Deonte Edwards (FREETAE) — Music Producer & Artist

FREETAE.Deonte Edwards — producer, artist, and CEO of TierOneRecords, born & raised in Long Beach, California with a mindset that’s lived, not advertised:

TRIAL AND ERROR is more than just words — it’s a lifestyle.

I started making music in 2009 with nothing but hunger and belief. No shortcuts. No safety net. Just vision. That grind led me into collaborations and industry intersections with Lil Wayne, Iggy Azalea, Jeremih, Sean Kingston, Hit-Boy, King Combs, and Tracy T, with affiliations connected to Roc Nation and Young Money Records in partnership with Republic Records.

In 2016, I lost my mother and turned grief into drive. The true cost wasn’t tragedy — it was the years invested chasing something greater than myself. Pouring everything into that pursuit eventually created instability, and I experienced a brief season of homelessness. Determined to rebuild and regain control of my life, I stepped into hustling — a choice that resulted in a federal drug indictment in 2022. I am currently serving a federal sentence.

From confinement, the blueprint for TierOneRecords continues to expand with clarity and intention. Circumstances do not dictate direction. Pressure creates growth. The mission remains locked.