Atlanta vocalist Jermaine Dupri recently released a visual snippet of himself in the studio with 2000s icons Nelly, Ashanti and Memphis lyricist Juicy J. This is the first time many have seen these artists in the studio since the 2000s.
The singer, who is the founder of the legendary Atlanta-based record label So So Def, was shown playing a new posse cut in the studio featuring Nelly and Juicy J with Ashanti on the chorus.
The former Murder Inc. vocalist sings, “Boy, I really want to stay. So we can play this little game we play,” which is an interpolation of the 1995 song ‘This Lil’ Game We Play’ by Subway and 702.
The record label executive shortly shared a snippet of the song on social media and revealed that it will feature on his upcoming EP, which will be released through Nas’ record label Mass Appeal later this year.
In the studio video, Dupri says, “Yo, what’s up y’all. I’m in here tryna get this mix done on my new record featuring Nelly, Ashanti, and Juicy J… It’s an EP on Mass Appeal. The first single was with me and Jacquees called ‘Pick It Up.’ This gonna be the second song. That’s what we on today.” This is the first Ashanti and Nelly’s collaboration since 2008’s ‘Body On Me.’
Last year, rumours about the two stars entering a relationship circulated on the internet. Following the release of his single ‘Hot In Herre’ in 2003, Nelly (real name Cornell Haynes) went public with their dating and ever since, they have been on and off for over a decade.
In an appearance on Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta star Rasheeda’s Boss Moves podcast last year, Haynes clarified, “Yeah, we cool again. I think it surprised both of us. It wasn’t anything that I don’t think planned. I think we were both doing pretty much what we do. Sometimes being separate you understand one another more.”