Introduction

Derrick A. Carolina is a working composer and music publisher whose work behind the scenes in film and music licensing has quietly supported storytelling on screen while shaping a creative family life off camera. Best known for composing music for the independent film Exposure and for founding Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing, Derrick’s career sits at the intersection of art and the music business. He’s also known to many as the former husband of actress-director Terri J. Vaughn and the father of Daylen Ali Carolina. This long-form profile walks through Derrick’s life: early influences, training, career milestones, family and relationships, business ventures, estimated financial picture, and the legacy he’s building in the entertainment ecosystem.

Quick facts (at a glance)

Item	Detail
Full name	Derrick A. Carolina
Year of birth	1969 (July 19 often cited)
Profession	Composer, music publisher, music supervisor
Notable credit	Composer: Exposure (2005).
Company	Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing (founder/owner).
Family	Formerly married to Terri J. Vaughn (1999–2005); son Daylen Ali Carolina (b. 2001).
Net worth	Not publicly verified; small-to-mid career composer/publisher estimates exist in entertainment bios.

Who is Derrick A. Carolina?

Derrick A. Carolina is a U.S.-born composer and music publisher whose credits and business activity indicate a dual focus: writing music for film and managing music licensing for media through his company. He has worked primarily behind the camera rather than as a headline artist, contributing composition work for independent film projects and creating opportunities to place music in visual media. That behind-the-scenes work is often less visible to mainstream audiences but essential to film production — the score and the licensed tracks shape tone, pacing, and emotion.

His public footprint is modest. The most widely cited biographical anchor is his composer credit on the film Exposure (2005). Multiple entertainment profiles and industry listings also connect him to Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing, which positions him as both an artist and a rights manager in the music business.

What is Derrick A. Carolina known for?

Two things generally come up when people search for Derrick Carolina:

Film composition — He is credited as a composer on the indie film Exposure and other small-scale projects, meaning he created original music for film narratives. Film composition is a specialized craft: it requires writing themes, arranging for instruments (or programming digital instruments), and collaborating closely with directors to serve the story.
Music publishing and licensing — He founded Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing, a company that focuses on licensing and placing music in film, television, and other media. Music publishing can be a steady source of revenue for musicians because it manages rights and collects licensing fees when songs are used commercially. LinkedIn and multiple bio pages list him as the owner/operator of Bomb Lyrics, which has been active for several years.

Those two roles — composer and publisher — position Derrick in both creative and entrepreneurial lanes of the music industry.

Early life and background

Public records and profiles give only limited detail about Derrick’s childhood and early biography. Several entertainment bios list a July 19, 1969 birthdate, though Derrick keeps a light public presence and does not have a widely distributed personal narrative like many celebrity musicians do. What can be reasonably inferred from the arc of his career is that he developed musical skills and an appreciation for film scoring at some point before entering the industry in the 1990s–2000s timeframe.

For many composers who ultimately work in film, early life typically involves exposure to music (instrument lessons or a musical family), followed by formal or informal training in composition, arranging, or production. Whether Derrick’s path followed that template or was more self-directed is not widely reported; what is clear is that he wound up in positions that required both artistic and administrative competence. (When sources are thin, it’s prudent to avoid speculation and rely on documented credits and company records.)

Education and musical training

There is no widely published record of Derrick’s formal music education in the public domain (conservatory, university program, or specific mentors). That absence is not unusual for professionals who build careers in niche sectors of the music business — many composers learn through a mix of private lessons, apprenticeships, studio work, and on-the-job experience.

What’s important for readers is that composing for film requires a particular set of technical skills: understanding harmony and orchestration, applying music technology (DAWs, sample libraries), and writing to picture (syncing music to film edits). Whether Derrick gained those skills in formal classrooms or in studios, his credits indicate competency enough to produce full film scores and operate a publishing company. If deeper educational details are needed, a future step would be a primary interview or a direct lookup of institutional alumni directories.

Career journey and breakthrough

Starting in music and finding film

Derrick’s earliest visible credit that reached public databases is the composer credit on Exposure (2005). Independent films like Exposure are common entry points for film composers: they allow emerging composers to practice scoring a full picture, collaborate with directors, and build a demo reel. A solid early score can lead to more work — placements, collaborations with producers, and opportunities in adjacent fields like music supervision.

Founding Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing

At some point Derrick transitioned into the publishing side of music business by founding Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing, a company represented on LinkedIn and in biographical summaries that focuses on music licensing for film and TV. Running a publishing company requires knowledge of rights administration, sync licensing negotiations, and relationships with music supervisors and production houses. That entrepreneurial move reflects a common pattern: composers often start by writing music and later expand into publishing to control rights and create additional revenue streams.

