Focus...: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|American record producer}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Focus...

| image = Focus....jpg

| caption = Focus… in 2015

| image_upright = 1.1

| birth_name = Bernard Edwards Jr.

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|11|6}}

| background birth_place = solo_singer[[Manhattan]], New York City, U.S.

| origingenre = {{hlist|[[ManhattanHip hop music|Hip hop]], |[[NewContemporary York (state)R&B|New YorkR&B]],}} US

| occupation = [[Record producer]], [[rapper]], [[singer]]

| genre = [[hip hop music|Hip-hop]], [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]

| occupation = [[Record producer]], [[rapper]], [[singer]]

| instrument = [[Bass guitar|Bass]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[drum machine]]

| years_active = 1999–present

| label = {{hlist|[[Aftermath Entertainment|Aftermath]], |[[Interscope Records|Interscope]], |a.Fam Entertainment inc.}}

| current_member_of = Read the PDF

| associated_acts = [[Dr. Dre]]

| associated_acts = {{hlist|[[Dr. Dre]]|[[Bishop Lamont]]|[[Marsha Ambrosius]]|[[Busta Rhymes]]|[[Beyoncé]]}}

}}

'''Bernard Edwards Jr.''' (born November 6, 1972),<ref>{{cite web |title=Focus -– artist |url=https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/focus_f1 |website=rateyourmusic.com |publisher=Sonemic, Inc. |accessdate=2019-11access-date=November 29, 2019}}</ref> professionally known professionally as '''Focus...''', is an American [[musicrecord producer]] from [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. He gained major recognition in the music industry when heupon signedsigning with [[Dr. Dre]]'s [[Aftermath Entertainment]], in 2002. SinceDuring thenhis hetenure haswith producedthe trackslabel, forEdwards severalworked prominentwith artists, including [[Dr. Dre]], [[Eminem]]himself, [[Kendrick LamarBeyoncé]], [[Snoop DoggEminem]], [[RickWu-Tang RossClan]], [[JohnJennifer LegendLopez]], [[TheChristina Game (rapper)|The GameAguilera]], [[Ice50 CubeCent]], [[Busta Rhymes]], [[FabolousOutlawz]], [[50The Cent]],Game [[Schoolboy(rapper)|the QGame]], [[Joe (singer)|Joe]], [[ChristinaPetey AguileraPablo]], [[JenniferMarsha LopezAmbrosius]], and [[BeyoncéBishop Knowles|BeyoncéLamont]], among others.<ref name="a.Fam MySpace">[[Lilhttp://www.myspace.com/afamentinc Wayne"a.Fam MySpace"]],</ref> Edwards formed the [[AmerieSupergroup (music)|Ameriiesupergroup]], [[ChristinaRead Milian|Christinathe Millian]]PDF with fellow Aftermath producers, [[MacDem DreJointz]], and [[MarshaMr. AmbrosiusPorter]] amongin others2022.<ref>{{cite name="a.Famweb MySpace">[http| url=https://www.myspaceeminem.comnews/afamentincread-the-pdf-hype.html "a| title=Read the PDF on How Project Came to Life and Who Inspired Them &#124; Eminem.FamPro MySpace"]- the biggest and most trusted source of Eminem | date=July 7, 2023 }}</ref>

==Life and career==

Focus... is the son of the late [[Bernard Edwards]], co-founder of [[disco]] and [[R&B]] band [[Chic (band)|Chic]].<ref name="a.Fam MySpace"/> He was born in [[Manhattan]], [[New York (state)|New York]]City, and raised in the [[Tri-State Region]].<ref name="a.Fam MySpace"/> 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.<ref name="a.Fam MySpace"/>

Focus...'s production talents were first recognized by Dr. Dre when an artist Edwards Jr. had produced, Daks, greatly impressed the Aftermath label head.<ref name="hitquarters.com">[http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Focus_Interview.html "Interview With Focus..."], ''[[HitQuarters]]'', 1 March 1, 2010.</ref> He later signed Focus... so that the two could then continue working together.<ref name="hitquarters.com"/>

