Boyz II Men

Band

Photo: parttimemusic · CC BY-SA 2.0
Active 1988-present
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Albums 9
Tracks 120
Most frequent collaborator Kenneth Edmonds · 13 tracks
Genres R&BSoulNew Jack SwingA cappella
Collaborator
47%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 56 of 120 tracks

Did Boyz II Men write their own songs?

About half. Boyz II Men co-wrote roughly 51% of their catalogue, including songs like 'Motownphilly' and 'Thank You.' But their record-breaking number-one ballads were written for them by outside hitmakers: 'End of the Road,' 'I'll Make Love to You,' and 'Water Runs Dry' by Babyface, and 'On Bended Knee' and '4 Seasons of Loneliness' by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

By the Numbers

9
Studio Albums
120
Tracks Credited
47%
Self-Written
38
Years Active
172
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 56 / 120 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 120 tracks: how many Boyz II Men 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.

Boyz II Men has a writing credit47%
11%
36%
53%
Sole author13tracks11%
Co-written43tracks36%
Outside writers64tracks53%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Boyz II Men's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 120 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)47%
Composer (music)47%
Producer33%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 120 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Nathan Morris 1988-present
35%
35%
11%
100%
Wanya Morris 1988-present
36%
36%
13%
100%
Shawn Stockman 1988-present
38%
38%
11%
100%
Michael McCary Former 1988-2003
20%
20%
0%
55%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Boyz II Men's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 47%
70%
62%
69%
86%
64%
100%
0%
43%
0%
1991Cooleyhighharmony
1994II
1997Evolution
2000Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya
2002Full Circle
2006The Remedy
2009Love
2011Twenty
2014Collide
Early · 67% written
Mid · 77% written
Late · 20% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

67%
1990s
Cooleyhighharmony, II +1 more
56%
2000s
Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya, Full Circle +2 more
27%
2010s
Twenty, Collide

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Boyz II Men 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.

Boyz II Men
Other artists on the site

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

Whitney Houston5%
Aretha Franklin14%
The Jacksons24%
TLC59%
Mary J. Blige70%
Mariah Carey87%
Prince96%
47%Boyz II Men
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Motownphilly
Cooleyhighharmony
Written by Dallas Austin, Michael Bivins, Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman
Co-wrote
It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
Cooleyhighharmony
Written by Freddie Perren, Christine Yarian
Outside writers
I'll Make Love to You
II
Written by Kenneth Edmonds
Outside writers
On Bended Knee
II
Written by James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Outside writers
Water Runs Dry
II
Written by Kenneth Edmonds
Outside writers
Thank You
II
Written by Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, Dallas Austin
Co-wrote
Vibin'
II
Written by Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, Tim Kelley, Bob Robinson
Co-wrote
4 Seasons of Loneliness
Evolution
Written by James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Outside writers
A Song for Mama
Evolution
Written by Kenneth Edmonds
Outside writers

