Jermaine Dupri, the GRAMMY-winning producer and Songwriters Hall of Famer behind So So Def, is giving Emory University students a front-row seat to the music business. At its peak in the late ’90s and early 2000s, So So Def was a powerhouse, launching USHER, Xscape and Bow Wow, shaping Atlanta’s hip-hop and R&B dominance. Now, Dupri is paying it forward.
Originally set for two students, Dupri expanded his So So Def Internship Program after seeing the caliber of talent among the applicants, selecting four Emory undergraduates: Ella Furgeson, Luccas Perez, David Qiu and Emmett Roth. The six-week spring 2025 program will give them hands-on exposure to one of the most influential labels in music history.
“Over 25 years ago and before many of my label peers, we began offering college students the opportunity to earn credit through our So So Def Internship Program,” Dupri said. “I’m excited to build on this legacy and welcome our incoming class of 2025.”
Announced at the Emory Ideas Festival, the program bridges academia and real-world industry experience, with students earning credit under the mentorship of both Dupri and Emory faculty. For Furgeson, a DJ/producer from Fort Worth, Texas, it’s an opportunity to join a label that shaped culture. “So So Def created trends while constantly giving back to Atlanta,” she said.
Perez, an aspiring musician from Broward County, Florida, is eager to step into a professional studio for the first time. “Working with Jermaine Dupri is an incredible opportunity. His legacy speaks for itself,” he said.
Qiu, a fourth-year student at Goizueta Business School, values So So Def’s history of artist development. “Being in that environment and learning from industry leaders is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” he said.
With a curriculum co-developed by Oxford faculty, the program ensures a structured yet immersive experience. Dupri’s initiative reaffirms his status as a forward-thinking industry leader, continuing So So Def’s influence well beyond its peak.
