Destiny's Child

Solo Artist

Photo: Multiple photographers · CC BY-SA 3.0
Active 1997-2006
Origin Houston, Texas
Albums 4
Tracks 55
Most frequent collaborator D'Wayne Wiggins · 7 tracks
Genres R&BPopHip Hop
Songwriter
69%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 38 of 55 tracks

Did Destiny's Child write their own songs?

In part, and increasingly so. Destiny's Child are credited on about 69% of their catalogue. Their early material was written largely by outside producers, but Beyoncé took on a bigger role over time, co-writing and co-producing nearly all of Survivor (2001). Songs like 'Say My Name' and 'Survivor' carry the group's writing credits.

By the Numbers

4
Studio Albums
55
Tracks Credited
69%
Self-Written
more than 60 million
Records Sold
9
Years Active
133
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 38 / 55 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 55 tracks: how many Destiny's Child 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.

Destiny's Child has a writing credit69%
2%
67%
31%
Sole author1tracks2%
Co-written37tracks67%
Outside writers17tracks31%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Destiny's Child's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 55 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)69%
Composer (music)69%
Producer60%
Performer87%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 55 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Beyoncé Knowles 1990-2006
67%
67%
60%
87%
Kelly Rowland 1992-2006
44%
44%
5%
87%
LaTavia Roberson 1990-2000
18%
18%
0%
42%
LeToya Luckett 1993-2000
18%
18%
0%
42%
Farrah Franklin 2000
0%
0%
0%
0%
Michelle Williams 2000-2006
20%
20%
2%
45%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

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

avg 69%
15%
69%
93%
100%
1998Destiny's Child
1999The Writing's on the Wall
2001Survivor
2004Destiny Fulfilled
Early · 45% written
Late · 96% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

45%
1990s
Destiny's Child, The Writing's on the Wall
96%
2000s
Survivor, Destiny Fulfilled

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Destiny's Child 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.

Destiny's Child
Other artists on the site

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

Aaliyah0%
Backstreet Boys25%
NSYNC41%
Kelly Clarkson49%
TLC59%
Pink85%
Beyoncé93%
69%Destiny's Child
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Bills, Bills, Bills
The Writing's on the Wall
Written by Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LeToya Luckett, Kandi Burruss, Kevin Briggs
Co-wrote
Bug a Boo
The Writing's on the Wall
Written by Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson, Kandi Burruss, Kevin Briggs
Co-wrote
Say My Name
The Writing's on the Wall
Written by Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels
Co-wrote
Jumpin', Jumpin'
The Writing's on the Wall
Written by Beyoncé Knowles, Chad Elliott, Rufus Moore
Co-wrote
Independent Women Part I
Survivor
Written by Beyoncé Knowles, Samuel Barnes, Cory Rooney, Jean-Claude Olivier
Co-wrote
Survivor
Survivor
Written by Beyoncé Knowles, Anthony Dent, Mathew Knowles
Co-wrote
Bootylicious
Survivor
Written by Beyoncé Knowles, Rob Fusari, Falonte Moore, Stephanie Lynn Nicks
Co-wrote
Emotion
Survivor
Written by Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, Robin Hugh Gibb
Outside writers
Lose My Breath
Destiny Fulfilled
Written by Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé Knowles, Michelle Williams, Sean Garrett, LaShawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, Shawn Corey Carter
Co-wrote
Soldier
Destiny Fulfilled
Written by Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé Knowles, Michelle Williams, Sean Garrett, Rich Harrison, Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.
Co-wrote
Girl
Destiny Fulfilled
Written by Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé Knowles, Michelle Williams, Sean Garrett, Patrick Douthit, Angela Beyincé, Don Davis, Eddie Robinson
Co-wrote
Cater 2 U
Destiny Fulfilled
Written by Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé Knowles, Michelle Williams, Rodney Jerkins, Ric Rude, Robert Waller
Co-wrote

