I knew that I would.
11. “Shake It Off” is my favorite song off the The Emancipation of Mimi album because it has an infectious beat. The way that Mariah Carey attacked that record and didn’t run from it. Also, “We Belong Together” — the song of the decade.
12. The proudest moment of my career was writing Confessions and then coming right back with Emancipation of Mimi. That sent a signal to the nonbelievers that, “OK, Jermaine might be somebody y’all have to really pay attention to.”
13. Usher is the artist I’d love to work with again. I think that we have one more to go.
14. I still want to win Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year at the Grammys. I still want to win Album of the Year.
15. I read the reviews. I make music for the people, you know what I mean? If the people don’t like my music, then I didn’t hit my mark.
16. I looked up to everybody that was at the top — Prince and Michael Jackson. Everybody who wanted that light or those who were incredibly talented.
17. I don’t do karaoke, but I’m always hoping that somebody sings Eddie Murphy’s “Party All the Time.”
18. “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugar Hill Gang brings back the best memories. I knew every word to that song. That song was the bug that bit me in hip hop.
19. When I was a child, I got stuck in the studio with The SOS Band and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on a snowy night in Atlanta. My dad worked for the band. I feel like being in that session inspired me to produce and make music.
20. My secret musical talent is that I can sing. If you listen to “Can I Get Your Number” on the Mariah Carey album? She made me sing the hook.
21. I pray people separate me from other producers and understand that my career is on a different playing field than what people always compare it to.
22. I just listened to this new album by this rapper from Atlanta named SwaVay. I thought it was fresh.
23. I’m working with T.I., Killer Mike, 2 Chainz and Big Boi right now on the Magic City soundtrack. I deliberately chose to work with artists that I’ve never made records with.
24. I’m inspired by the early songwriters and producers in Atlanta, like Larry Blackmon from Cameo.
25. L.A. inspires me. Everybody seems like they’re rich and got something to do. The houses, the niceness of the hotels, the weather, the beach.