Jermaine Dupri Shuts Down Marriage Talk, Reveals His Mentors Warned Him Against It

Jermaine Dupri has shared that despite crafting some of the most celebrated love songs in R&B, he has no intention of ever getting married himself.

During a candid conversation on The Joe Budden Podcast, the legendary producer explained that advice from mentors and his unique lifestyle have influenced this decision.

“I feel like you have to be ready. And I got OGs that I listened to, and they all told me don’t ever do it.” For him, timing and readiness are essential prerequisites for marriage, and he feels he has not met those conditions.

Quincy Jones, the iconic music producer who was married five times, played a major role in shaping Dupri’s perspective.

“Quincy Jones, rest in peace, was like my sensei, and he was just like, JD don’t ever do it,” Dupri recalled. “I would guess based on, like, you could just look at, you look at his life and figure out why, right? I mean, he was married five years. You know what I mean? Like, I mean, he was five times, basically. But he went, he never stayed married. Right?”

Dupri also shared that many of his peers offered similar guidance, reinforcing his reluctance.

“I have so many friends that have just been like, don’t do this. Don’t do it. And I feel like, for me, it would have to be a situation where I’m completely, like, ready and prepared to just give 80% to that situation,” he said.

Beyond advice from others, Dupri explained that his career and lifestyle influence his views on marriage.

“I am really B-Boy minded, right? I’m also D-Boy-minded, too. When I say D-Boy minded, I feel like, you know, I don’t feel like you buy the Lamborghini for your wife. You buy the Lamborghini to go down the block so n***as can see you when the new women can see you in it. It’s like, if you have aspirations for D-B lifestyle, I don’t know how marriage works,” he said.

For Jermaine Dupri, the decision not to marry reflects careful consideration of mentorship, life experience, and his professional lifestyle.

Jermaine Dupri shared on *The Joe Budden Podcast* that he never married because his mentors, including Quincy Jones and other wealthy figures in the industry, consistently advised him against it. Via Joe budden patreon pic.twitter.com/oubKmpzB7q

— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@Chatnigga101) August 19, 2025