Edward Howard

Distinct from the gospel keyboardist and the romantic R&B singer-songwriter who share his name, the figure usually known as Edward U. Howard or simply Ed Howard earned recognition through two socially conscious soul compositions that later became widely interpreted standards.

Rap adaptations of such material typically graft substantial new verses onto the retained original refrain, a pattern evident in the revived portrayal of the figure named in the track as either "Little Ghetto Boy" or "Lil' Ghetto Boy," the spelling varying according to stylistic or grammatical preference.

First linked to Donny Hathaway on a 1972 recording, the piece later received a fresh treatment from Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, whose resulting songwriting credits list Howard alongside the two hip-hop figures while occasionally overlooking the actual co-writer, Earl DeRouen. A skilled percussionist and frequent Hathaway collaborator, DeRouen also appears on sessions with Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and additional artists.

Howard’s remaining notable composition enjoyed still broader exposure through numerous reinterpretations. Co-written with Hathaway, the forward-looking "Someday We'll All Be Free" has been tracked by more than twenty performers, among them the Average White Band, Alicia Keys, Bobby Womack, and Mutabaruka & the Roots All-Stars.