Babyface & L.A. Reid (Antonio Reid, Kenneth Edmonds)

Antonio “LA” Reid has been a key figure in shaping the sound and experience of popular music for over twenty-five years—as a record producer, songwriter, and label executive. Reid first broke into the music world in the 1980s as the drummer for the R&B band the Deele. Along with bandmate Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Reid made his move behind the scenes of the industry in 1989 when he founded LaFace Records. Prior to becoming chairman and CEO of Epic Records in July 2011, Reid also served as chairman of the former Island Def Jam Music Group from 2004 to 2011 and as president and CEO of Arista Records from 2000 to 2004.

The Atlanta-based LaFace Records was home to some of the top-selling pop, rhythm-and-blues, and rap artists of the 1990s and helped establish Atlanta’s reputation as the new Motown. Founded in 1989 by Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds as a joint venture with Arista Records in New York, the label produced thirty-three number-one singles by such artists as TLC, OutKast, Usher, and Toni Braxton. The songwriting and producing pair have earned numerous awards, including three Grammy Awards.

In the early 1980s Edmonds and Reid started working together in Indianapolis, Indiana, when both were members of the group the Deele. After three albums with the group, the pair moved in 1985 to Los Angeles, California, where they established themselves as a songwriting and production team, working with the Whispers, Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, and Pebbles, among other acts.

The celebrated team of L.A. Reid & Babyface, one of the most prolific and profitable songwriting and production partnerships of recent years, may be on the verge of a split.

The two, who co-own the highly profitable LaFace record label, have been a key force in shaping R&B; music in the past few years, and rank with Teddy Riley and the team of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis as top creative figures in the genre. Among the artists who have benefited from their production skills: Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, TLC, Paula Abdul and Johnny Gill.

Since both partners have declined to comment, it’s not clear when or why the rift started. But the word is that Kenny (Babyface) Edmonds has grown restless and is looking to work on his own, apart from Antonio (L.A.) Reid.

Edmonds’ successful solo career--his 1989 album “Tender Lover” sold 2.5 million copies--has been cited as a possible reason for the breach, but according to a reliable source, it wasn’t a factor. His second solo album for Epic, “For the Cool in You,” is due in late August.

There have been discussions with attorneys in an effort to reach an agreement. Both parties are reportedly hoping for an arrangement that would keep the partnership intact while allowing for independent work, but the possibility exists that this could be the end of the team. When the dust clears, there will be an announcement detailing the results of the negotiations.

 

Edmonds and Reid remain contractually bound as a team, however, through LaFace, a joint venture with Arista Records. To date, LaFace has provided Arista with the “Boomerang” soundtrack album and the debut album from TLC, both of which have sold more than 2.5 million copies.

In addition, LaFace just released the debut album by Toni Braxton, featuring the L.A. Reid & Babyface-produced single “Another Sad Love Song,” which industry handicappers say is a lock to go Top 10.

“Whatever agreement they reach will have absolutely no impact on their label deal,” says Arista executive vice president Roy Lott, who noted that the LaFace deal with the company has “a long time to go.”

 Productions (and songs) appear on:

After 7: LP/CD After 7 (Virgin, 1989)
Babyface: LP/CD Lovers (Columbia, 1986)
Babyface: LP/CD Tender Lover (Solar/Epic, 1989)
Bobby Brown: LP/CD Don't Be Cruel (MCA, 1989)
Bobby Brown: LP/CD Dance!…Ya Know It! (MCA, 1989)
Bobby Brown: 12 INCH "On Our Own" taken from LP/CD Ghost Busters II - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (MCA, 1989)
Boys, The: LP/CD Messages From The Boys (Motown, 1988)
Deele, The: LP/CD Material Thangz (Solar, 1985)
Deele, The: LP/CD Eyes Of A Stranger (Solar, 1987)
Dynasty: LP Daydreamin' (Solar, 1986)
Dynasty: LP/CD Out Of Control (Solar, 1988)
Jacksons, The: LP/CD 2300 Jackson Street (Epic, 1989)
Karyn White: LP/CD Karyn White (Warner Bros., 1988)
Mac Band, The: LP/CD Mac Band Featuring The McCampbell Brothers (MCA, 1988)
Mary Davis: LP/CD Separate Ways (Tabu, 1989)
Paula Abdul: LP/CD Forever Your Girl (Virgin, 1988)
Pebbles: LP/CD Pebbles (MCA, 1987)
Sheena Easton: LP/CD Lover In Me (MCA, 1988)
Whispers, The: LP/CD Just Gets Better With Time (Solar, 1987)

Other contributions:

Siedah Garrett: LP/CD Kiss Of Life (Qwest, 1988) - musician, arranger
Whispers, The: LP/CD So Good (Solar, 1984) - songwriters