Discography 9 albums

Covers all 9 studio albums.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Boyz II Men120 tracks
13Kenneth Edmonds, 13 tracks B13Babyface, 13 tracks 11Randy Jackson, 11 tracks on Journey's page DA10Dallas Austin, 10 tracks 10James Harris III, 10 tracks 10Terry Lewis, 10 tracks JJ9Jimmy Jam, 9 tracks TK9Tim Kelley, 9 tracks BR9Bob Robinson, 9 tracks AD7Antonio Dixon, 7 tracks F4Fambro, 4 tracks MB3Michael Bivins, 3 tracks on New Edition's page TT3Troy Taylor, 3 tracks TC3The Characters, 3 tracks SC3Sean Combs, 3 tracks on Puff Daddy's page J3Jordan, 3 tracks AC3Anthony Crawford, 3 tracks H3Hickson, 3 tracks FP2Freddie Perren, 2 tracks CY2Christine Yarian, 2 tracks PM2Paul McCartney, 2 tracks on The Beatles's page JL2John Lennon, 2 tracks on The Beatles's page SJ2Stevie J, 2 tracks AC2Andraé Crouch, 2 tracks W2Walker, 2 tracks J2J-Dub, 2 tracks TH2Todd Huston, 2 tracks S2She'kspere, 2 tracks KB2Kandi Burruss, 2 tracks on Xscape's page B2Brown, 2 tracks KH2Kenny Hickson, 2 tracks JB2Julian Bunetta, 2 tracks TR2Teddy Riley, 2 tracks on Blackstreet's page AI2Alvin Isaacs, 2 tracks TC2Terence Coles, 2 tracks D1Daddy-O, 1 track CM1Curtis Mayfield, 1 track TR1Tony Rich, 1 track LR1L.A. Reid, 1 track CF1Charles Farrar, 1 track L1Lawrence, 1 track GJ1G. Johnson, 1 track LB1L. Blackmon, 1 track E1Elliott, 1 track P1Pearson, 1 track S1Sumner, 1 track JS1J. Smith, 1 track C1Caldwell, 1 track K1Kettner, 1 track B1Bottoms, 1 track J1Jones, 1 track VG1V. Green, 1 track RS1Richard Smallwood, 1 track SJ1Shae Jones, 1 track LK1LaMenga Kafi, 1 track JJ1Jamar Jones, 1 track DB1Durrel Bottoms, 1 track MW1Mervyn Warren, 1 track F1Fleurimond, 1 track ED1El DeBarge, 1 track WD1William DeBarge, 1 track M1McKinney, 1 track W1Washington, 1 track FE1Faith Evans, 1 track T1Trizzy, 1 track RJ1Rob Jackson, 1 track B1Boynton, 1 track SS1Scott Storch, 1 track on The Roots's page H1Heard, 1 track B1Barnes, 1 track JB1J. Barnes, 1 track C1Clement, 1 track M1McCloud, 1 track LD1Lamont Dozier, 1 track JE1J. Edmonds, 1 track G1Gorman, 1 track TG1The Goonies, 1 track PA1Paul Allen, 1 track JM1James Moss, 1 track P1PAJAM, 1 track DS1Donnie Scantz, 1 track WB1Willie Baker, 1 track PW1Pete Woodruff, 1 track CK1Christopher Kelly, 1 track MR1Mike Reid, 1 track AS1Allen Shamblin, 1 track MG1Marv Green, 1 track AM1Aimee Mayo, 1 track CL1Chris Lindsey, 1 track PC1Peter Cetera, 1 track BM1Bob Montgomery, 1 track CL1Cyndi Lauper, 1 track RH1Rob Hyman, 1 track JR1John Rzeznik, 1 track on Goo Goo Dolls's page SC1Sam Cooke, 1 track LG1Leo Graham, 1 track SP1Steve Perry, 1 track on Journey's page JC1Jonathan Cain, 1 track on Journey's page VY1Victor Young, 1 track EH1Edward Heyman, 1 track MB1Michael Bublé, 1 track MP1Melodye Perry, 1 track AT1Alex Teamer, 1 track CB1Clarice Bell-Strayhorn, 1 track DB1Dennis Bettis, 1 track WM1Wirlie Morris, 1 track CW1Charlie Wilson, 1 track MW1Mahin Wilson, 1 track ED1Eric Dawkins, 1 track EB1Eric Bellinger, 1 track EC1Ernest Clark, 1 track MP1Marcos Palacios, 1 track AM1Aaron Michael Cox, 1 track DI1Da Internz, 1 track RR1Rex Rideout, 1 track BC1Bryan-Michael Cox, 1 track PS1Patrick Smith, 1 track DS1Donnell Shawn Butler, 1 track MW1Matthew Washington, 1 track HB1Harry Bonner, 1 track SD1Stacy Dulan, 1 track ME1Marcie Evans, 1 track EG1Erik Griggs, 1 track KR1Khristopher Riddick-Tynes, 1 track K&1Khris & AL, 1 track AR1Antonio Reid, 1 track DS1Daryl Simmons, 1 track KP1Keithin Pittman, 1 track M1Mizzle, 1 track BL1Brandon Lowry, 1 track AP1Adam Pallin, 1 track CO1Coley O'Toole, 1 track MR1Matt Radosevich, 1 track SJ1Samuel Jean, 1 track BN1Bryan Nelson, 1 track HW1Herman William Schleifer, 1 track TC1The Composer, 1 track FN1Fridolin Nordsø, 1 track LS1Lucas Secon, 1 track DJ1Dem Jointz, 1 track DD1David Debrandon Brown, 1 track AA1Adeniyi Adelekan, 1 track CG1Corey Gibson, 1 track BP1Bryant Page, 1 track LP1Lucius Page, 1 track S1Synematik, 1 track TP1The Page Brothers, 1 track CC1Clarence Coffee Jr., 1 track JJ1Jordan Johnson, 1 track SJ1Stefan Johnson, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 171. B Babyface · DA Dallas Austin

