Kenya Barris is joining forces with Emmy-nominated filmmaker Chris Moukarbel (Gaga: Five Foot Two) for a new documentary chronicling the extraordinary life and career of music icon Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. The film, currently in production with backing from HarbourView Equity Partners, will take audiences inside the mind of one of the most celebrated songwriters and producers in modern music history.
Directed by Moukarbel and produced by Barris, the feature-length documentary will trace Babyface’s journey from a quiet kid in Indianapolis to a 13-time GRAMMY® winner whose songs have defined generations. Through intimate interviews and never-before-seen archival footage, the project explores how Babyface transformed heartbreak into timeless music — and built an enduring legacy across R&B, pop, and film soundtracks.
Viewers will also get a behind-the-scenes look at his songwriting and producing process, with rare insights into his chart-topping collaborations with Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Lil Wayne, Beyoncé, Madonna, SZA, and more.
Over his four-decade career, Babyface has penned or produced more than 125 Billboard Top 10 hits, including 16 No. 1 pop singles and 45 No. 1 R&B singles. He’s earned 83 GRAMMY nominations, four Producer of the Year wins, and seven BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year titles. Collectively, his work has contributed to over 800 million records sold and more than one billion streams worldwide.
In 1989, Babyface and Antonio “L.A.” Reid co-founded LaFace Records, the powerhouse Atlanta label that reshaped the sound of the 1990s and 2000s. LaFace launched the careers of Toni Braxton, Outkast, Usher, TLC, P!nk, Ciara, Goodie Mob, and T.I., among others — cementing Babyface as one of the most influential figures in contemporary music.
His film and television work has been equally impactful, producing beloved soundtracks like The Bodyguard, Boomerang, Soul Food, and Waiting to Exhale. His Oscar-winning collaboration with Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt, remains one of his most enduring achievements.
Moukarbel’s company Permanent Wave Productions leads production alongside 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, with UTA Independent Film Group representing the sale.