Discography 4 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Destiny's Child55 tracks
7D'Wayne Wiggins, 7 tracks RF6Rob Fusari, 6 tracks SG6Sean Garrett, 6 tracks 5Kandi Burruss, 5 tracks on Xscape's page KB5Kevin Briggs, 5 tracks CG4Calvin Gaines, 4 tracks RJ3Rodney Jerkins, 3 tracks FM3Falonte Moore, 3 tracks AB3Angela Beyincé, 3 tracks TT2Terry T, 2 tracks MB2Mary Brown, 2 tracks VH2Vincent Herbert, 2 tracks WJ2Wyclef Jean, 2 tracks JW2Jerry Wonda, 2 tracks MP2Master P, 2 tracks JD2Jermaine Dupri Mauldin, 2 tracks MS2Manuel Seal, 2 tracks CR2Cory Rooney, 2 tracks KF2Ken Fambro, 2 tracks CE2Chad Elliott, 2 tracks FJ2Fred Jerkins III, 2 tracks LD2LaShawn Daniels, 2 tracks AD2Anthony Dent, 2 tracks MK2Mathew Knowles, 2 tracks BL2Bill Lee, 2 tracks 9W29th Wonder, 2 tracks DS2Dana Stinson, 2 tracks BD2Big Drawers, 2 tracks R2Rockwilder, 2 tracks RI1Ronald Isley, 1 track OI1O'Kelly Isley Jr., 1 track RI1Rudolph Isley, 1 track EI1Ernie Isley, 1 track MI1Marvin Isley, 1 track CJ1Chris Jasper, 1 track KA1Kymberli Armstrong, 1 track JL1Jay Lincoln, 1 track BE1Barry Eugene Carter, 1 track CG1Che Greene, 1 track JD1Jermaine Dupri, 1 track BR1Bob Robinson, 1 track TK1Tim Kelley, 1 track MH1Michelle Hailey, 1 track AL1Albert Leornes Greene, 1 track CB1Craig Bazile, 1 track K1KLC, 1 track O1Odell, 1 track DA1Darcy Aldridge, 1 track CB1Carl Breeding, 1 track JB1Jeffrey Bowden, 1 track CW1Carl Washington, 1 track TS1Taura Stinson, 1 track IL1Isaac Lee Hayes Jr., 1 track TS1Tony Swain, 1 track SJ1Steve Jolley, 1 track AI1Ashley Ingram, 1 track LJ1Leslie John, 1 track P1Pras, 1 track on Fugees's page LB1Lionel Brockman Richie Jr., 1 track PM1Prince Markie Dee, 1 track RV1Reed Vertelney, 1 track SB1Sylvia Bennett-Smith, 1 track MA1Melissa Arnette Elliott, 1 track DH1Donald Holmes, 1 track GT1Gerard Thomas, 1 track ME1Missy Elliott, 1 track CW1Carl Wheeler, 1 track SM1Sir Mix-a-Lot, 1 track DB1Donnie Boynton, 1 track TG1Tara Geter, 1 track LS1Latrelle Simmons, 1 track AS1Aleese Simmons, 1 track CS1Chris Stokes, 1 track MH1Marques Houston, 1 track KK1Kelton Kessee, 1 track TS1Tony Scott, 1 track OH1Oshea Hunter, 1 track RH1Robert Huggar, 1 track TT1Tyvette Turman, 1 track N1Next, 1 track RM1Rufus Moore, 1 track JA1Jovonn Alexander, 1 track DS1Daryl Simmons, 1 track JW1Jody Watley, 1 track JN1John Newton, 1 track SB1Samuel Barnes, 1 track JO1Jean-Claude Olivier, 1 track SL1Stephanie Lynn Nicks, 1 track MB1Maurizio Bassi, 1 track NH1Naimy Hackett, 1 track JR1J.R. Rotem, 1 track DE1Damon Elliott, 1 track RS1Rapture Stewart, 1 track ES1Eric Seats, 1 track FC1Frank Comstock, 1 track DD1David Donaldson, 1 track BA1Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, 1 track RH1Robin Hugh Gibb, 1 track MF1Mark Feist, 1 track EM1Errol McCalla Jr., 1 track WA1Walter Afanasieff, 1 track KF1Kirktmon Frederick Franklin, 1 track RS1Richard Smallwood, 1 track SC1Shawn Corey Carter, 1 track on Jay-Z's page RH1Rich Harrison, 1 track DM1Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., 1 track CJ1Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., 1 track on T.I.'s page T1T.I., 1 track LW1Lil Wayne, 1 track RR1Ric Rude, 1 track RW1Robert Waller, 1 track AH1Andre Harris, 1 track VD1Vidal Davis, 1 track VC1Victor Carstarphen, 1 track GM1Gene McFadden, 1 track JW1John Whitehead, 1 track DD1Don Davis, 1 track ER1Eddie Robinson, 1 track BM1Bryan Michael Cox, 1 track W1WyldCard, 1 track SP1Solange Piaget Knowles, 1 track SK1Solange Knowles, 1 track CJ1Charles Jackson, 1 track MY1Marvin Yancy, 1 track JW1Juanita Wynn, 1 track LM1Larry Mizell, 1 track FM1Fonce Mizell, 1 track JC1James Carter, 1 track MS1Mario Shawn Winans, 1 track MW1Mario Winans, 1 track EW1Erron Williams, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. RF Rob Fusari · SG Sean Garrett · KB Kevin Briggs · CG Calvin Gaines

