Jermaine Dupri Connection To Young Dylan Explained
- 01. Jermaine Dupri Connection to Young Dylan: The Direct Answer
- 02. How Jermaine Dupri Discovered Young Dylan
- 03. The Nature of Dupri's Mentorship Role
- 04. Historical Context: Dupri's Track Record with Young Artists
- 05. Young Dylan's Music Career Under Dupri's Guidance
- 06. The Real Influence: Beyond Formal Signing
Jermaine Dupri Connection to Young Dylan: The Direct Answer
Jermaine Dupri is the record executive mentor who signed 14-year-old rapper Young Dylan (Dylan Gilmer) as his latest young artist after spotting the Nickelodeon star's crossover potential in 2020. Dupri publicly refers to Young Dylan as "his 14-year-old artist" and has been actively working with him on music projects since Dupri saw Dylan's character as an aspiring rapper on Tyler Perry's Nickelodeon sitcom. The veteran producer called out hip-hop media in May 2023 for failing to cover Young Dylan's music releases despite claiming to support all hip-hop.
How Jermaine Dupri Discovered Young Dylan
The connection began when Young Dylan's Nickelodeon show premiered on February 29, 2020, with Dylan Gilmer starring as a fictionalized version of himself-an aspiring rapper navigating music greatness. Jermaine Dupri recognized the real-life crossover potential between the show's premise and Dylan's actual rap talent, which had already gone viral when he was six years old. Dupri has been working with the young talent ever since 2020, transforming the on-screen character into an actual recording artist.
Young Dylan's path to Dupri's attention started years earlier: his parents posted a home video of him rapping Bryson Tiller's "Don't" at age 6, which went viral nationally. By age 10, Dylan competed on Season 14 of America's Got Talent and advanced to Judge Cuts. He appeared multiple times on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and performed at NBA All-Star Weekend, building the media profile that caught Dupri's eye.
The Nature of Dupri's Mentorship Role
Jermaine Dupri explicitly positions himself as "the young man game giver", a title he used when questioning hip-hop media about Young Dylan's lack of coverage. This reflects Dupri's decades-long pattern of launching child rappers: he achieved enormous commercial success before age 20 producing Kris Kross in the early 1990s, then launched Bow Wow at age 12 roughly 10 years later.
In a May 6, 2023 interview backstage at the Lovers & Friends festival in Las Vegas, Dupri told HipHopDX that Young Dylan was not receiving media coverage comparable to older peers. He questioned why outlets like AllHipHop and The Source hadn't posted "a Dylan record" despite claiming to cover all hip-hop. Dupri stated: "It don't feel like it's accepted" that artists starting at ages 12-16 are considered "real rap" in the rap world.
The collaboration produced tangible results: Young Dylan's single "I'm That" with That Girl Lay Lay came together after Dylan was working with Jermaine Dupri, as Nickelodeon wanted a song featuring both artists. The 14-year-old Houston native Alaya High (That Girl Lay Lay) signed her Nickelodeon deal in 2020, the same year Young Dylan's show premiere attracted Dupri's attention.
Historical Context: Dupri's Track Record with Young Artists
Jermaine Dupri established So So Def Recordings in Atlanta in 1992 as a joint venture with Columbia Records, with his father as chief operating officer. The label specializes in Southern hip-hop, R&B, and bass music, and has signed acts including Kris Kross, Bow Wow, Xscape, and Dem Franchize Boyz.
| Artist | Age When Signed | Year | Major Hit | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kris Kross | 12-13 years old | 1991 | "Jump" | 2x Platinum |
| Bow Wow | 12 years old | 2000 | "Bounce" | Platinum |
| Latto | 16 years old | 2016 | "Big Energy" | 3x Platinum |
| Young Dylan | 11-12 years old | 2020 | "I'm That" | Released |
This table demonstrates Dupri's consistent pattern of discovering and developing young rap talent across three decades, with each artist achieving significant commercial success. Bow Wow has basically the longest rap career of any rapper, having been rapping since age 12.