The beginning of 2009 saw Focus... leaveleft Aftermath in 2008, after seven years with the label.<ref>{{Cite news|title= Focus... Leaves Aftermath, Focuses on his label a.Fam Entertainment |url=http://thehypemagazine.blogspot.com/2009/05/focus-leaves-aftermath-focuses-on-his.html|publisher= The Hype Machine |date=May 25, 2009 |accessdateaccess-date=March 3, 2010-03-03}}</ref>

In 20142013, 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 (album)|Compton]]''. ''Compton'' was [[RIAA certification|certified gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA).

Focus... is now the CEO of his own entertainment company N|VZXN Entertainment.

==Production==

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===1999===

;[[Solé]] -– ''[[Skin Deep (Solé album)|Skin Deep]]''

*"I'm Coming" <small>(Intro)</small>

*"Spell My Name Right" <small>(featuring Mr. Raja) (produced with [[Tricky Stewart]])</small>

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===2000===

;[[Joe (singer)|Joe]] -– ''[[My Name Is Joe (album)|My Name Is Joe]]''

*"Get Crunk Tonight"

;[[Kandi Burruss]] -– ''[[Hey Kandi...]]''

*"Introduction"

*"Hey Kandi"

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===2001===

;[[MontellChristina JordanMilian]] -– ''[[RushChristina Hour 2Milian (soundtrackalbum)|Rush HourChristina 2Milian]]''

*"Mine, Mine, Mine"

;[[Christina Milian]] - ''[[Christina Milian (album)|Christina Milian]]''

*"It Hurts When..." <small>(produced with [[Montell Jordan]])</small>

*"Twitch" <small>(produced with [[Montell Jordan]])</small>

;[[Destiny's Child]] -– ''[[8 Days of Christmas]]''

*"Spread a Little Love on Christmas Day" <small>(produced with [[Beyoncé Knowles]], [[Ric Wake]])</small>

;[[Various artists]] -– ''[[The Wash (soundtrack)|The Wash]]''

*"Riding High" <small>(DaksfeaturingDaks featuring R.C.)</small>

===2002===

;[[Truth Hurts (singer)|Truth Hurts]] -– ''[[Truthfully Speaking]]''

*"Next To Me"

*"Do Me"

;[[Jennifer Lopez]] -– ''[[This Is Me... Then]]''

*"Dear Ben" <small>(produced with [[Cory Rooney]])</small>

;[[Petey Pablo]] -– ''[[Drumline (film)|Drumline]]''

*"Club Banger"

;[[Montell Jordan]] – ''[[Montell Jordan (album)|Montell Jordan]]''

*"MJ V Intro"

*MJ Anthem

*Top Or Bottom

*"Mine, Mine, Mine" (included in ''[[Rush Hour 2 (soundtrack)|Rush Hour 2]]'')

*Why Can’t We

*The Rain

===2003===

;Sly Boogy -– ''Judgement Day''

*"California" <small>(featuring [[Butch Cassidy (singer)|Butch Cassidy]], [[Truth Hurts (singer)|Truth Hurts]])</small>

;[[Beyoncé Knowles]] -– ''[[Dangerously in Love]]''

*"Yes" <small>(produced with [[Beyoncé Knowles]])</small>

===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===

;[[Game (rapper)|The Game]] -– ''[[The Documentary]]''

*"Where I'm From" <small>(featuring [[Nate Dogg]])</small>

;[[112 (band)|112]] -– ''[[Pleasure & Pain (112 album)|Pleasure & Pain]]''

*"[[U Already Know]]" <small>(produced with [[Sean Garrett]])</small>

;[[Outlawz]] -– ''[[Outlaw 4 Life: 2005 A.P.]]''

