Photo of Alicia Keys
Photo: Keith HInkle · CC BY 2.0

Solo Artist

Alicia Keys

Active2001-present
OriginNew York City, New York, USA
Albums8
Tracks126

Most frequent collaborator: Kerry Brothers Jr.  ·  30 tracks

R&BSoulPop
97%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 122 of 126 tracks

Does Alicia Keys write her own songs?

Yes. Alicia Keys is credited on about 97% of her catalogue, writing most of her songs and producing much of her own work at the piano. She wrote 'Fallin'' and 'If I Ain't Got You' herself, and co-writes others with a small circle of collaborators. She is a songwriter and producer, not just a vocalist.

By the Numbers

8
Studio Albums
126
Tracks Credited
97%
Self-Written
over 90 million
Records Sold
25
Years Active
237
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 122 / 126 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 126 tracks: how many Alicia Keys wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Alicia Keys has a writing credit97%
16%
81%
3%
Sole author20tracks16%
Co-written102tracks81%
Outside writers4tracks3%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Alicia Keys's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 126 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)97%
Composer (music)97%
Producer87%
Performer86%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Alicia Keys's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 97%
88%
93%
100%
91%
100%
100%
100%
100%
2001Songs in A Minor
2003The Diary of Alicia Keys
2007As I Am
2009The Element of Freedom
2012Girl on Fire
2016Here
2020ALICIA
2021Keys
Early · 93% written
Mid · 98% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

93%
2000s
Songs in A Minor, The Diary of Alicia Keys +2 more
100%
2010s
Girl on Fire, Here
100%
2020s
ALICIA, Keys

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Alicia Keys sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Alicia Keys
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Whitney Houston5%
Aretha Franklin14%
The Jacksons24%
Kelly Clarkson49%
Stevie Wonder64%
Christina Aguilera74%
John Legend83%
97%Alicia Keys
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Fallin'
Songs in A Minor
Written by Alicia Keys, Alicia Augello Cook
Wrote it
A Woman's Worth
Songs in A Minor
Written by Alicia Keys, Erika Rose, Alicia Augello Cook
Co-wrote
How Come You Don't Call Me
Songs in A Minor
Written by Prince, Prince Rogers Nelson
Outside writers
You Don't Know My Name
The Diary of Alicia Keys
Written by Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Harold Lilly, J.R. Bailey, Mel Kent, Ken Williams, Alicia Augello Cook, Kanye Omari West
Co-wrote
If I Ain't Got You
The Diary of Alicia Keys
Written by Alicia Keys, Alicia Augello Cook
Wrote it
Diary
The Diary of Alicia Keys
Written by Alicia Keys, Kerry Brothers Jr., Alicia Augello Cook
Co-wrote
Karma
The Diary of Alicia Keys
Written by Kerry Brothers Jr., Alicia Keys, Taneisha Smith, Alicia Augello Cook
Co-wrote
No One
As I Am
Written by Alicia Keys, Kerry Brothers Jr., George M. Harry, Alicia Augello Cook
Co-wrote
Like You'll Never See Me Again
As I Am
Written by Alicia Keys, Kerry Brothers Jr., Alicia Augello Cook
Co-wrote
Teenage Love Affair
As I Am
Written by Alicia Keys, Jack Splash, Harold Lilly, Josephine Bridges, Carl Hampton, Tom Nixon, Alicia Augello Cook
Co-wrote
Superwoman
As I Am
Written by Alicia Keys, Linda Perry, Steve Mostyn, Alicia Augello Cook
Co-wrote
Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart
The Element of Freedom
Written by Alicia Keys, Jeff Bhasker, Billy Kraven, Alicia Augello Cook
Co-wrote
Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down
The Element of Freedom
Written by Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Angela Hunte, Sylvia Robinson, Bert Keyes, Alicia Augello Cook, Shawn Carter
Co-wrote
Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)
The Element of Freedom
Written by Alicia Keys, Kerry Brothers Jr., Drake, 40, Alicia Augello Cook, Aubrey Graham, Noah Shebib
Co-wrote
Show Me Love
ALICIA
Written by Alicia Keys, Tory Lanez, Morgan Matthews, Miguel, Alicia Augello Cook, Daystar Shemuel Peterson, Miguel Jontel Pimentel
Co-wrote
Underdog
ALICIA
Written by Alicia Keys, Johnny McDaid, Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance, Jonny Coffer, Amy Wadge, Alicia Augello Cook, Edward Christopher Sheeran
Co-wrote

Discography 8 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Alicia Keys126 tracks
KB30 HL11 MW11 MW11 MB10 SB10

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. KB Kerry Brothers Jr. · HL Harold Lilly · MW Michael Williams II · MW Mike Will Made-It · MB Mark Batson · SB Swizz Beatz

