Studio Album · No. 1
It Takes a Thief Songwriting Credits by Coolio
Produced by Paul Stewart, Bryan Dobbs, Rashad Coles(Coes, Billy Boy, Crazy Toones, CS Coleman
Tommy Boy
West Coast Hip HopGangsta RapG-Funk
100%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 16 of 16 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 16 / 16 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 16 tracks with documented writers, by whether Coolio carries a lyricist or composer credit.
16 trackswritten by Coolio
0 tracksoutside writers
Coolio's roles on this album
Share of the 16 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
16
Tracks
51
Lyricists
6
Producers
1994
Released
Data Insight
His name is on all 16 tracks and five of them are his alone, the only album in the catalogue where he writes anything by himself. The long co-writer lists are sample clearances rather than collaborators: "County Line" credits seventeen people because it borrows from "The Message" and the Bar-Kays. Bryan Dobbs, who produced as Dobbs the Wino, writes three.
It Takes a Thief came out on Tommy Boy in July 1994 and reached number eight on the Billboard 200. It is certified platinum. "Fantastic Voyage" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
Track Listing & Credits 16 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Fantastic Voyage
#3
|
CoolioBryan DobbsFred AlexanderNorman BeaversMarvin CraigTiemeyer McCainThomas ShelbyStephen ShockleyOtis StokesMark Adam Woods | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Bryan DobbsFred AlexanderNorman BeaversMarvin CraigTiemeyer McCainThomas ShelbyStephen ShockleyOtis StokesMark Adam Woods | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer)Stan "The Guitar Man" Jones (Featured Vocals) |
| 2 |
County Line
|
CoolioBryan DobbsAllen JonesCharles AllenClifton ChaseEd FletcherFrank ThompsonHarvey HendersonJames AlexanderLarry DodsonLloyd SmithMark BynumMelvin GloverMichael BeardSherman GuySylvia RobinsonWinston Stewart | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Bryan DobbsAllen JonesCharles AllenClifton ChaseEd FletcherFrank ThompsonHarvey HendersonJames AlexanderLarry DodsonLloyd SmithMark BynumMelvin GloverMichael BeardSherman GuySylvia RobinsonWinston Stewart | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer) |
| 3 |
Mama, I'm in Love wit a Gangsta
|
CoolioChris JasperErnie IsleyMarvin IsleyO'Kelly Isley Jr.Ronald IsleyRudolph IsleyRoy Ayers | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Chris JasperErnie IsleyMarvin IsleyO'Kelly Isley Jr.Ronald IsleyRudolph IsleyRoy Ayers | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer)LeShaun (Featured Vocals)Clint "Payback" Sands (Featured Vocals) |
| 4 |
Hand on My Nutsac
|
Coolio | Artis Leon Ivey Jr. | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer) |
| 5 |
Ghetto Cartoon
|
CoolioJunior WalkerFreddie PerrenWillie Woods | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Autry DeWaltFreddie PerrenWillie Woods | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer)Junior P. (Featured Vocals) |
| 6 |
Smokin' Stix
|
CoolioAllan FelderTalmadge Conway | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Allan FelderTalmadge Conway | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer) |
| 7 |
Can-o-Corn
|
Coolio | Artis Leon Ivey Jr. | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer) |
| 8 |
U Know Hoo!
|
CoolioWilliam Calhoun | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.William Calhoun | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer)WC (Featured Vocals) |
| 9 |
It Takes a Thief
|
Coolio | Artis Leon Ivey Jr. | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer) |
| 10 |
Bring Back Somethin' fo da Hood
|
CoolioRalph MacDonald | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Ralph MacDonald | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer)Stan "The Guitar Man" Jones (Featured Vocals) |
| 11 |
N da Closet
|
CoolioFrank WilsonJames Nyx Jr.Kathleen WakefieldMarvin Gaye | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Frank WilsonJames Nyx Jr.Kathy WakefieldMarvin Gaye | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer)Clint "Payback" Sands (Featured Vocals) |
| 12 |
On My Way to Harlem
|
Coolio | Artis Leon Ivey Jr. | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer) |
| 13 |
Sticky Fingers
|
CoolioBryan DobbsClifton "Jiggs" ChaseEd FletcherMelle MelSylvia Robinson | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Bryan DobbsClifton "Jiggs" ChaseEd FletcherMelvin GloverSylvia Robinson | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer)Stan "The Guitar Man" Jones (Featured Vocals) |
| 14 |
Thought You Knew
|
Coolio | Artis Leon Ivey Jr. | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer)Billy Boy (Featured Vocals)PS (Featured Vocals) |
| 15 |
Ugly Bitches
|
CoolioKen GoldMichael Denne | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Ken GoldMichael Denne | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer) |
| 16 |
I Remember
|
CoolioAl GreenKenneth GambleLeon HuffWillie Mitchell | Artis Leon Ivey Jr.Al GreenKenneth GambleLeon HuffWillie Mitchell | Paul StewartBryan DobbsRashad Coles(CoesBilly BoyCrazy ToonesCS Coleman | Coolio (Performer)J-Ro (Featured Vocals)Billy Boy (Featured Vocals)Clint "Payback" Sands (Featured Vocals) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 66 contributors
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Frequently Asked Questions It Takes a Thief
Who wrote It Takes a Thief?
Coolio is credited on all 16 tracks and wrote five of them alone. Most of the other names on the album are the writers of records it samples.
Who wrote "Fantastic Voyage"?
Coolio with the writers of the Lakeside song it samples. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
Why do some tracks have so many writers?
Sample clearance. "County Line" carries seventeen names because it uses "The Message" and a Bar-Kays record, and every original writer has to be credited.
How did the album sell?
It is certified platinum by the RIAA. No sales figure for it is published on the cited pages.
Who produced it?
Bryan Dobbs, working as Dobbs the Wino, and Billy Boy.
How did it chart?
Number eight on the Billboard 200, the highest any Coolio album reached.
How long is the album?
59:14 across 16 tracks.