Jermaine Dupri is clearing the air or maybe causing some smoke, take your pick. The Atlanta mogul recently opened up on the Joe Budden Podcast about why working with Chris Brown might be tricky for him, considering his long history and close bond with Usher. The Grammy-winning producer explained that while he would love to create music with Brown, doing so could put him in an awkward position given his role in crafting many of Usher’s biggest hits.
Get this, the conversation came up during a debate about the long-rumored Verzuz battle between Usher and Chris Brown. JD admitted he wants to see the two stars face off, but when it comes to choosing sides, he has to roll with Usher.
“I know everybody you know people have this thing about Usher and Chris Brown,” Dupri told Joe Budden. “I’m never gonna say Chris Brown, and I f*** with Chris Brown, but I wrote half of the Usher songs. Y’all want me to go against myself? Like, I’m not doing that.”
While his allegiance is clear, Dupri still expressed excitement at the idea of the showdown. “Like, however you feel going to happen in the Verzuz, that’s how y’all feel. These my songs. I wrote these songs, I’m going for my songs. I’m never going to go against myself, but at the same time, like I said, with being competitive, I’m also saying, I want Usher to stay Usher. I want Chris Brown to stay Chris Brown. Let’s fight it out.”
For JD, the balance lies between honoring his deep musical legacy with Usher while also respecting Chris Brown’s talent, leaving him in a space where collaboration could be seen as risky, but the competitive energy of a Verzuz battle is something he fully supports.