Jermaine Dupri Says Migos Breaking Up Was a “Bad Situation” [Video]

Jermaine Dupri believes Migos were more powerful as a group than as solo acts, and their breakup left a mark on Atlanta’s rap scene.

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While speaking on the “BagFuel” podcast, he shared that their split was more than just the end of a rap group; it was a loss for the entire city, which was made worse by the death of Takeoff.

“That hurt a lot of the city, period,” Dupri said. “The Migos breaking up was a bad situation for Atlanta because they was moving, and I think they’re better together anyway, me personally.”

The legendary producer also reflected on the unexpected death of Takeoff in 2022, describing how deeply it affected Atlanta.

“It was really crazy for us. I ain’t think Atlanta n***as was gonna die,” he said. “An Atlanta rapper dying felt like ‘Aw damn, what the f**k is going on?’ It felt crazy to me.”

Dupri has long shown support for the Migos, even referring to them as part of the “New Atlanta” class in the mid-2010s.

Back in 2016, during an episode of “The Rap Game,” Dupri praised the group’s style, saying, “They’ve got one of the most infectious rap styles that everybody’s trying to do.”

In recent years, Dupri has expressed concern about the state of hip-hop and Atlanta’s place in it. In 2023, he told Vibe that he sees fewer top-tier rappers coming from the city.

“I feel like Hip-Hop is definitely hurting and needs reviving,” he said. “I have to go ahead and say this: For the last 20 years, Atlanta’s always had at least five to six top rappers at one time. Right now, Atlanta’s dropped down to two top artists: Lil Baby and Future.”

He clarified that the talent is still there, but the top ranks are no longer as crowded.

“I don’t want anybody to screw what I’m saying, but that top tier where you have Ludacris, Jeezy, 2 Chainz, Migos, Future, Lil Baby. I mean, at one point, all of this was Atlanta. This was where all the top-tier rap artists came from.”

Dupri’s words reflect a city that once led hip-hop, now facing a decline. To him, the Migos breakup symbolized a shift in Atlanta’s influence on hip-hop.