Music supervision and licensing

Beyond composing, profiles list Derrick as a music supervisor and licensing specialist — roles that connect music creators to content producers. Music supervisors curate music for productions, negotiate fees, and ensure rights clearance. When a composer also supervises or publishes, they understand both creative and commercial sides — a valuable combination for independent film projects.

Ongoing activity

While Derrick does not have an extensive IMDB filmography like long-established film composers, his presence in industry directories and the operation of a music publishing company suggest continued involvement in music for media, music placement, and related entrepreneurial activities. Many professionals in this space maintain a portfolio of smaller projects rather than a long list of blockbuster credits, and that steady, behind-the-scenes work keeps film and TV soundtracks stocked.

Derrick’s role in film and music production — artistic approach

A composer’s approach to film scoring is personal and technical at once. While there’s limited published commentary from Derrick himself about his compositional philosophy, the nature of his work (indie film scoring and music publishing) implies a practical, collaborative approach:

Story-first composition — In film scoring, music supports narrative beats, character arcs, and emotional turns. Composers working in indie film often write themes that are flexible and mood-driven.
Hybrid production — Modern indie composers frequently use a mix of live instruments and high-quality sampled libraries. This hybrid method gives the depth of orchestral textures with the economic sensibility of digital production.
Sync-aware writing — Composers who also publish anticipate how cues will be used in trailers, scenes, or promos, and they craft cues that are licensable across multiple uses.

Even without extended interviews, these are reasonable inferences about the working style of a composer/publisher working in Derrick’s niche. His firm’s focus on accessible hip-hop and licensing suggests he values practical music that can move media and be placed affordably — a lucrative niche in modern indie production.

Marriage, family, and personal life

Derrick’s most publicly visible personal connection is his marriage (and subsequent divorce) to actress and producer Terri J. Vaughn. The couple married in 1999 and had a son, Daylen Ali Carolina (born 2001). Media reports list the marriage as ending in 2005; both Derrick and Terri have chosen a low-drama approach to their personal history in public statements, prioritizing privacy for their son.

Co-parenting and privacy

From the available coverage, Derrick and Terri have both respected boundaries around their son’s privacy. Daylen has kept a low profile, and entertainment pages that profile him emphasize that his parents sheltered him from the spotlight. That choice echoes a deliberate strategy used by many creative families: allow children to choose a public life (or not) while giving them space to grow.

Impact on work

Family life and parenthood often shape an artist’s work rhythm and priorities. Founding a publishing company can be a stabilizing business move when one seeks to combine creative output with steady income to support family needs, especially in freelance industries like film music.

Who is Terri J. Vaughn (brief context)?

Terri J. Vaughn is a three-time NAACP Image Award winner known for her role on The Steve Harvey Show, in addition to producing and directing credits. She and Derrick were married while both were active in creative industries; their connection is part of both of their public narratives. Providing context about Terri is important because much of Derrick’s publicly searchable identity is connected to this relationship and their son. (If you want a deep profile of Terri, that’s a separate but related project.)

Son — Daylen Ali Carolina

Daylen, born in 2001, is mentioned across multiple bios as Derrick and Terri’s only child. Daylen’s choices to remain private and the parents’ efforts to shield him from constant public attention are recurrent themes in profiles about the family. For Derrick, fatherhood likely influenced the decision to create stable business infrastructure (e.g., Bomb Lyrics) as a balancing act between creative fulfillment and financial security.

Professional achievements and recognition

Derrick’s most documented professional achievements include:

Composer credit on Exposure (2005), a firm entry in film scoring catalogs. This credit is listed on IMDB and is commonly referenced in short bios.
Founding a music publishing company (Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing) that operates in licensing and sync placement — an entrepreneurial achievement that places Derrick in the rights-management side of music business. LinkedIn indicates he has been involved in music supervision and licensing, and multiple bios repeat the company affiliation.
Ongoing work in independent film and placement markets — while not a ticker-tape career of awards, these steady contributions are what sustain careers in film music. Many composers’ legacies are built on a combination of creative credits and the ability to manage rights and place tracks in multiple productions.

Because Derrick has not pursued the celebrity composer route, recognition is primarily industry-level and reflected in credits and company activity rather than mainstream awards. That trade-off is common and often reflects a preference for steady, behind-the-scenes work.

Net worth and financial overview

Publicly verifiable information about Derrick Carolina’s net worth is limited. Entertainment biography pages that summarize public records and reported credits sometimes place him in a modest band of independent film composers / small-business owners. Those sources vary and are not always authoritative. The safest way to present this topic is to note that:

Composers working largely in indie film and running a small publishing company typically have variable incomes, depending on placements, sync deals, and ongoing royalties.
Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing could generate recurring licensing revenue if the catalog has active placements; publishing revenue tends to be a long-tail business (payments accumulate over years).
Several entertainment biography pages include rough estimates (often not based on itemized public records) — treat such numbers as speculative unless backed by formal filings.