- 1991: Dupri produces Kris Kross's "Jump" when members are 12-13 years old
- 1992: Founds So So Def Recordings in Atlanta, Georgia
- 2000: Signs 12-year-old Bow Wow, releasing debut album Beware of Dog
- 2016: Launches reality show The Rap Game to find young talent for So So Def
- 2020: Discovers Young Dylan through Nickelodeon show and begins working with him
- May 2023: Publicly defends Young Dylan's music at Lovers & Friends festival
Young Dylan's Music Career Under Dupri's Guidance
Young Dylan has recorded and released original music including singles like "Tik Tok" (2022), "Get Litty" (2023), "I Just Wanna" (2023), and "Bet It" (2024). The collaboration "I'm That" with That Girl Lay Lay released on October 13, 2021, marking a significant Nickelodeon crossover project.
In a February 2022 exclusive interview, Young Dylan stated: "I'm That came together after I was working with Jermaine Dupri" when discussing the collaboration. Dylan expressed expectations for his debut album, touring, and hoping for a big movie role as his goals. At the time of the interview, the 13-year-old rapper was already the star of Nickelodeon's Tyler Perry's Young Dylan.
Young Dylan made frequent appearances on children-oriented television, including hosting NFL Slimetime starting in 2021 and co-hosting Peacock's The Kids Tonight Show in 2021. These hosting roles expanded his audience beyond rap music into mainstream children's entertainment, aligning with Dupri's crossover strategy.
The Real Influence: Beyond Formal Signing
Jermaine Dupri's connection to Young Dylan represents strategic mentorship rather than a traditional record deal. Dupri provides industry credibility, production expertise, and media advocacy for the young artist while Dylan maintains his Nickelodeon platform and independent music releases. This arrangement mirrors Dupri's approach with Latto after The Rap Game, where he delivered on the promised single without a long-term label commitment.
The May 2023 public defense of Young Dylan demonstrates Dupri's investment in the artist's success beyond mere business interests. By challenging hip-hop media's exclusion of young rap artists, Dupri positions himself as continuing his lifelong mission of launching child rappers into mainstream success. Young Dylan's diverse portfolio-Nickelodeon star, NFL Slimetime host, Kids Tonight Show co-host, and recording artist-reflects Dupri's crossover strategy that made Kris Kross and Bow Wow household names.
With Young Dylan's show ending in April 2025 after 85 episodes, Dupri's mentorship may become increasingly important as Dylan transitions from child actor-rapper to serious music career focused on his debut album and touring goals. The collaboration represents the latest chapter in Dupri's 30+ year career of identifying and developing young hip-hop talent across changing media landscapes.
Everything you need to know about Jermaine Dupri Connection To Young Dylan Explained
Did Jermaine Dupri officially sign Young Dylan to So So Def?
While Dupri repeatedly refers to Young Dylan as "his 14-year-old artist" in public interviews and has been working with him on music since 2020, there is no official announcement confirming a formal So So Def Recordings contract. The relationship appears to be a mentorship arrangement with music collaboration rather than a traditional label signing like Kris Kross or Bow Wow received.
When did Jermaine Dupri start working with Young Dylan?
Jermaine Dupri began working with Young Dylan in 2020, shortly after Tyler Perry's Young Dylan premiered on Nickelodeon on February 29, 2020. Dupri saw the potential for a real-life crossover from the show's premise of an aspiring rapper and has been working with the young talent ever since.
Why is Jermaine Dupri defending Young Dylan publicly?
Dupri called out hip-hop blogs at the May 2023 Lovers & Friends festival for their lack of support for Young Dylan, noting that major outlets like AllHipHop and The Source hadn't covered Dylan's music despite claiming to cover all hip-hop. He questioned whether rappers starting at ages 12-16 are considered "real rap" in the rap world, citing his history with Kris Kross and Bow Wow.
What is Young Dylan's real name and background?
Young Dylan's real name is Dylan Gilmer, born March 4, 2009, in Annapolis, Maryland. He rose to prominence after rap videos went viral when he was six years old, appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, performed at NBA All-Star Weekend, and starred in Nickelodeon's Tyler Perry's Young Dylan for five seasons from 2020-2025.
How does Young Dylan compare to Dupri's previous young artists?
Young Dylan follows Dupri's established pattern of launching child rappers: Kris Kross (signed at 12-13 in 1991), Bow Wow (signed at 12 in 2000), and Latto (appeared on The Rap Game at 16 in 2016). Unlike previous artists who were discovered through traditional talent searches, Young Dylan came through television crossover via Nickelodeon's sitcom, representing Dupri's adaptation to modern media landscapes.