Producer – Street Line Video

Director Vera Edwards honored with Citation

Vera Edwards (March 4, 1966) is an American director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. Born and raised in the South Bronx, New York City, Edwards began her career as an author and then graduated to write, direct, and produce television shows on a cable channel called Bronxnet. The show was titled “Street Line.” It was an entertainment show that not only showed what was happening in the streets, but showed celebrities as well as up-and-coming artists, dance, hip-hop, businesses, current events, and politics. The show revolutionized the urban community. In 2009, Edwards and her son Ricardo Cordero (director of photography) received several Beta Awards for their contributions to television.

In 2011 Edwards published her first book titled “BAND OF GOLD,” which was written by Vera Edwards herself. This was the start of her writing career which jumped started her in the direction of making movies.

One of the first female independent multimedia film director and producer in the Bronx, Edwards has captured the essence of urban life by utilizing members of the community by taking real-life experience and turning it into art. She has become a true pioneer in hip-hop culture and urban day living.

Edwards wrote, produced, and directed with her son Ricardo Cordero her first underground independent feature film, Chicken (2013); The film was an urban drama. The entire cast was first-time actors. The film received worldwide praise from parents, children, teens, and several educational institutions ranging from different fields of study that implemented different story elements into their own syllabuses. It was a scripted reality show at its finest. Chicken showcased unfortunate realism that many individuals face in urban communities even to this day. The movie Chicken sold-out not only at the theaters but also sold out as DVDs in stores. It became one of the most sought out underground urban movies till this day.

Her second film was a romantic love story titled “Waiting for 4 Mr. Wright” (2015), which won a Bronxnet Beta Award. It too had first-time actors, Anabel Castillo, and Hip-Hop artist, Mighty Mike C (Michael Clee), from the legendary hip-hop group, The Fearless 4. The film received a standing ovation which was played at the iconic Mist Theater in Harlem, New York; It also was a DVD hit.

This was followed in 2015 by Edwards’s first novella “Perate,” a movie drama that starred Artie Cordel and hip-hop legend Wilfredo “Tito” Dones, of the legendary group The Fearless 4. It was a challenge for Edwards to write and produce the life of a Hispanic dysfunctional family. Her daughter Bobbi Cordero(writer) helped create the movie, which won Edwards another Beta Award. The movie Perate also played in the iconic Mist Theater in Harlem, New York City.

In 2015-2018, Edwards directed her first web series that started out as a small pitch that led to a bigger series of its own name and a powerful relationship drama, “Rodent,” starring Seven and Antoinette “Toni Styles” Vereen. This was a drama that identified with personal relationships amongst friends and family. The web series had twists and turns. Rodent was in high demand on the internet but ended abruptly because of ‘unsettling’ events created only amongst actors based off their newfound popularity that was developed from the success of the Rodent series.

In 2016, Edwards produced and directed “PPRESSED,” based on the everyday life of battle rappers. The movie starred Karine “Sho-Time” Thornton and Michael Deering (Mikey D) from the legendary group, “Main Source.” Since its success and debut, it has become the anthem and blueprint of videography used in today’s hip-hop rap culture within television and feature digital movie format.

Edwards wrote, produced, and directed “A Teenage Story” (2020) starring LA Sunshine (Lamar Hill), from the legendary group The Treacherous 3, DJ and creator of scratch, Grandwizard Theodore (Theodore Livingston), Stevie D (Stevie Lundy), from the legendary Force Mds and first-time actor Justin Hines. The movie was shot during the COVID pandemic and was set for the theaters, but due to the worldwide COVID restriction lock-downs, the 1:49-minute movie was released on YouTube and generated over 800,000 views.

When asked in a recent interview on the podcast “SHO-TIME TV PODCAST,” the interviewer asked Edwards “How were you able to create so many hit movies in such a short time,” Edwards replied” I couldn’t have done it without my son Ricardo Cordero. He is an excellent cameraman. He and I work great together, I know him, and he knows me. He knows my vision. I leave all the camera work to him, and he makes it happen. I think he is the best director of photography I know. To be able to create and share time as a mother and son is priceless. I enjoy those moments”.

On March 26, 2023, Edwards was honored with a Citation by Senator Cordell Cleare for her work with the community as a Film director.

