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Jermaine Dupri On the 20th Anniversary of So So Def and HIs Fave ATL Hotspots
As the brainchild behind some of the most successful musical acts of the past two decades--from Kriss Kross and Xscape to Bow Wow and Jagged Edge--Jermaine Dupri has earned the right to toot his horn. The music industry mogul's label, So So Def Records, marks its 20th anniversary in 2013, and will celebrate the milestone on February 23 with an Atlanta concert featuring some of its biggest acts, both old and new. "I feel accomplished," Durpri tells VIBE. "Like I finally crossed the finish line." Dupri says the idea to host the concert stems from the death of his friend and fellow industry titan Chris Lighty. "I had just spoken to him weeks before he passed," he says. "That was an eerie experience. We can’t think that we’re going to be here forever." Among many highlights from his storied career, Dupri says one of his proudest moments was the production of Usher's 2004 album, "Confessions," which has sold 10 million copies to date and become a modern R&B classic. Though So So Def has dominated the charts over the years, Dupri isn't relaxing just yet. Instead, he's pushing the label's new generation of artists, like the talented 26-year-old Leah LaBelle, to carry the torch. In celebration of the label's hometown, Dupri shared a few of his top Atlanta hotspots, from his favorite vegan restaurant to a certain infamous strip club. Take a look.
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Soul Vegetarian Restaurant
"Soul Vegetarian is one of my favorite spots in Atlanta now that I’m a vegan. It’s probably the spot I would take people that would change the way they feel about vegetarian or vegan food. They have this built-in mindset about what we eat, but this place is soul food; cornbread, mac-and-cheese, candied yams, greens. I take a lot of non-vegan people here and they almost become converted."
Editorial Review
100 percent vegan with a soulful twist. If you're a vegan skeptic, this anti-meat southern restaurant is probably your best bet at breaking the ice. Though you won't see any fried chicken on its menu, you still get a taste of soul food favorites like mac-and-cheese, greens, and cornbread. Don't think of it as the cup half empty, because you'll certainly leave pleased and full.

