Studio Album · No. 4
4 Songwriting Credits by Beyoncé
Produced by Beyoncé, The-Dream, Tricky Stewart, Shea Taylor, Jeff Bhasker, Babyface, Antonio Dixon, S1, Caleb McCampbell, Kanye West, Luke Steele, Switch, Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, Kuk Harrell · Engineered by DJ Swivel, Tony Maserati, Şerban Ghenea
Beyoncé wrote 11 of 12 documented tracks
Authorship Breakdown 11 / 12 documented
Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Beyoncé carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Awards & Recognition 1
4 narrows Beyoncé's collaborator pool to a core team of The-Dream, Shea Taylor, and Jeff Bhasker, and she carries a co-writing credit on every track but one. The exception, 'I Was Here,' is a pure Diane Warren composition where Beyoncé is only the performer. The album is notable for early-career guest writers who later became stars in their own right, including Frank Ocean on 'I Miss You,' which makes the credit table a snapshot of a particular moment in pop songwriting.
4 is the fourth studio album by Beyoncé, released in June 2011 and the first she made after parting ways with her father as manager. It is a deliberately less single-driven record that pulls from 1970s and 1980s soul, funk, and balladry, built mostly with a tight circle of collaborators rather than a wide producer cast. Beyoncé co-wrote every track except 'I Was Here,' a Diane Warren composition, and worked closely with The-Dream, Shea Taylor, and Jeff Bhasker across the album. A young Frank Ocean co-wrote 'I Miss You,' and Kanye West and André 3000 appear on 'Party,' while 'Love On Top' became the album's defining performance and won a Grammy. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and is certified four-times platinum in the United States.
Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
1+1
|
BeyoncéThe-DreamChristopher Stewart | Beyoncé Knowles-CarterTerius NashChristopher Stewart | BeyoncéThe-DreamTricky Stewart | Beyoncé (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
I Care
|
BeyoncéJeff BhaskerChad Hugo | Beyoncé Knowles-CarterJeff BhaskerChad Hugo | Jeff BhaskerBeyoncé | Beyoncé (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
I Miss You
|
BeyoncéFrank OceanShea Taylor | Beyoncé Knowles-CarterFrank OceanShea Taylor | BeyoncéShea Taylor | Beyoncé (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Best Thing I Never Had
#16
|
BeyoncéBabyfaceAntonio DixonPatrick SmithShea TaylorLarry Griffin Jr.Caleb McCampbell | Beyoncé Knowles-CarterKenneth EdmondsAntonio DixonPatrick SmithShea TaylorLarry Griffin Jr.Caleb McCampbell | BeyoncéBabyfaceAntonio DixonShea TaylorS1Caleb McCampbell | Beyoncé (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Party
|
BeyoncéKanye WestJeff BhaskerDexter MillsDouglas DavisRicky Walters | Beyoncé Knowles-CarterKanye WestJeff BhaskerDexter MillsDouglas DavisRicky Walters | BeyoncéKanye WestJeff Bhasker | Beyoncé (Lead Vocals)André 3000 (Featured Vocals) |
| 6 |
Rather Die Young
|
BeyoncéJeff BhaskerLuke Steele | Beyoncé Knowles-CarterJeff BhaskerLuke Steele | Jeff BhaskerBeyoncéLuke Steele | Beyoncé (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Start Over
|
BeyoncéShea TaylorEster Dean | Beyoncé Knowles-CarterShea TaylorEster Dean | BeyoncéShea Taylor | Beyoncé (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
Love On Top
|
BeyoncéThe-DreamShea Taylor | Beyoncé Knowles-CarterTerius NashShea Taylor | BeyoncéShea Taylor | Beyoncé (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Countdown
|
BeyoncéThe-DreamShea TaylorEster DeanCainon LambJulie FrostMichael BivinsNathan MorrisWanya Morris | Beyoncé Knowles-CarterTerius NashShea TaylorEster DeanCainon LambJulie FrostMichael BivinsNathan MorrisWanya Morris | BeyoncéShea Taylor | Beyoncé (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
End of Time
|
BeyoncéThe-DreamShea TaylorDavid Taylor | Beyoncé Knowles-CarterTerius NashShea TaylorDavid Taylor | BeyoncéThe-DreamSwitch | Beyoncé (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
I Was Here
|
Diane Warren | Diane Warren | Ryan TedderBrent KutzleBeyoncéKuk Harrell | Beyoncé (Lead Vocals) |
| 12 |
Run the World (Girls)
#29
|
BeyoncéThe-DreamDiploDavid TaylorAdidja PalmerNick van de Wall | Beyoncé Knowles-CarterTerius NashWesley PentzDavid TaylorAdidja PalmerNick van de Wall | SwitchThe-DreamBeyoncéShea Taylor | Beyoncé (Lead Vocals) |