Derrick has turned his lifetime experience in the music industry to television and is currently scripting two unique pilots under his newly formed Nail-Biter Productions. He is passionate about re-imagining the portrayal of Black men in film. 

A Dallas, Texas native, Derrick developed his first taste of the music business when he took a sales position at the now legendary Sleeping Bag Records indie label and was instrumental in helping the label land its first Billboard #1 album with the hip hop duo EMPD.  

Derrick went on to work for EMI, Chrysalis Records and Def Jam before landing his dream job at BMG Music Publishing where he quickly helped BMG acquire a solid roster of artists and songwriters including NELLY, Keyshia Cole, Mobb Deep and Lupe Fiasco. To this day, BMG has remained a major creative force in the music publishing game.

A keen ear has always been a quality of Derrick’s and has allowed him to hear a hit song a mile away! His tenure at BMG saw a multitude of awards including ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year Award for Nelly and The Heroes and Legends Award bestowed each year upon a deserving music business executive. In addition, he has served on the boards of LIFEBEAT and the Black AIDS Institute.

Derrick earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Columbia University in NYC.