Free Ya Mind: The Story of Demetrius Clayton

Patience is most definitely a virtue. It’s something I had to learn for majority of my life. I always hated waiting and I sometimes hate not being able to come across stuff on my own. Even worst when someone is trying to put you on to something or someone but they keep asking “Yo! Did you check it out yet?!” Then I’m like “No! Stop frickin’ asking me!” LMFAO!!! Anyways, I love to come across interesting new people and things all on my own. The experience is much different because it’s organic and authentic. Not saying that someone else introducing you to something or someone isn’t but it hits differently when you discover it on your own. Sometime a week ago, I was scrolling on my Instagram, regular thing, and this guy pops up on my feed. I don’t know how long I’ve been following this guy but I was glad to be able to finally go through his page real quick. I would like to point out that there’s a huge difference between a beat maker and a producer. See a beat maker just makes beats but a producer creates magic. They’re like magicians. They take those beautiful sounds they create and put together to create something much, much larger than life. A soundtrack for the perfect artist that depicts their aura presence so perfectly. I was going through this guy’s page and loved what I was hearing. Not your typical, monotonous, mainstream “turn up” sounds, this when you go downtown shopping in those random thrift stores and hear a Joey Badass or some other ill ass, dope, underground sounds that you never heard before. It’s super refreshing and original and most definitely captures your ear. Y’all should know already that I had to get at this guy and see what’s up. So I got the 411 on this dope producer. Turns out his stage name is Free Mind, born Demetrius Clayton on April 23rd, 1986 in Watts, California but raised in Los Angeles. A Taurus from the West Coast whose a dope ass producer. This is going to be really interesting right here. A’ight, so boom! I’m automatically thinking about N.W.A. This is the West Coast during the late 80’s. Never mind my thoughts right now, Clayton talks about his life growing up. “Growing up for me was like some real storybook shit. I grew up in the projects and It was crazy around my way. I saw and experienced things that cause PTSD in people. It wasn’t all bad though. There was definitely a balance.” Of course. Balance is key. Where there’s good, there’s also the bad. Gotta know how to maneuver through it. Obviously, music is the good in his life. He continues about his inspirations. “Musically, I was inspired by J Dilla, 9th Wonder, and the “old” Kanye West. If you listen closely you can definitely hear their influence and inspiration in my beats. And as far as inspiration in my life outside of music, I would have to say my children are my biggest inspiration. It’s because of them that I am who I am today.” Great inspirations right there and a father? Nice! It’s all good indeed, there’s always story of the beginning of when the good started. Clayton continues, “Music is a way to express what’s in your spirit and soul. It’s a way to communicate the intangible and immaterial. I just wanted to tell my story through my music. It was the only outlet I had at the time I first started. Not having anything gave me my start. I didn’t have the money or other things that keep people complacent and content with where they are. All I had was my will to be great and do something that would outlive me.” So relatable! It’s always the will power to be great in our heads and minds that pushes us to heights and levels to getting what we want and where we want to go in life. It’s a weird but scary and beautiful way of reaching for the stars that’s hard to explain. Sort of like a Super Mario Bros. video game, you have to go through all these obstacles in order to get to the goal at the end. You’ll often fall off, slip up, lose energy and power, all these things coming your direction to destroy you but you keep popping back up and you keep going. The best part is actually getting there. Then there’s this big sigh of relief like “Wow!” Then, the music actually comes in. Clayton talks about his work. “I just dropped “Soul Immortal 2”. That’s my latest instrumental album. It was released on December 31st, 2020. I have a lot of projects coming in the near future. I’ll keep that on the low until the time comes for the release of those projects.” Dope! Definitely have to check it out and stay on the lookout for those future projects. Lots of lessons that comes with a journey of an artist and how they got to where they are creatively in their careers and life; as well as regrets. Sometimes we regret not knowing enough earlier or not pushing ourselves or in Clayton’s case, none. He says, “I don’t have any regrets, but I would for sure do a lot of things differently. All I can do is learn from my mistakes and keep striving to become a better musician and most importantly, a better human being.” No truer words have been spoken. Beautifully said there sir! You’ve came this far and still have a lot to look forward to in the future. Many more years to come. Where do you see yourself years from now?, “I see myself happy! Living a life of purpose. I have a lot to contribute to this world. I plan on doing that before my demise.” Amazing. For music and more, keep up with Free Mind by following him on all his social media platforms.

