My Conversation with Professor of Practice at GSU Booker Edwards
Recently, I had the privilege of sitting down for a conversation with Professor Booker Edwards. Mr. Edwards is not only a Professor of Practice at Georgia State University, but is also a producer in the music industry. Having produced for people like Trey Songz and Pusha-T, I knew that I could learn a lot of insightful information from him–which I most definitely did. In October, Professor Edwards was a judge of a beat competition I had participated in (I got 2nd place) and I reached out to him for an interview from there.
During our time together, we talked about a vast variety of subjects including the birth of new industries within music production like immersive audio and video game scoring. However, what I found the most interesting was Edward’s insight as a producer. As somebody who is an aspiring music producer in the recording industry, I was fascinated with how Professor Edwards got the opportunity to produce for artists like Pusha-T. Professor Edwards explained how he and Trey Songz are from the same town, helping him build a strong connection.
Something I found incredibly important in our conversation was Edward’s outlook on the evolving (or devolving) role of a producer. We talked about how producers used to be far more idolized–how people like Pharrell used to be the go-tos for hits. Now, with sometimes there being a dozen producers and songwriters on a single song, it almost feels like producers are losing their respect. Professor Edwards simply explained that producers are “half of the song” and should be treated as such. Simply selling off a lease or being given barely any royalties from a song should not be the way a producer is rewarded for their work. As somebody interested in the industry, it was eye-opening to hear words like that which encouraged me to force others to take me more seriously–as opposed to previous advice I have received which almost encourages me to be a pushover.
Professor Edwards also explained other incredible opportunities he has had in the past as a producer. From participating in a camp at DJ Jazzy Jeff’s house–best known for his work with Will Smith and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air–to building meaningful relationships with multi Grammy award winning artist Seal, my conversation with Professor Edwards was one I found truly interesting and taught me a tremendous amount. I encourage you to listen to the entire interview on my YouTube channel, which is linked below.
