Ed waits no time getting personal and deep into his life. Ed talked about losing his sister in the 5th grade and how that shaped his decisions moving forward in life such as being there for his mother and wanting better for himself. We even talk about how growing up in the Bronx shaped his mindset and his way of thinking. What lead him into transferring to Monsignor Scanlan Highschool (my alma mater) in his 10th grade year and how he established himself with the upperclassmen boys and girls as “Ed - Lover”.
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We get into how he knew school wasn’t for him and how him getting cheated on led him into creating the first step team in school history called the “PLAYERS”. What was once a way to get girls into liking him, turned into a movement with him in charge of 30 girls and guys. The PLAYERS found instant success within Scanlan and the neighboring community, winning countless talent shows and even receiving opportunities to perform at the legendary Apollo Theater and former president Bill Clinton.
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Ed started to see how the PLAYERS was his calling in life. Being mentored by individuals in the music industry allowed Ed to learn what he wasn’t learning in school, business ethics, contracts, and managerial duties. Him gaining that language only gave him a glimpse of his future success. The PLAYERS was a well known brand in the early 2000’s winning national championships, appearing at America’s Got Talent, and even the NBA All-Star game in 2001. Him and his team even toured alongside the likes of Alicia Keys, Usher, and Beyonce!
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Ed talks about his transitional period from the PLAYERS to making beats and finding a passion for music and how he was successful in that, winning countless beat battle competitions within New York. I get to relive highschool for a bit, because this is how I actually met Ed in 2011. He decided to come back where it all started, home. He talked with the principle and reestablished the PLAYERS through his Spartan and QU step teams. He gets into how he was more than just a step coach. He was and is a mentor, big brother, motivator, advocate, and most importantly a friend.
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To round out the conversation, we get into how he started weight lifting and how rapper 50 Cent indirectly inspired him to keep going. We jump into the conversation of fatherhood and how being a father has been the most fulfilling and important thing to him.
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Thank you Ed for your time, without you knowing it you have inspired me to be more transparent and allow people to always get the real me. You have saved countless lives through the art of step and your work does not go unnoticed! I hope just like you do in everyday life, this podcast inspires, motivates, or even saves a life! Love you brother!
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Follow Ed here:
Instagram: @KingLeo29
