Focus...

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Focus...
Focus....jpg
Focus… in 2015
Background information
Birth nameBernard Edwards Jr.
Born (1972-11-06) November 6, 1972 (age 52)
Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Genres
OccupationRecord producer
Years active1999–present
Labels
Member ofRead the PDF

Bernard Edwards Jr. (born November 6, 1972), [1] known professionally as Focus..., is an American record producer from New York City. He gained major recognition upon signing with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment in 2002. During his tenure with the label, Edwards worked with artists including Dre himself, Beyoncé, Eminem, Wu-Tang Clan, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Outlawz, the Game, Joe, Petey Pablo, Marsha Ambrosius and Bishop Lamont, among others. [2] Edwards formed the supergroup Read the PDF with fellow Aftermath producers, Dem Jointz and Mr. Porter in 2022. [3]

Contents

Life and career

Focus... is the son of the late Bernard Edwards, co-founder of disco and R&B band Chic. [2] He was born in Manhattan, New York City, and raised in the Tri-State Region. [2] Edwards Jr. credits his father with his love for the production side of music, which he developed from an early age, attending numerous studio sessions with his father. [2]

Focus...'s production talents were first recognized by Dr. Dre when an artist Edwards Jr. had produced, Daks, greatly impressed the Aftermath label head. [4] He later signed Focus... so that the two could then continue working together. [4]

The beginning of 2009 saw Focus leave Aftermath after seven years with the label. [5]

In 2014, Focus returned to Aftermath Entertainment as an official staff producer where he worked side by side with Dr. Dre and collaborators to help craft the Grammy nominated, highly anticipated album Compton . Compton was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Focus is now the CEO of his own entertainment company N|VZXN Entertainment.[ citation needed ]

Production

1999

Solé Skin Deep

2000

Joe My Name Is Joe
Kandi Burruss Hey Kandi...

2001

Christina Milian Christina Milian
Destiny's Child 8 Days of Christmas
Various artists The Wash

2002

Truth Hurts Truthfully Speaking
Jennifer Lopez This Is Me... Then
Petey Pablo Drumline
Montell Jordan Montell Jordan

2003

Sly Boogy – Judgement Day
Beyoncé Knowles Dangerously in Love

2004

Petey Pablo Still Writing in My Diary: 2nd Entry
Mac Dre Ronald Dregan: Dreganomics
Wylde Bunch – Wylde Tymes at Washington High

2005

The GameThe Documentary
112 Pleasure & Pain
Outlawz Outlaw 4 Life: 2005 A.P.
Sway & King Tech Back 2 Basics
Tony Yayo Thoughts of a Predicate Felon

2006

Stat Quo Eminem Presents: The Re-Up

2007

Bishop LamontN***** Noise
Salah EdinNederlands Grootste Nachtmerrie
La FouineAller-Retour
Keke Palmer So Uncool

2008

Girlicious Girlicious
Bishop Lamont The Confessional

2009

Busta Rhymes Back on My B.S.
Slaughterhouse Slaughterhouse

2010

Christina Aguilera Bionic
Bishop Lamont The Shawshank Redemption/Angola 3

2011

Marsha Ambrosius Late Nights & Early Mornings
Schoolboy Q Setbacks
Jay Rock Follow Me Home
Rapper Big PoohDirty Pretty Things
Outlawz Perfect Timing

2012

50 Cent 5 (Murder by Numbers)
Busta Rhymes Year of the Dragon
Xzibit Napalm
Skyzoo A Dream Deferred
TheKidJ Presents Handsonhiphop (The Street Album)

2013

TGT Three Kings
Slum Village Evolution
Terrace Martin 3ChordFold

2015

Dr. Dre Compton
Wu-Tang Clan Once Upon a Time in Shaolin
Ameriie Drive

2016

DJ Mustard Presents – Cold Summer
Damian Lillard The Letter O

2018

Marsha Ambrosius – Nyla

2019

Little Brother May the Lord Watch

2020

Busta Rhymes Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God
Eminem Music to Be Murdered By – Side B (Deluxe edition)

2022

Diamond D - The Rear View

References

  1. "Focus – artist". rateyourmusic.com. Sonemic, Inc. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "a.Fam MySpace"
  3. "Read the PDF on How Project Came to Life and Who Inspired Them | Eminem.Pro - the biggest and most trusted source of Eminem". July 7, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Interview With Focus...", HitQuarters , March 1, 2010.
  5. "Focus... Leaves Aftermath, Focuses on his label a.Fam Entertainment". The Hype Machine. May 25, 2009. Retrieved March 3, 2010.