Jermaine Dupri Addresses Criticism Over His Independent Artists Comments: ‘I Don’t Know Everything’

Jermaine Dupri has responded to the criticism he received over a tweet about figuring out the goal of independent artists trying to make it in the industry.

On Tuesday, Durpri shared a video on his social media pages addressing the commotion from his tweet that he said people misunderstood. JD had asked what the goal was for independent artists as he believed everything they’re “chasing” is what major artists are doing, so what is it that makes them “special.”

People caught wind of Dupri’s tweet and heavily criticized him for his views, but now he’s clearing up the confusion to help people understand his intentions with the initial tweets. In the caption of his explanation, Dupri made it clear he wanted to address everyone with actual information on the topic.

“As more and more people call me and the pods talk about it, I can see how people would think I was taking a shot at the independent community, I decided to address it with information,” said Dupri. “I’m sure most y’all don’t have about me in that space, so you can clearly see that wasn’t my intent.”

Dupri opened the video by recalling his experience with the independent market, from putting out an artist in 2010 to working on a movie soundtrack of which he owns the masters. He also brought up how he put out an independent album with Currensy and even worked independently with Latto when she appeared on The Rap Game reality show.

“What I want people to understand is that when I asked the question I already think, this is my mindset, if you’re independent, these are the things that come in the Happy Meal independent box: owning your masters, getting your publishing, doing the royalties and you having to pay the royalties to people that you worked with, and the freedom.”

He added, “These are things that are standard to me in an independent deal. You never know everything. People believe that you do because you become successful, but I know in my heart of hearts that I don’t know everything, and if I ask a question, I know that’s what y’all jump to like Jermaine, he should know better than this […] but I’m just asking a question.”

Durpri closed out the video by explaining what he meant with his question, which was indie artists have their “own special shit” and to figure out if there’s “something that independent artists have or do that is privy to independent artists.”