LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A documentary film exploring the extraordinary life and career of multi-GRAMMY®-winning artist Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds is now in production, with backing from HarbourView Equity Partners. Directed by Emmy nominee Chris Moukarbel (“Gaga: Five Foot Two,” “Cypher”) and produced by Kenya Barris, the film will capture Babyface as he reflects on navigating the highs and lows of the music industry, reveals his songwriting and producing process, and takes us behind the scenes of his chart-conquering collaborations with such artists as Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, Eric Clapton, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Lil Wayne, Beyoncé, Madonna, and SZA.
Babyface is one of the most prolific and successful singer/songwriter/producers of all time. He’s won 13 GRAMMY® Awards, including 4 Producer of the Year awards, with 83 overall nominations. He’s the 7-time BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year, and has racked up 16 BILLBOARD #1 Pop Singles, 45 BILLBOARD #1 R&B Singles, and 125 BILLBOARD Top 10 Hits. Babyface has contributed to over 800 million records sold and over a billion records streamed.
In 1989, Babyface and Antonio “L.A.” Reid founded LaFace Records, which played a pivotal role in the music industry during the 1990s and early 2000s. Based in Atlanta and known for its significant influence on the R&B and hip-hop genres, LaFace launched the careers of artists like Toni Braxton, Outkast, Usher, TLC, P!nk, Ciara, Goodie Mob, T.I., and Donnell Jones.
Babyface’s work producing film soundtracks and songs (“The Bodyguard,” “Boomerang,” “Soul Food,” “Waiting to Exhale”) has yielded some of his most important collaborations, including the Academy Award–winning Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey duet “When You Believe” for “The Prince of Egypt.”
The documentary will feature in-depth, exclusive interviews with Edmonds, including raw moments where he reveals how he channeled his own personal heartbreaks into creating the soundtrack for millions of love stories around the world. The film will also feature interviews with many of Babyface’s most notable collaborators, access to his never-before-seen personal archive, and behind the scenes and concert footage of his upcoming shows at The Palms in Las Vegas.
“I’ve often wondered how an unassuming kid from Indianapolis got to where he is today, working with artists and achieving dreams I could’ve never imagined when I first started,” said Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. “This documentary is giving me a chance to go down memory lane with a fine-tooth comb, reexamining the highs and lows of my life and career. I’m discovering where all the songs really came from – and perhaps just as important, the how and why.”
“Babyface and his music has always been part of the soundtrack of my life,” said director Chris Moukarbel. “His imprint on the music world is massive and I feel really honored to be even a small part in sharing his story through directing this film.”
“At HarbourView, we’re passionate about investing in stories and creators who’ve shaped culture in lasting ways. Babyface’s influence on music and artistry is immeasurable – his songs have defined generations,” said Sherrese Clarke, Founder & CEO, HarbourView Equity Partners. “We’re proud to support this project celebrating his genius, legacy, and the emotional honesty behind his work.”
“Babyface is one of one – a culture-defining hitmaker whose impact cannot be denied or overstated,” said producer Kenya Barris. “We’re honored to be a part of telling his story and grateful that we’re teaming with Harbourview, a company that understands the importance of investing in culture and storytelling like this, to do so. I hope this project not only spotlights Babyface’s remarkable career but also gives people a glimpse into the man behind the musical genius, who just might be one of the funniest motherf—ers I’ve ever met.”
Chris Moukarbel’s Permanent Wave Productions serves as lead production company alongside producers Kenya Barris and Jeremy Allen of Khalabo Ink Society, Douglas Banker of Five All in the Fifth Entertainment, Rika Tischendorf, and Brande Baugh.
Harbourview Equity Partners is financing and producing. UTA Independent Film Group is representing the sale.
Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds is represented by WME and Azoff Music Management, Chris Mourkarel is represented by UTA, Heroes and Villains Ent and Levy Law, Kenya Barris is represented by WME and Artists First, and Douglas Banker is represented by UTA.
