Focus... facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Focus...
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Focus… in 2015
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bernard Edwards Jr. |
| Born | November 6, 1972 Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer |
| Years active | 1999–present |
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Bernard Edwards Jr. (born November 6, 1972), known as Focus..., is an American music producer from New York City. He became well-known after signing with Dr. Dre's record label, Aftermath Entertainment, in 2002. During his time with Aftermath, Focus... worked with many famous artists. These include Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Beyoncé, and Busta Rhymes. He has helped create music for many popular albums.
Life and Career: The Story of Focus...
Focus... is the son of the late Bernard Edwards. His father was a co-founder of the famous disco and R&B band Chic. Focus... was born in Manhattan, New York City. He grew up in the Tri-State Region. He says his father taught him to love music production. He learned this from a young age by going to many studio sessions with his dad.
How Focus... Started in Music Production
Dr. Dre first noticed Focus...'s talent. This happened when an artist Focus... had produced, named Daks, really impressed Dr. Dre. Later, Dr. Dre signed Focus... to his label. This allowed them to work together on music projects.
Focus...'s Journey with Aftermath Entertainment
Focus... worked with Aftermath Entertainment for seven years. He then left the label in early 2009. However, he returned to Aftermath Entertainment in 2014. He became an official staff producer again. He worked closely with Dr. Dre and other artists. Together, they created the album Compton. This album was nominated for a Grammy Award. It also sold very well, earning a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Focus... Today: Leading His Own Company
Today, Focus... is the CEO of his own entertainment company. It is called N|VZXN Entertainment. He continues to create and produce music.
Focus...'s Music Production Work
Focus... has produced many songs for a wide range of artists. He has worked on albums across different music genres. Here are some examples of his work over the years.
Early Production: 1999-2002
Focus... started his production career in the late 1990s. He worked with artists like Solé on her album Skin Deep. He also produced tracks for Joe's album My Name Is Joe in 2000. In 2001, he contributed to Christina Milian's album and a Christmas song for Destiny's Child. By 2002, he was producing for Jennifer Lopez on her album This Is Me... Then.
Mid-2000s: Expanding His Reach
In 2003, Focus... produced for Beyoncé Knowles on her album Dangerously in Love. He worked on the song "Yes." He also produced for Mac Dre in 2004. In 2005, he produced "Where I'm From" for The Game's album The Documentary. He also worked with 112 and Tony Yayo.
Late 2000s to Early 2010s: Diverse Collaborations
Focus... continued to work with many artists. In 2007, he produced for Bishop Lamont and Salah Edin. He also worked on songs for Busta Rhymes' album Back on My B.S. in 2009. In 2010, he produced for Christina Aguilera on her album Bionic. He also worked with Marsha Ambrosius and Schoolboy Q in 2011.
2012 and Beyond: Major Projects
In 2012, Focus... produced for 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes again. A big moment came in 2015 when he worked on Dr. Dre's album Compton. He produced several key tracks on this album. These include "Loose Cannons," "Issues," and "Deep Water." He also contributed to the Wu-Tang Clan's album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin in 2015. More recently, he produced for DJ Mustard in 2016 and Marsha Ambrosius in 2018. He also worked on songs for Little Brother in 2019 and Eminem in 2020.