Social media handles:

https://www.instagram.com/3rdeyefree

https://freemindsoul7.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7hkdcwn2cNAWHKak8Ffkbw

Written by Jalen Hemphill

The King of New Jack Swing: Happy Birthday Teddy Riley

They call him the King of New Jack Swing. He’s the man behind the legendary hip hop and R&B groups like Guy, Wreckx-N-Effect, and BLACKstreet, he helped provided sounds for Michael Jackson’s 1991 album “Dangerous”, Bobby Brown’s 1988 album “Don’t Be Cruel” and Queen Pen’s 1997 album “My Melody.” He did a lot joints for others artists including MC Hammer, Mary J. Blige, Doug E. Fresh, SWV, Kool Moe Dee and a whole lot more of other hip hop, R&B and new jack swing artists. This man is my all time favorite producer, for he is responsible for a lot of my favorite joints. His name is Teddy Riley. It was 1985 when Teddy produced his first joint to reach the Billboard Top 100 charts, Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s “The Show” and then two years later, the R&B group Guy was born. The group started off with Teddy, Timmy Gatling and Aaron Hall who pioneered the new jack swing style and movement. With only three albums underneath their belt, they had some of the greatest joints between the first two albums. “New Jack Swing” of course, “Teddy’s Jam”, “Groove Me”, “I Like”, “Yearning For Your Love”, and “My Fantasy”, which is a joint not to many can remember unless you play it like “Ohhhh snap! I forgot about this one. This is my shit!” LOL! To those that never understood what exactly was the sound of New Jack Swing, it was basically hip hop production, R&B vocals, pop infused with synthesizers and heavy bass with instrument sounds. It was the early combination of hip hop and R&B until Hip hop soul came along in the early 90’s, thanks to Mary J. Blige and Jodeci. In 1989 Teddy Riley began working with hip hop group Wreckx-N-Effect. Their main two singles were “New Jack Swing”, a song that celebrates the genre and of course partying with a numerous amount of cameo appearances in the music video and in 1992, their next biggest joint, “Rump Shaker.” In the early 90’s, the new jack swing movement and sound was slowly coming to an end. I would say around 1993/1994, the industry was taken over by a new popular sound called “Hip hop sound.” Hip hop soul was more straightforward and more street. It was like church choirs meet the street corner hustlers. This sound was strictly R&B singing over hardcore hip hop production and it is my favorite sound. Teddy didn’t miss a beat and he still put out bangers even with the new sound at the time. He did Michael Jackson’s 1991 album “Dangerous”, he did the remix to Mary J. Blige’s 1994 single “My Love” featuring the late great Heavy D, another artists part of the new jack swing movement, and then came along BLACKstreet, who is one of my all time favorite male groups. Their first two albums, the self titled 1994 album and 1996’s “Another Level”, I ran to death yo. The first joint introduced Chauncey Black and Dave Hollister. Chauncey and Dave had amazing voices but Dave was miles ahead of Chauncey and could hit some of the hardest and coldest notes I’ve ever heard come from an R&B guy. Their definitely influences on me when it comes to singing. The first album was a banger from start to finish. The sound had a west coast vibe but it was a tad bit new jack swing-ish but very, very smooth and R&B on a hip hop tip that makes you nod your head something crazy. Joints like “Baby Be Mine”, “I Like the Way You Work”, “Physical Thing”, “Happy Home”, “Before I Let You Go” man, that shit is a masterpiece. Their second album “Another Level” had the perfect name and it was exactly that but their first joint was more raw and street. “Another Level” had more church vibes but it was still dope. A couple of joints skipped here and there but still a dope body work. This album had the notorious Teddy Riley joint, “No Diggity” featuring Dr. Dre and Queen Pen. Queen Pen is another one of Teddy’s artists. She was incredible on the mic but very underrated. Teddy did her album “My Melody” a year after “Another Level” and “Party Ain’t a Party” took Queen Pen to the top. Her second joint didn’t do so well but she’s still a monster on the mic. BLACKstreet’s third album “Finally”, was an okay album though. I don’t really care too much about it but it was cool. Very R&B all the way and “Girlfriend/Boyfriend” featuring Janet Jackson, Ja Rule and Eve was dope too. I pretty much only celebrate Teddy’s career from 1985 to 1998. That’s when he was in his prime. Album after album, artist after artist, bangers after bangers, Teddy is definitely one of the greatest producers of all time. He’s pretty much the soundtrack and King of my “old soul” life. He provided that sound I love so much and exaggerates it a lot. Those beats of his was perfect to me. His ear is an incredible one and something you never doubt. I always dreamed of someday working with Teddy in the future. Hope I can.