Eagles running back Corey Clement has been trying to tell people this was coming.
"I have been telling the guys around the locker room. I have been telling guys in the facility. I do music. But they don't like to take me serious unless you actually put something out," Clement said. "I got good responses from it…I guess they were shocked a little bit. I would be shocked too from the outside looking it."
It is hard to blame anyone for being a little shocked when Clement, who goes by Yeroc for his music, released his first single this past weekend. The song, which is titled "On The Move", might have seem like it came out of nowhere to most — at least to most outside of the NovaCare Complex — but it was in many ways years in the making.
"I have always been into music. Probably around the age of 14 when I first learned through my dad. He is a singer as well," Clement said. "My family is very music orientated and driven. My dad had a group that he still with to this day. My mom sings, my brother sings as well. It is kind of hard to be around it and not want to do it yourself."
Growing up in a musical family has had a heavy influence on Clement, who took part in talent shows throughout his days at Glassboro High School in New Jersey. In fact, one of the first times he can remember being on stage to perform was during a high school talent show, when he did a rendition of Lotus Flower Bomb by Wale and Miguel.
"I was nervous, but when the lights came on it felt like another football game. I just didn't have my helmet on. That was the only thing that was throwing me off," Clement joked. "I was like 'Man, I feel kind of naked up here.'"
Clement came up with his stage name during high school, when he spelled Corey backwards and liked the way it sounded. He continued to make time for music despite being a heavily-recruited player and then a starting running back at a division-one, big-time football program at Wisconsin He would even take the stage again during his time in college, performing a duet that wasn't a rendition or a cover, it was an original song:
We all know what has happened with Clement on the field since he took that stage in Wisconsin — he made the Eagles as an undrafted rookie, was nearly Super Bowl MVP and was a part of one of the biggest players in franchise history.
Behind the scenes during his time with the Eagles he has continued to work on his music, and the result of his hard work was the release of his first single this past Friday.
"I have a producer (Mat Diamond) who is over in London. We haven't even met each other yet. We have just been DMing. He was a specific producer I loved. He has produced for Chris Brown…When I came across his music, he had a certain style that was eye-popping. When he sent me (the beat for On The Move), it was this Caribbean vibe," Clement said. "When I first sat down to listen to it I was in a great mood. The beat itself gave me a happy feeling and gave me clarity. Right off the rip it flowed off my tongue. And normally when things flow off your tongue that is when you know something good is going to happen. It is not forced, it is not pressed upon too much. I finished the song within an hour."
Listening to On The Move, it is obvious that Clement -- who credits Drake as being one of his biggest inspirations -- has a rich musical background. Clement says he intentionally did not release a rap song to start, wanting to show his audience that he can create different kinds of music than what he believes they would have expected from him. It is clear Clement's diverse musical background is something he has picked up from the time he spent listening to his dad growing up.
"My dad does a great job of conforming to certain elements when it comes to music. I think that is where I got the chance to pick it up. Learning new styles and learning new approaches, because with music you have to have a strategy," Clement said. "You have to have a strategy when it comes to attacking your audience, what audience do you really want to entertain. You can't just be throwing stuff out there without a plan."
On The Move has been out for only five days, but already, it is starting to pick up steam. Clement said he has gotten positive feedback from his teammates, including Jalen Mills and Vinny Curry.
The song made its radio debut this past Friday night.
"It is a blessing because you sit in the car so many times and you listen to the radio and you are like 'Man, I wonder what I sound like on the radio without me having to plug my iPod in'," Clement said. "It struck me by surprise when I first heard it in the mix. (DJ Diamond Kuts) was just going, playing a lot of songs. Then I heard a certain BPM and she went into reggae-style beat. When it came on it flowed so good I was like 'That's not me.' I was almost shocked. I had my friends there. It was cool, because all of your hard work for so many years, I put out my first single and it got a chance to get on the air the first day? That's awesome."
Clement's decision to release his music to the world and put himself out there as a musician is without question an admirable one. It is also a decision he made knowing could come with some backlash.
"Being that I am an NFL player it is kind of hard to separate yourself because not everybody is open to that change. Not everybody is accepting to that change. But it is fine. You only live once and you only get a chance to display your talents and your efforts only one time. If it comes with some bashful comments that is OK, because not everything is going to be to everybody's liking, and I have already accepted that," Clement said. "If anybody has anything negative to say, I have to learn to brush it off, because you have to learn that you have to have tough skin in this music business. Especially on-and-off the field. I have dealt with harsh comments being injured. I have been through it. My skin is definitely thick."
With his first single now out, Clement is starting to plan for what comes next. He has recored "over 200 songs" already and is beginning the process of putting together his first album.
"I am trying to shape an album right now. It is a really thoughtful, thoughtful process. You have to throw songs out, you have to re-listen to them over and over. You have to get a team around you that says yes-or-no," Clement said. "You can't have a bunch of yes people around you saying 'yeah that's hot, put that on there.' No. I want critical feedback."
At the same time Clement has been working on his music, and eventual album release, he has also been preparing for the upcoming 2020 season. While he takes music seriously, Clement also said he makes sure to not let it distract him from football, and has been spending lots of time this offseason getting ready for a crucial season in his career.
Clement is coming off of a 2019 season in which he didn't touch the ball on offense, but suffered a shoulder injury on special teams that landed him on injured reserve in October. The result of the injury was Clement coming back on just a one-year, prove-it deal that he intends to make the most of.
"I am feeling great. Back to 120%. Just waiting like everybody else is with the tentative dates. As far as next season, I am looking forward to a lot," Clement said. "I had a chance to talk with (Special teams coach Dave) Fipp. He has high expectations for me on special teams. I told him I wanted to become a captain on that team. I am going to do everything in my power to step up to the plate and ring bells when I step back on the field again. It has been a while for me. I am just ready to run down the field again."
Clement says he will give his full focus to football once camp opens, something he both wants to do and also feels he owes to his teammates. Camp being (potentially) just two weeks away is part of the reason he released his song now, as opposed to waiting until he had his full album together.
"I am giving respect back to my team and it is time to lock it in," Clement said. "I wanted to do it at this time because I don't want coach to not think my focus is there. I did it at an appropriate time when we have time off and there is no distractions. When it is time to lock into football, let's do it. But for now, you can see another side of me for a little bit."
That part of Clement might be sidelined to an extent during football season, but it definitely isn't going away for good. Clement has a full studio being built in his basement, is continuing to write music and is preparing for the release of his first album.
"Now, hopefully you can take it serious," Clement said of his music, "because this is not the end of it."
You can check out On The Move below:
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