*"Real Talk" <small>(featuring Focus...)</small>

*"If You Want 2"

*"I Dare U" <small>(featuring Focus...)</small>

;[[Sway & King Tech]] -– ''[[Back 2 Basics (Sway & King Tech album)|Back 2 Basics]]''

*"Watch Closer" <small>(featuring [[Chino XL]], Tracy Lane)</small>

*"I Don't Think So" <small>(featuring [[Kam (rapper)|Kam]])</small>

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*"Hands to the Sky" <small>(featuring Verb & Rock)</small>

;[[Tony Yayo]] -– ''[[Thoughts of a Predicate Felon]]''

*"Eastside Westside"

*"Project Princess" <small>(featuring [[Jagged Edge (American group)|Jagged Edge]])</small>

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===2006===

;[[StatTha QuoMexakinz|Sinful]] -– ''[[EminemBehind Presents:16 The Re-Up]]Bars''

*"Yo Soy Honesto"

;[[Stat Quo]] – ''[[Eminem Presents: The Re-Up]]''

*"By My Side"

===2007===

;[[Bishop Lamont]] -– ''N***** Noise''

*"Klansmen"

*"American Dreams"

;[[Salah Edin]] -– ''Nederlands Grootste Nachtmerrie''

*"NGN" <small>(featuring Focus...)</small>

*"T.H.E.O. (Teleurstelling, Haat, Ergernis & Onbegrip)"

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*"Paradijs Is Nu"

;[[La Fouine]] -– ''Aller-Retour''

*"Intro"

*"La Danse Du Ghetto"

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*"Partout Pareil"

;[[Keke Palmer]] -– ''[[So Uncool]]''

*"The Game Song"

*"Music Box"

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===2008===

;[[Girlicious]] -– ''[[Girlicious (album)|Girlicious]]''

*"Mirror"

;[[Bishop Lamont]] -– ''[[The Confessional (album)|The Confessional]]''

*"The Confessional" <small>(Intro)</small>

*"Better Than You"

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===2009===

;[[Busta Rhymes]] -– ''[[Back on My B.S.]]''

*"[[Respect My Conglomerate]]" <small>(featuring [[Lil Wayne]], [[Jadakiss]])</small>

*"If You Don't Know Now You Know" <small>(featuring [[Big Tigger]])</small>

;[[Slaughterhouse (group)|Slaughterhouse]] -– ''[[Slaughterhouse (Slaughterhouse album)|Slaughterhouse]]''

*"Lyrical Murderers" <small>(featuring K-Young)</small>

===2010===

;[[Christina Aguilera]] -– ''[[Bionic (Christina Aguilera album)|Bionic]]''

*"Morning Dessert" <small>(Intro)</small>

*"Sex for Breakfast"

;[[Bishop Lamont]] -– ''[[The Shawshank Redemption/Angola 3]]''

*"Martin Luther King" <small>(Intro)</small>

*"Affirmative Action" <small>(featuring Focus...)</small>

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===2011===

;[[Marsha Ambrosius]] -– ''[[Late Nights & Early Mornings]]''

*"Tears"

;[[Schoolboy Q]] -– ''[[Setbacks (album)|Setbacks]]''

*"Light Years Ahead (Sky High)" <small>(featuring [[Kendrick Lamar]])</small>

;[[Jay Rock]] -– ''[[Follow Me Home (album)|Follow Me Home]]''

*"Bout That"

;[[Rapper Big Pooh]] -– ''Dirty Pretty Things''

*"Right With You" <small>(featuring Focus...)</small>

*"Real Love" <small>(featuring Focus...)</small>

;[[Outlawz]] -– ''[[Perfect Timing (Outlawz album)|Perfect Timing]]''

*"Keep It Lit" <small>(featuring Yung Phat Pat)</small>

===2012===

;[[50 Cent]] -– ''[[5 (Murder by Numbers)]]''

*"My Crown"

;[[Busta Rhymes]] -– ''[[Year of the Dragon (Busta Rhymes album)|Year of the Dragon]]''

*"Do That Thing"

