Focus... (producer)
| Focus... | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Bernard Edwards, Jr. |
| Origin | Manhattan, New York, US |
| Genres | R&B, Hip-hop |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, rapper, singer |
| Instruments | bass, keyboards, drum machine |
| Years active | 1999-present |
| Labels | Aftermath, Interscope, a.Fam Entertainment inc. |
| Associated acts | Chic, G-Unit, Slum Village, Christina Aguilera |
Bernard Edwards, Jr., better known as Focus..., is an Atlanta-based record producer who first rose to fame when signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. Since then he has produced tracks for Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé Knowles, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Bishop Lamont, Tony Yayo, Stat Quo, Outlawz, The Game, Jay Rock amongst others.[1]
Biography
Focus... is the son of the late Bernard Edwards, co-founder of disco and R&B band Chic.[1] He was born in Manhattan, New York, and raised in the Tri-State Region.[1] 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.[1]
Focus...'s production talents were first recognized by Dr. Dre when an artist Edwards, Jr had produced, Daks, greatly impressed the Aftermath label head.[2] signed Focus... so that the two could then continue working together.[2]
The beginning of 2009 saw Focus... leave Aftermath after seven years with the label.[3] In an interview with HitQuarters in 2010 Focus... explained the reasons for the departure:
"I left 'cos I was really working hard and forgetting everything else. I wasn't spending time with my family ... I forgot about life outside of the studio. And we weren't putting out enough music to do that, and so it just made sense for me to just say, 'Dre thanks for everything, you taught me a lot and let me show you what I can do.'"[2]
In 2014, Focus... returned to Aftermath Entertainment as an official staff producer.
Production
1999
- "I'm Coming" (Intro)
- "Spell My Name Right" (featuring Mr. Raja) (produced with Tricky Stewart)
- "Antoine's Interlude" (produced with Tricky Stewart)
- "Young Niggas" (produced with Tricky Stewart)
- "Pain" (produced with Tricky Stewart)
2000
- "Get Crunk Tonight"
- "Introduction"
- "Hey Kandi"
- "Pants on Fire"
- "Talking' Bout Me"
- "Sucka for You"
- "Outro"
2001
- "Mine, Mine, Mine"
Christina Milian - Christina Milian
- "It Hurts When..." (produced with Montell Jordan)
- "Twitch" (produced with Montell Jordan)
Destiny's Child - 8 Days of Christmas
- "Spread a Little Love on Christmas Day" (produced with Beyoncé Knowles, Ric Wake)
Daks - The Wash
- "Riding High" (featuring R.C.)
2002
Truth Hurts - Truthfully Speaking
- "Next To Me"
- "Do Me"
Jennifer Lopez - This Is Me... Then
- "Dear Ben" (produced with Cory Rooney)
- "Club Banger"
2003
Sly Boogy - Judgement Day
- "California" (featuring Butch Cassidy, Truth Hurts)
Beyoncé Knowles - Dangerously in Love
- "Yes" (produced with Beyoncé Knowles)
2004
Petey Pablo - Still Writing in My Diary: 2nd Entry
- "Roll Off"
Mac Dre - Ronald Dregan: Dreganomics
- "Get Stupid"
Wylde Bunch - Wylde Tymes at Washington High
- "Our Lyfe"
2005
The Game - The Documentary
- "Where I'm From" (featuring Nate Dogg)
- "U Already Know" (produced with Sean Garrett)
Outlawz - Outlaw 4 Life: 2005 A.P.
- "Real Talk" (featuring Focus...)
- "If You Want 2"
- "I Dare U" (featuring Focus...)
Sway & King Tech - Back 2 Basics
- "Watch Closer" (featuring Chino XL, Tracy Lane)
- "I Don't Think So" (featuring Kam)
- "We Don't Give A..." (featuring Kallihan, Hellraiza)
- "Hands to the Sky" (featuring Verb & Rock)
Tony Yayo - Thoughts of a Predicate Felon
- "Eastside Westside"
- "Project Princess" (featuring Jagged Edge)
- "Live by the Gun"
2006
Stat Quo - Eminem Presents: The Re-Up
- "By My Side"
2007
Salah Edin - Nederlands Grootste Nachtmerrie
- "NGN" (featuring Focus...)
- "T.H.E.O. (Teleurstelling, Haat, Ergernis & Onbegrip)"
- "Het Land Van..."
- "Geliefd Om Gehaat Te Worden"
- "Opgeblazen" (featuring Opgezwolle)
- "0172"
- "Zwarte Gat Op Het Witte Doek" (featuring Focus...)
- "Geld" (featuring Caprice)
- "Hosselaar"
- "Vrouwtje Is Een Bitch"
- "Samen Huilen, Samen Lachen"
- "Koning Ter Rijk"
- "Oog Om Oog" (featuring Probz)
- "Paradijs Is Nu"
La Fouine - Aller-Retour
- "Intro"
- "La Danse Du Ghetto"
- "C'est Pas La Peine"
- "Contrôle Abusif"
- "Laissez-Moi Dénoncer"
- "Partout Pareil"
- "The Game Song"
- "Music Box"
2008
- "Mirror"
Bishop Lamont - The Confessional
- "The Confessional" (Intro)
- "Better Than You"
- "The Name" (featuring Dirty Birdy, Kida, Flii Stylz)
2009
Busta Rhymes - Back on My B.S.
- "Respect My Conglomerate" (featuring Lil Wayne, Jadakiss)
- "If You Don't Know Now You Know" (featuring Big Tigger)
Slaughterhouse - Slaughterhouse
- "Lyrical Murderers" (featuring K-Young)
2010
Marsha Ambrosius - Late Nights & Early Mornings
- "Tears"
- "Morning Dessert" (Intro)
- "Sex for Breakfast"
Bishop Lamont - The Shawshank Redemption/Angola 3
- "Martin Luther King" (Intro)
- "Affirmative Action" (featuring Focus...)
2011
- "Light Years Ahead (Sky High)" (featuring Kendrick Lamar)
- "Bout That"
Rapper Big Pooh - Dirty Pretty Things
- "Right With You" (featuring Focus...)
- "Real Love" (featuring Focus...)
- "Keep It Lit" (featuring Yung Phat Pat)
2012
Amerie - The Prelude...
- "Every Time"
50 Cent - 5 (Murder by Numbers)
- "My Crown"
Busta Rhymes - Year of the Dragon
- "Do That Thing"
- "Killer's Remorse" (featuring Bishop Lamont, Young De, B-Real)
- "Drew & Derwin" (featuring Raheem DeVaughn)
TheKidJ Presents Handsonhiphop (The Street Album)
- "Love & Hip-hop" (featuring Redd Lettaz)
2013
- "Interlude" (credited as B. Edwards, Jr.)
- "Summer Breeze"
- "1 Nite" (featuring Vice)
- "Watch U Sleep"
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "a.Fam MySpace"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Interview With Focus...", HitQuarters, 1 March 2010.
- ↑ "Focus... Leaves Aftermath, Focuses on his label a.Fam Entertainment". The Hype Machine. May 25, 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
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