The Writers & Producers Behind Alicia Keys 6 key collaborators

KB
Kerry Brothers Jr.
Songwriter & Producer
Songs in A Minor / The Diary of Alicia Keys / As I Am / The Element of Freedom30 tracks
HL
Harold Lilly
Songwriter
The Diary of Alicia Keys / As I Am / Here11 tracks
MW
Michael Williams II
Songwriter
Keys11 tracks
MW
Mike Will Made-It
Producer
Keys11 tracks
MB
Mark Batson
Songwriter
As I Am / Here / Keys10 tracks
SB
Swizz Beatz
Songwriter & Producer
The Element of Freedom / Girl on Fire / Here / ALICIA10 tracks

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Alicia Keys holds songwriter credits on virtually every track she records across eight studio albums, an unusually consistent pattern for a mainstream R&B artist. She also functions as a principal producer on most of her records, resulting in nearly identical lyricist and composer scores. Kerry 'Krucial' Brothers Jr. is her most consistent collaborator, appearing across the first six albums. The double album Keys (2021) is analytically interesting: the same underlying compositions appear twice under entirely different production contexts. The Originals side retains her traditional piano-led sound while the Unlocked side was handed to Mike Will Made-It.

Quick Facts

  • SalesHas sold over 90 million records worldwide
  • GrammysWon 17 Grammy Awards, including five for her debut in a single night
  • Songs in A MinorHer 2001 debut sold around 12 million copies and swept the Grammys
  • Number onesHad four consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200
  • Classically trainedA trained pianist who writes at the keyboard and produces much of her music

Creative Fingerprint

A writer and producer at the piano: Alicia Keys is credited on about 97% of her catalogue, writing most songs herself and producing much of her own work, sometimes alone and often with a small circle of collaborators.

The Story

Alicia Keys, born Alicia Augello Cook on January 30, 1981, in New York City, is a classically trained pianist and singer-songwriter whose debut album Songs in A Minor (2001) debuted at number one and sold over 230,000 copies in its first week. Raised in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, she studied at the Professional Performing Arts School and was signed by Columbia Records at 15 before finding her creative home at J Records, where she developed a genre-blending sound rooted in R&B, soul, and classical piano. Her catalog of eight studio albums demonstrates an unusual level of creative authorship for a mainstream pop star. She co-writes and co-produces extensively across all her records. Her albums include The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003), As I Am (2007), The Element of Freedom (2009), Girl on Fire (2012), Here (2016), ALICIA (2020), and the double album Keys (2021), the latter featuring an 'Originals' side produced in a stripped piano style and an 'Unlocked' side reimagined with Mike Will Made-It. With 15 Grammy Awards and over 90 million records sold, she is one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Awards & Recognition

Won 17 Grammy Awards across her career
Songs in A Minor (2001) won five Grammys in a single night, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for 'Fallin''
Had four consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200
Ranked among the best-selling R&B artists of all time, with over 90 million records sold

Frequently Asked Questions Alicia Keys

Does Alicia Keys write her own songs?
Yes. Alicia Keys is credited on about 97% of her catalogue, writing most of her songs and producing much of her own work at the piano. She wrote 'Fallin'' and 'If I Ain't Got You' herself, and co-writes others with a small circle of collaborators. She is a songwriter and producer, not just a vocalist.
Who wrote 'Fallin''?
'Fallin'' was written and produced entirely by Alicia Keys for her 2001 debut Songs in A Minor. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and won Song of the Year at the Grammys, establishing her as a self-contained artist from the start.
Did Alicia Keys write 'If I Ain't Got You'?
Yes. 'If I Ain't Got You,' from The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003), was written solely by Keys. Inspired in part by the death of Aaliyah, it became one of her signature ballads and a showcase for her piano-driven songwriting.
Who wrote 'Empire State of Mind'?
'Empire State of Mind' (2009) is credited to [Jay-Z](/artist/jay-z/) and its writers, with Alicia Keys featured on and co-writing the hook. Keys later released her own version, 'Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down,' on her album The Element of Freedom.
How many Grammys has Alicia Keys won?
Alicia Keys has won 17 Grammy Awards, including five in one night for her debut Songs in A Minor. That haul reflects how much of her success comes from her own writing and production.
How many albums has Alicia Keys released?
This catalogue covers her studio albums from Songs in A Minor (2001) through Keys (2021), a body of work spanning R&B, soul, and pop.
Does Alicia Keys produce her own music?
Yes. She is a principal producer on most of her albums, shaping the piano-based sound herself. Combined with her writing, that makes her one of the most self-contained artists in mainstream R&B.
What genre is Alicia Keys?
Alicia Keys makes R&B, soul, and pop built around her piano and voice, from classic soul ballads like 'If I Ain't Got You' to anthems like 'Girl on Fire.'

Sources

Wikipedia: Alicia Keys