;[[Xzibit]] -– ''[[Napalm (album)|Napalm]]''

*"Killer's Remorse" <small>(featuring [[Bishop Lamont]], [[Young De]], [[B-Real]])</small>

;[[Skyzoo]] -– ''[[A Dream Deferred (album)|A Dream Deferred]]''

*"Drew & Derwin" <small>(featuring [[Raheem DeVaughn]])</small>

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===2013===

;[[TGT (group)|TGT]] -– ''[[Three Kings (TGT album)|Three Kings]]''

*"Interlude" <small>(credited as B. Edwards Jr.)</small>

;[[Slum Village]] -– ''[[Evolution (Slum Village album)|Evolution]]''

*"Summer Breeze"

*"1 Nite" <small>(featuring Vice)</small>

;[[Terrace Martin]] -– ''[[3ChordFold]]''

*"Watch U Sleep"

===2015===

;[[Dr. Dre]] -– ''[[Compton (album)|Compton]]''

* "Intro

* "Loose Cannons" {{small|(featuring Xzibit, COLD 187&nbsp;um & Sly Pyper)}}

* "Issues" {{small|(featuring Ice Cube, Anderson .Paak & Dem Jointz)}}

* "Deep Water" {{small|(featuring Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak & Justus)}}

* "One Shot One Kill" {{small|(Jon Connor featuring Snoop Dogg)}}

* "Medicine Man" {{small|(featuring Eminem, Candice Pillay & Anderson .Paak)}}

;[[Wu-Tang Clan]] -– ''[[Once Upon a Time in Shaolin]]''

* "Hail, Snow & Earthquakes / Rainy Dayz II" {{small|(featuring Blue Raspberry)}}

;[[Amerie|Ameriie]] -– ''[[Drive (Amerie EP)|Drive]]''

*"Every Time" {{small|(featuring [[Fabolous]])}}

===2016===

;[[DJ Mustard]] Presents -– ''[[Cold Summer (DJ Mustard album)|Cold Summer]]''

* "Another Summer" {{small|(featuring Rick Ross, John Legend & James Fauntleroy)}}

;[[Damian Lillard]] -– ''[[The Letter O]]''

* "Thank You" {{small|(featuring Marsha Ambrosius, Brookfield Duece & Danny from Sobrante)}}

===2018===

;Marsha Ambrosius -– ''Nyla''

* "Flood"

* "I Got It Bad" <small>(produced with Marsha Ambrosius and [[Stereotypes (producers)|Stereotypes]])</small>

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===2019===

;[[Little Brother (group)|Little Brother]] -– ''[[May the Lord Watch]]''

* "Black Magic (Make It Better)"

* "Goodmorning Sunshine"

* "Work Through Me" <small>(produced with Blaaq Gold)</small>

===2020===

;[[Busta Rhymes]] – '' [[Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God]]''

* "Don't Go" {{small|(featuring Q-Tip)}}

;[[Eminem]] – '' [[Music to Be Murdered By#Music to Be Murdered By – Side B (Deluxe Edition)|Music to Be Murdered By – Side B (Deluxe edition)]]''

* "She Loves Me"

===2022===

;[[Diamond D]] - ''The Rear View''

* "Live My Life" {{small|(featuring Ashtin Martin)}}

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==

* {{AllmusicAllMusic|class=artist|id=focus-mn0000855825|label=Focus…}}

* {{Discogs artist | artist=181294-Focus-4 | name=Focus…}}

* {{MusicBrainz artist | id=f16acce9-c46a-45af-8509-b9d3b397c26f | name=Focus…}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Focus...}}

[[Category:1972 births]]

[[Category:American hip -hop record producers]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:East Coast hip -hop musicians]]

[[Category:African-American record producers]]

[[Category:African-American songwriters]]

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[[Category:American male bass guitarists]]

[[Category:Record producers from New York (state)]]

[[Category:African-American guitarists]]

[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]

[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]

[[Category:American male songwriters]]