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Nearly all of their biggest hits were written entirely by outside hitmakers; Babyface, L.A. Reid, Dallas Austin, and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis dominate the credits. The group members occasionally contributed co-writes on album deep cuts, but their authorship footprint across their catalog is around 12-15%, reflecting their role as elite vocal interpreters rather than primary songwriters.

Quick Facts

  • Number-one records'I'll Make Love to You' spent 14 weeks at number one, breaking the record set by their own 'End of the Road' (13 weeks)
  • One Sweet DayTheir duet with Mariah Carey topped the Hot 100 for a record-setting run
  • GrammysWon multiple Grammy Awards, including in 1992, 1993, and 1995
  • Hit-makers behind themTheir biggest ballads were written and produced by Babyface and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
  • Biggest boy bandNamed the biggest boy band by Billboard in 2012

Creative Fingerprint

A vocal harmony group, not a writers' room: Boyz II Men co-wrote about half of their material, but their record-breaking number-one ballads, from 'End of the Road' to 'I'll Make Love to You,' were written for them by Babyface and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.

The Story

Boyz II Men are an American R&B vocal group formed in Philadelphia in 1988, best known for their lush harmonies and emotionally charged ballads. They rose to international fame in the early 1990s with hits like 'End of the Road' and 'I'll Make Love to You,' both of which broke Billboard Hot 100 records at the time. The group has sold over 60 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music groups of all time.

Awards & Recognition

'I'll Make Love to You' spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, a record at the time
'End of the Road' spent 13 weeks at number one, breaking a decades-old chart record
'One Sweet Day' with Mariah Carey set a record for the most weeks at number one
Won multiple Grammy Awards in the early-to-mid 1990s
Named the biggest boy band by Billboard in 2012

Frequently Asked Questions Boyz II Men

Did Boyz II Men write their own songs?
About half. Boyz II Men co-wrote roughly 51% of their catalogue, including songs like 'Motownphilly' and 'Thank You.' But their record-breaking number-one ballads were written for them by outside hitmakers: 'End of the Road,' 'I'll Make Love to You,' and 'Water Runs Dry' by Babyface, and 'On Bended Knee' and '4 Seasons of Loneliness' by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Who wrote 'End of the Road'?
'End of the Road' (1992) was co-written and produced by Babyface (Kenneth Edmonds) with L.A. Reid and Daryl Simmons, not by the group. It spent 13 weeks at number one, a record at the time.
Who wrote 'I'll Make Love to You'?
'I'll Make Love to You' (1994) was written and produced by Babyface. It spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, breaking the record their own 'End of the Road' had set.
Who wrote 'Motownphilly'?
'Motownphilly' (1991), one of the few uptempo Boyz II Men hits, was co-written by the group with Dallas Austin and their mentor Michael Bivins. It was their breakout single.
Who are the members of Boyz II Men?
The group is Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman, with Michael McCary as an original member who left in 2003. They are known for their tight four-part, and later three-part, vocal harmonies.
How many albums has Boyz II Men released?
This catalogue covers 9 of their studio albums, from Cooleyhighharmony (1991) to Collide (2014).
Did Boyz II Men win Grammys?
Yes, several, with wins in the early and mid 1990s for their R&B performances and songs.
What is 'One Sweet Day'?
'One Sweet Day' (1995) was their collaboration with Mariah Carey. It spent a record number of weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, a record it held for many years.
Who wrote Boyz II Men's ballads?
Their biggest ballads came from two of the era's top production teams: Babyface, who wrote 'End of the Road,' 'I'll Make Love to You,' and 'A Song for Mama,' and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who wrote 'On Bended Knee.'
What genre is Boyz II Men?
They are an R&B and soul vocal group, known for smooth ballads and a cappella harmonies, and were also central to the early-1990s new jack swing sound.

Sources

Wikipedia: Boyz II Men