Get Lifted cover art

  Studio Album · No. 1

Get Lifted Songwriting Credits by John Legend

2004 GOOD Music / Columbia Records 14 tracks 52 min

Produced by Kanye West, John Legend, Dave Tozer, will.i.am, DeVon Harris, Paul Cho  ·  Engineered by Manny Marroquin, Anthony Kilhoffer, Andrew Dawson, Aaron Fessel

GOOD Music / Columbia Records R&BNeo SoulHip-Hop SoulSoul
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 14 of 14 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 14 / 14 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether John Legend carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
14 trackswritten by John Legend 0 tracksoutside writers
John Legend's roles on this album

Share of the 14 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer64%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

14
Tracks
14
Lyricists
6
Producers
2.1 million
US Copies Sold
2004
Released

Awards & Recognition 2

Best R&B Album (2006)
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (Ordinary People) (2006)
Data Insight

Get Lifted is John Legend's debut, and he co-wrote nearly every track, frequently with longtime collaborator Dave Tozer along with Kanye West and will.i.am. Kanye West executive-produced and shaped much of the album's sound, having signed Legend to his GOOD Music label. 'Ordinary People' stands out as a stripped piano ballad written by Legend with will.i.am, originally conceived during Black Eyed Peas sessions. The record pairs gospel-rooted vocals with hip-hop production, reflecting the producers Legend worked alongside.

John Legend's debut studio album, released December 28, 2004. Produced primarily by Kanye West alongside Dave Tozer and Legend himself, Get Lifted blends neo-soul, gospel, and hip-hop-inflected R&B. The album features guest appearances from Kanye West ('Number One') and Snoop Dogg ('I Can Change'). It won three Grammy Awards including Best New Artist, Best R&B Album, and Best R&B Male Vocal Performance for 'Ordinary People.' All 14 standard-edition tracks credit John Stephens (Legend's legal name) as a co-writer.

Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Prelude
John Legend John Roger Stephens John Legend John Legend (Lead Vocals)
2
Let's Get Lifted
John LegendKanye WestRick Shobin John Roger StephensKanye Omari WestRick Shobin Kanye WestJohn Legend John Legend (Lead Vocals)
3
Used to Love U #74
John LegendKanye West John Roger StephensKanye Omari West Kanye WestJohn Legend John Legend (Lead Vocals)
4
Alright
John LegendKanye West John Roger StephensKanye Omari West Kanye WestJohn Legend John Legend (Lead Vocals)
5
She Don't Have to Know
John Legendwill.i.amSylvester Stewart John Roger StephensWilliam AdamsSylvester Stewart will.i.am John Legend (Lead Vocals)
6
Number One
John LegendKanye WestCurtis Mayfield John Roger StephensKanye Omari WestCurtis Lee Mayfield Kanye WestJohn Legend Kanye West (vocals)
7
I Can Change
John LegendDave TozerSnoop Dogg John Roger StephensDave TozerCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. Dave TozerJohn Legend Snoop Dogg (vocals)
8
Ordinary People #24
John Legendwill.i.am John Roger StephensWilliam Adams John Legend John Legend (Lead Vocals)
9
Stay with You
John LegendDave Tozer John Roger StephensDave Tozer Dave Tozer John Legend (Lead Vocals)
10
Let's Get Lifted Again
John LegendDave Tozer John Roger StephensDave Tozer Dave Tozer John Legend (Lead Vocals)
11
So High
John LegendDeVon HarrisPaul ChoLeon WarePamela Sawyer John Roger StephensDeVon HarrisPaul ChoLeon WarePamela Sawyer DeVon Harris John Legend (Lead Vocals)
12
Refuge (When It's Cold Outside)
John LegendDeVon HarrisPaul Cho John Roger StephensDeVon HarrisPaul Cho DeVon HarrisPaul Cho John Legend (Lead Vocals)
13
It Don't Have to Change
John LegendDave Tozer John Roger StephensDave Tozer John Legend John Legend (Lead Vocals)
14
Live It Up
John LegendDeVon HarrisTarrey ToraeAnthony Hester John Roger StephensDeVon HarrisTarrey ToraeAnthony Hester DeVon HarrisJohn LegendKanye West John Legend (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 19 contributors

JL
John Legend
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album14 written
JR
John Roger Stephens
Writer
On this album14 written
KW
Kanye West
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album4 written
DT
Dave Tozer
Writer · Producer
On this album4 written
KO
Kanye Omari West
Writer
On this album4 written
DH
DeVon Harris
Writer · Producer
On this album3 written
PC
Paul Cho
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
W
will.i.am
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
WA
William Adams
Writer
On this album2 written
AH
Anthony Hester
Writer
On this album1 written
CC
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.
Writer
On this album1 written
CL
Curtis Lee Mayfield
Writer
On this album1 written

More from John Legend

2006 100%
Once Again
GOOD Music / Columbia Records
13 tracksProd. will.i.am
2008 85%
Evolver
GOOD Music / Columbia Records
13 tracksProd. Malay
2010 8%
Wake Up!
GOOD Music / Columbia Records
12 tracksProd. John Legend
2013 88%
Love in the Future
GOOD Music / Columbia Records
16 tracksProd. Dave Tozer
2016 100%
Darkness and Light
GOOD Music / Columbia Records
12 tracksProd. Blake Mills
2018 43%
A Legendary Christmas
Columbia Records
14 tracksProd. Raphael Saadiq
2020 100%
Bigger Love
Columbia Records
16 tracksProd. Oak
2022 100%
Legend
Republic Records
24 tracksProd. Ryan Tedder
2024 82%
My Favorite Dream
Republic Records
11 tracksProd. Sufjan Stevens

Frequently Asked Questions Get Lifted

Did John Legend write Get Lifted himself?
John Legend co-wrote nearly every song on Get Lifted, often partnering with Dave Tozer, Kanye West, and will.i.am. The album was his debut and reflected years of his own songwriting before signing to GOOD Music. He is credited as a writer and producer across the record.
Who produced John Legend's Get Lifted?
Kanye West was the primary force behind Get Lifted and executive-produced the album after signing Legend to his GOOD Music label. Legend himself also produced several tracks, alongside will.i.am, Dave Tozer, and Devo Springsteen. The result blended hip-hop production with classic soul and gospel.
Who wrote Ordinary People by John Legend?
'Ordinary People' was written by John Legend and will.i.am. The piano ballad was originally developed during sessions connected to the Black Eyed Peas before Legend recorded it for Get Lifted. It became the album's signature hit, peaking at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100.
What was the first single from Get Lifted?
'Used to Love U' was the lead single from Get Lifted, released in 2004. It peaked at number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up, 'Ordinary People,' became the album's breakout success.
Did Get Lifted win a Grammy?
Get Lifted won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in 2006. At the same ceremony, 'Ordinary People' won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. The album earned Legend his first Grammy wins.
How many copies did Get Lifted sell?
Get Lifted sold roughly 2.1 million copies in the United States. It debuted with about 116,000 copies in its first week. The RIAA certified the album 2x Platinum in 2020.
What genre is John Legend's Get Lifted?
Get Lifted is an R&B and neo soul album with strong hip-hop soul and gospel influences. Its production, led by Kanye West, paired soul songwriting with hip-hop beats. The sound established Legend's blend of traditional soul and contemporary R&B.

Sources

Wikipedia: Get Lifted Wikipedia: Ordinary People (John Legend song) MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Get Lifted by John Legend