About Chris Moukarbel
Chris Moukarbel is an Emmy-nominated director, writer, and producer who runs the award-winning production company Permanent Wave. His work has premiered at Sundance, Tribeca, and TIFF, and has been distributed by Netflix, HBO, Paramount+, and Hulu/Disney. He directed and produced the official Lady Gaga documentary “Gaga: Five Foot Two,” the HBO releases “Me at the Zoo,” “Banksy Does New York,” and “Wig.” He also directed Paramount+’s “The Honey Trap,” and Legendary Pictures’ “Blue Scuti: Tetris Crasher.” His first narrative feature film, “Cypher,” won Best U.S. Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival. Chris holds an MFA from Yale University and lives between Los Angeles and Madrid.
Permanent Wave Productions, run by filmmaker Chris Moukarbel, is a full service production company behind such films as “Gaga: Five Foot Two” (Netflix), “Cypher” (HULU/Disney), and “Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play.” (HBO)
About Kenya Barris/Khalabo Ink Society
Founded by award-winning filmmaker Kenya Barris – who is renowned for some of the industry’s most trailblazing cultural storytelling – Khalabo Ink Society is a full-service creative collective that produces critically acclaimed content across television, film, podcasts, and digital properties. With a focus on stories that are both socially relevant and commercially appealing, Khalabo has garnered praise for crafting powerful storytelling that simultaneously making audiences laugh. Among their most notable past projects are: the groundbreaking sitcom black-ish with its two successful spin-offs, grown-ish and mixed-ish; the Netflix original series #blackAF; the Emmy-nominated adult animated series Entergalactic; the award-winning documentary CIVIL, that offered an intimate portrait of groundbreaking civil rights attorney, Ben Crump; the Emmy Award-winning animated program, We The People, executive produced alongside Barack and Michelle Obama; and hit comedy features You People and Girls Trip.
Along with the sophomore seasons of the critically acclaimed series The Vince Staples Show on Netflix and Diarra From Detroit at BET+, Khalabo is in various stages of development on several projects, including: Group Chat, a satirical comedy for Hulu starring La La Anthony, Kim Kardashian, Yaya DaCosta, Melanie Liburd, Rebecca Rittenhouse and Stephanie Suganami that is loosely based on Anthony’s best-selling book The Love Playbook; a limited series that will offer an intimate look into the life and legacy of legendary comic Richard Pryor; Get Lite starring Storm Reid and marking Teyana Taylor’s feature directorial debut; a remake of It’s A Wonderful Life; a documentary on the life and career of rapper Chief Keef; and feature starring viral comedian Druski based on his recent original short The Diggers, which featured guest appearances from Shane Gillis and Theo Von.
About Five All in the Fifth
Founded by Douglas Banker and Alex Garinger, Five All in the Fifth is a PGA Award–winning, Emmy-nominated production company that specializes in documentaries about the most inspiring and provocative characters in culture. Recent projects include “Enigma” for HBO, “Jim Thorpe: Lit by Lightning” for History, “Untold: Shooting Guards” for Netflix, the Emmy Award-nominated “Chiefsaholics: A Wolf In Chiefs Clothing” for Amazon, and upcoming projects on Chevy Chase for CNN/Sky and Mike Tyson for Netflix. Past subjects include Rick James, Biz Markie, Johnny Manziel, Lance Armstrong, and Dennis Rodman.
About HarbourView Equity Partners
HarbourView Equity Partners is an investment firm focused on opportunities to support content across the entertainment, sports, and media markets. The firm seeks businesses or assets powered by IP and investment opportunities that aim to build enduring asset value and returns. HarbourView has been extremely active since launching in 2021, amassing roughly $2.67 billion* in regulatory assets under management including over 70+ music catalogs to date and investments in various portfolio companies with management teams in its core industries. The firm’s distinctly diverse music portfolio features thousands of titles spanning numerous genres, eras, and artists, amounting to a diversified catalog of ~41,000+ songs across both master recordings and publishing income streams. The company is headquartered in Newark, NJ.
*Regulatory AUM for private funds are calculated regardless of the nature of the gross assets under management as of 12/31/2024. This includes any uncalled committed capital pursuant to an obligation to make a capital contribution to the fund. Title count may include multiple versions of the same song, such as covers, remixes, remasters and/or minor differences in naming conventions.
**Catalog assets included in this release do not represent the full HarbourView portfolio.
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Media
HarbourView: The Lede Company | [email protected]
