Tag: New Edition

Director Vera Edwards

 

Vera Edwards is an award-winning American independent film director/producer/and author. Born and raised in the South Bronx, Edwards took her life experience and applied it to film. She and her son Ricardo Cordero began their Journey as visual storytellers by gathering independent artist from the streets and giving them a platform to express their talent by allowing them to further their careers as actors.

Edwards and her son formed Street Line Video an underground media video production team for unsung talent. Edwards and her son Ricardo Cordero have recorded major celebrities on and off stage such as Babyface, Charlie Wilson, Nikki Minaj, New Edition, The Ojays, Millie Jackson, Kurtis Blow Rick Ross just to name a few. She states after filming so many celebrities and helping them retain themselves in the music industry it was time that her son an herself needed to embark on creating history for themselves. She then wrote her first novel Band of Gold, which was one of the urban communities best selling books, you can get it free on Amazon. Edwards stated it was the book that she wanted to turn into a movie drama. Readers requested more of her work that's when She learned  that our stories need to be told. So she then decided to shoot her own movies to generate her audience and followers, because of the high demand of her first novel Band of Gold Edwards wrote scripts for her son to shoot and edit and distribute across the world.

Edwards has had several Independent films that played in the theater such as Chick-en, Waiting 4 Mr. Wright starring Michael Clee from The Fearless 4, a their first novella titled Perate starring Tito from the 1980s group The fearless four.  All three of these movies won Beta awards and had sold out shows. Edwards also has a soap opera title "Rodent" the Urban Soap opera which was released as a web series which was a drama and a battle rap movie titled PPRESSED starring Karine Sho-time Thornton and Mikey D (Michael Deering) of the Legendary 90s hip hop rap group Main Source. These movies met all kinds of genre in all types of countries. Which made the two web series a download hit. 

Edwards latest work a pandemic movie titled a teenage story starring La Sunshine from the 1980s hip hop rap group The treacherous three, Grandwizard Theodore creator of DJ scratch and Stevie D from the 1980s r&b group The Force Mds was aired during the lock-down of the COVID 19 pandemic. The pandemic had the whole world staying in the house for a year and a half 2020 and a portion of 2021. The movie a teenage story was released on youtube for free and generated over 800,000 views. Not bad for and independent full featured movie. Since the pandemic has been lifted somewhat Edwards has started working on a new up-and-coming movie tv drama for the 2023 fall tv line up (now in production). She guarantees her audience will love this one. All movies can be viewed and seen all over the world. Edwards and her son Ricardo Cordero said they will continue to work as a directors and pride themselves by continuing to promote artist who couldn't receive a fair chance in the entertainment world. You can watch all of their movie on youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-wMxedqsYlGlg2HezxvWmA


  

Heart Break: The 30th Anniversary

The group that we all were used to in the beginning were the bubblegum pop little boys from Boston, Massachusetts. They were from the ghetto but the music never reflected that. Their first four albums were all teeny boppish/R&B music until one member was replaced and they were much older. With a new member in the group and a new sound and image, the masterpiece was their fifth album. On June 20th, 1988, New Edition released their highly anticipated fifth album “Heart Break.” With an already steady and heavy fanbase, the fellas really came back more mature and polished with a sound to reflect that and it was far away from what their fans were used to. With Johnny Gill on board now, it was bound to be a smash, a hit. The fellas could do absolutely no wrong this time around. Between 1988 and 1990, the album had six singles and it went double platinum by RIAA. The masters behind the sound of the album were none other than the super producer team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The same guys who were responsible for giving Janet Jackson “Control” and helping Janet become a breakout superstar. The team had the magic touch to give the same energy to New Edition. On this album, Johnny does most of the lead vocals besides Ralph, another thing that fans weren’t used to. The group was not only a success with this album but now their careers were much bigger and headed down a different direction. Crazy enough, the same day this album dropped, Bobby Brown also releases his breakout sophomore album called “Don’t Be Cruel.” A master plan to garner the success and attention the same time as your group to see whether or not who would flop. In the end, this was a memorable day for New Edition fans. A memorable day in R&B history. It’s just like when A Tribe Called Quest dropped “Midnight Marauders” the same day Wu-Tang Clan’s debut album “Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” but for R&B. 

Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky & Mike, Ralph & Johnny Too!

Almost 2 weeks ago, the New Edition biopic movie premiered on BET for a three night special. So far it’s the best biopic to me personally. The entire movie was amazing and truly inspiring. The moment I became a New Edition fan was when I was 14 years old. It was their 25th anniversary at the time I believe, they were in Sister 2 Sister Magazine and there was an article about them in the magazine and they were all wearing suits and different color ties. VH1 Soul, at the time before it changed to BET Soul, were playing all of their videos, including their solo joints and I remember being glued to the television screen amazed with the amount of hits they had. Back to back videos of New Edition, Bell Biv DeVoe, Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill including their episode of “Behind the Music.” I was inspired by how much they been through as a group and how far they made it and of course, how legendary they are. During the same time, in the summer, Limewire was still a popular music download website and I made 2 mixed CD’s with nothing but New Edition, Bell Biv DeVoe, Bobby Brown, Ralph Trevant, and Johnny Gill joints. Speaking of the members, today is Bobby Brown’s birthday. Bobby by himself is my favorite as well as BBD. Bobby was a monster by himself on the stage. Lots of energy and he can dance his off. “On Our Own”, “Every Little Step”, “Roni” and “One More Night” are my top favorite Bobby Brown joints. Both Bobby and BBD had That energy and edge that I like so much. Bobby was the rock star but BBD was on the hip hop side of town and they were considered “mental”, which is everything that I personally represent today. To be “mental” means to be free to do whatever and wear whatever you want. Doesn’t always have to be planned but it’s still your style and original. Ralph and Johnny were the smooth R&B guys who had the bangers for the ladies but I learned how to love a girl by listening to those love songs. With all of their albums and music videos put together, that’s about 40 albums, including the remixes albums and about 60 music videos. Forever their legacy will live on.

BIV10: Happy Birthday Michael Bivins!

Michael Bivins, 1/6 of the supergroup New Edition and 1/3 of the illest hip hop and R&B group, Bell Biv DeVoe, the man behind Boyz II Men and 702, the man behind all of the business moves and aspects of his groups and the man behind BIV 10 Records. Mike Bivins was always someone I personally looked up to when it comes to being a business man. He seems to have the golden touch cause everything he contributed to the music world was dope not to mention that both New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe have always been my favorites. BBD’s 1990 debut album “Poison” is definitely a banger from beginning to end and one of my personal favorite albums of all time. I watch BBD music videos on YouTube and study their fashion and dance moves. These guys were hard but smooth at the same time, they had all the dope gear, the spray painted overalls, the gore tex boots, the illest fades and haircuts with dope designs and Ricky’s voice over those strong new jack swing and hip hop beats was and is still incredible to me. Their latest joint “Run” samples from Biggie Smalls’ 1997 joint “Hypnotize” and it’s a banger. They still have it and haven’t lost their touch at all. Thank you Mike and the entire New Edition for being so inspiring to me. Team NE 4 Life! Happy Birthday Mike!