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

Despite their reputation as a pop phenomenon, Destiny's Child were active writers, Beyoncé Knowles co-wrote the majority of their material, from 'Bills, Bills, Bills' to 'Survivor' to 'Destiny Fulfilled.' Their catalog represents some of the most commercially successful self-penned R&B of the 2000s.

Quick Facts

  • SalesHave sold more than 60 million records worldwide, among the best-selling girl groups ever
  • GrammysWon three Grammy Awards, including two for 'Say My Name'
  • Beyoncé's riseBeyoncé co-wrote and co-produced nearly all of Survivor (2001)
  • Classic trioSettled into the lineup of Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams
  • BootyliciousTheir 2001 single added the word 'bootylicious' to the Oxford English Dictionary

Creative Fingerprint

A girl group where one member became the writer: Destiny's Child are credited on about 69% of their catalogue, with the early records shaped by outside producers and Beyoncé co-writing and co-producing more over time, peaking on Survivor.

The Story

Destiny's Child was one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, emerging from Houston's R&B scene to achieve global dominance across four studio albums. The group is best known for the trio of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams.

Awards & Recognition

Won three Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance for 'Say My Name'
Have sold more than 60 million records worldwide
One of the best-selling girl groups of all time, ranked among the most successful in chart history
Their single 'Bootylicious' added a word to the Oxford English Dictionary

Frequently Asked Questions Destiny's Child

Did Destiny's Child write their own songs?
In part, and increasingly so. Destiny's Child are credited on about 69% of their catalogue. Their early material was written largely by outside producers, but Beyoncé took on a bigger role over time, co-writing and co-producing nearly all of Survivor (2001). Songs like 'Say My Name' and 'Survivor' carry the group's writing credits.
Who wrote 'Say My Name'?
'Say My Name,' from The Writing's on the Wall (1999), was co-written by the group with producer Rodney Jerkins and LaShawn Daniels, among others. It won two Grammy Awards and became their signature hit.
Did Beyoncé write Destiny's Child songs?
Yes, more and more over time. Beyoncé co-wrote much of the group's material and, by Survivor (2001), was co-writing and co-producing nearly the whole album. It was an early sign of the creative control she would take in her solo career.
Who wrote 'Survivor'?
'Survivor,' the title track of the 2001 album, was co-written by Beyoncé with Anthony Dent and Mathew Knowles. Its lyrics were widely read as a response to the group's lineup changes and became an empowerment anthem.
Who were the members of Destiny's Child?
The group went through several lineups before settling on Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. Earlier members included LaTavia Roberson, LeToya Luckett, and Farrah Franklin.
How many albums did Destiny's Child release?
This catalogue covers four studio albums: Destiny's Child (1998), The Writing's on the Wall (1999), Survivor (2001), and Destiny Fulfilled (2004).
How many records did Destiny's Child sell?
Destiny's Child sold more than 60 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling girl groups in history before the members went on to solo careers.
What genre is Destiny's Child?
Destiny's Child make R&B and pop with hip-hop influences, known for tight harmonies and empowerment anthems like 'Independent Women' and 'Survivor.'

Sources

Wikipedia: Destiny's Child