If you need a precise financial valuation, that would require primary documents (company revenue statements, royalty ledgers, or voluntary disclosure) that are not publicly available for small private businesses.

Real estate and business ventures

There is no authoritative public record tying Derrick to high-value real estate or a portfolio of investments. His publicly referenced business, Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing, is the primary commercial venture mentioned in multiple profiles and LinkedIn listings. For many composers and small publishers, real estate holdings (when present) are private and not disclosed; their main enterprise value is the music catalog and licensing relationships.

If you plan to publish claims about property or significant business assets, it’s best to corroborate with deed records or company filings. For now, available sources emphasize his publishing and composing activity rather than property ownership.

Personal traits, interests, and public persona

From the public footprint (credits, LinkedIn, family profiles), a few personality signals emerge:

Privacy-oriented — Derrick rarely appears in headline interviews, and family coverage highlights discretion.
Entrepreneurial — founding a music publishing company suggests business acumen and willingness to operate the commercial side of music.
Practical and collaborative — film composers who operate in indie circuits often prioritize collaboration with filmmakers and producers; the work demands adaptability and problem solving.
Family-focused — multiple profiles note the parents’ emphasis on protecting their son’s privacy, indicating a family-first approach.

These are reasonable, evidence-based impressions drawn from public data points and the nature of his career. They are not deep psychological portraits but useful for readers trying to understand the person behind the credits.

Challenges and triumphs

Challenges

Visibility — operating in indie film and licensing markets can mean less public recognition even when work is high quality. That can complicate career momentum compared to composers with major studio attachments.
Income volatility — freelance composition and sync licensing incomes fluctuate, and independent publishers must continuously placate catalogs into productions to maintain revenue.
Balancing family and career — like many creatives, balancing the irregular hours and project-based nature of film work with family responsibilities is a recurring challenge.

Triumphs

Sustained industry role — maintaining a presence as a composer and publisher over years is a measure of professional resilience in a competitive industry.
Entrepreneurship — founding Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing is a concrete business accomplishment that can create long-term value via licensing and catalogs.
Creative contribution — scoring an independent film like Exposure is a creative milestone that demonstrates the ability to deliver a full, cohesive soundtrack to picture.

Legacy and influence in the entertainment industry

Derrick’s legacy will likely be measured in a few ways:

Catalog value — if Bomb Lyrics holds compositions that continue to place in media, the catalog becomes a long-term asset credited to Derrick.
Mentorship and relationships — many small publishers and composers contribute significantly by helping filmmakers and fellow musicians place music and navigate licensing — a quiet but meaningful legacy.
Family influence — through his son Daylen and his connection to Terri J. Vaughn, Derrick is part of a creative lineage that bridges music and performance in Hollywood circles. Families like these often pass on artistic values, technical knowledge, and industry contacts that ripple outward in less visible ways.

His profile is not about awards but about stitches in the fabric of the independent entertainment world: the music that subtly shapes small films, the business infrastructure that enables songs to be licensed, and the people who choose steady creative work over celebrity.

FAQs

Q: What films did Derrick A. Carolina score?
A: Derrick is credited as composer on Exposure (2005) and is associated with various independent projects and placements; IMDB lists Exposure as a key credit.

Q: What is Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing?
A: Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing is Derrick’s music publishing company focused on licensing music for film, television, and media. The company is listed on LinkedIn and referenced in multiple bios as his business vehicle.

Q: Is Derrick A. Carolina related to Terri J. Vaughn?
A: Yes — Derrick was married to actress Terri J. Vaughn from 1999 to 2005; they share a son, Daylen Ali Carolina (born 2001).

Q: What is Derrick Carolina’s approximate net worth?
A: There is no authoritative public disclosure. Entertainment bios sometimes estimate modest figures based on indie composer incomes and small-business ownership; treat such estimates as speculative unless backed by public filings.

Q: How can I hear Derrick’s music?
A: Search for Exposure (2005) credits and check licensing catalogs through Bomb Lyrics (if a public catalog is available). Small indie film scores may be listed on soundtrack platforms or on the film’s releases.

Final thoughts

Derrick A. Carolina is emblematic of many talented creative professionals whose work is more influential than famous. His compositional credit on Exposure and his establishment of Bomb Lyrics Music Publishing show both artistic skill and business sense. Derrick’s story is not a celebrity origin tale; it’s a working-artist narrative — someone who composes, licenses, and supports storytelling through music while maintaining a private family life.

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