Jay Z is not only a successful rapper but he is also a prolific songwriter. Though he is known for his own hits, he has also contributed to the success of other artists by writing songs for them. Below we highlight 10 famous songs Jay Z wrote for other artists.
1O) SLIDE – H.E.R Featuring Y.G (2019)
Written by Jay-Z, H.E.R., Keenon Daequan, Ray Jackson, Tiara Thomas, Elijah Dias, Ron Latour, Jermaine Dupri, Steve Arrington, Charles Carter, Roger Parker, Waung Hankerson.
Slide was released on September 27, 2019, through RCA Records as the lead single off the former’s debut studio album Back of My Mind (2021).
9) POP STYLE – DRAKE Featuring KANYE WEST & JAY Z (2016)
Written by Jay-Z, Drake, Kanye West, Adam Feeney, Matthew Samuels, Noah “40” Shebib, Rupert Thomas, Jr.
The song was released alongside One Dance, as singles promoting Drake’s fourth studio album Views, initially for exclusive digital download on iTunes on April 5, 2016.[3][4] The album version features only Drake with a new verse. The single version was nominated for Best Rap Performance at the 59th Grammy Awards.
8) SUITE & TIE – JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE Featuring JAY Z (2013)
Released shortly before his untimely death, “Hypnotize” became one of Biggie’s biggest hits. It features a catchy chorus and showcases his confident, larger-than-life persona, solidifying his status as one of the greatest MCs of all time. The single became a chart-topper and sold over 1 million copies.
The song was premiered on YouTube on January 13, 2013, and was released on January 15 by RCA Records as the lead single from the album. It serves as Timberlake’s highly anticipated musical comeback following a six-year hiatus.
7) UMBRELLA – RIHANNA Featuring JAY Z (2008)
Written by Jay-Z, Christopher Stewart, Terius Nash, Kuk Harrell.
The song serves as the lead single to the album, and was released worldwide on March 29, 2007, through Def Jam Recordings. “Umbrella” was a commercial success, topping the charts in Australia, Canada, Spain, Germany, Sweeden, the Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
6) UPGRADE YOU – BEYONÉ Featuring JAY Z (2006)
Written by Jay Z, Beyoncé Knowles, Angela Beyincé, Solange Knowles, Makeba Riddick, Sean Garrett, Willie Clarke, Clarence Reid.
Upgrade U draws from the genres of hip hop and contemporary R&B. The concept of the song is that of a woman describing herself as the key to upgrading a man’s lifestyle.
The 48 Laws Of Power is a magnificent and fascinating book where Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws.
They draw from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Barnum.
The 48 Laws of Power is ideal whether your aim is conquest, self-defense, or simply to understand the rules of the game.
5) ENOUGH CRYING – MARY J BLIGE (2005)
This laid-back West Coast track features smooth rhymes from Warren G and Nate Dogg’s soulful vocals. “Regulate” tells a story of an everyday encounter turning into a street confrontation, showcasing their storytelling abilities. The single became a chart-topper and sold over 2 million copies.
Enough Cryin was released as the album’s third single on March 2, 2006 in the United States, peaking at number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
4) BACK IN THE DAY – MISSY ELLIOT (2003)
Written by Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Tim “Timbaland” Mosley.
“Back in the Day” is an ode to the classic era of old school hip-hop, when the hip-hop culture was, Elliott sings, fun and peaceful, compared to the more violent scope of modern-day hip-hop.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 2Pac’s Most Iconic Studio Album
3) CRAZY IN LOVE – BEYONCÉ Featuring JAY Z (2002)
Written by Jay Z, Beyoncé Knowles, Rich Harrison, Eugene Record.
Crazy In Love is from Beyoncé’s debut solo studio album Dangerously in Love (2003). The song was released as the album’s lead single on May 14, 2003, through Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment.
1) STILL D.R.E – DR. DRE Featuring SNOOP DOGG (1999)
Written by Jay Z, Dr. Dre, Scott Spencer Storch, Melvin Bradford.
Still D.R.E. debuted and peaked at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999 before re-entering and peaking at number 23 in 2022. Still D.R.E was more successful in the United Kingdom, where it reached number 6.
CONCLUSION
These 10 famous songs Jay Z wrote for other artists showcase Jay Z’s versatility as a songwriter and his ability to collaborate with various artists across different genres to create chart-topping hits.
And as always we like to close with a saying, quote or adage and today’s is from Jay Z: THOSE WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL OVERCOME THEIR FEARS AND TAKE ACTION. THOSE WHO AREN’T SUBMIT TO THEIR FEARS AND LIVE WITH REGRETS.
You can follow Change The Game TV on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. You can also subscribe to our blog to get notifications every time we release a post.
Now, go forth and change the game!