Solo Artist · The Prince of Pop

Justin Timberlake

Active2002-present
OriginMemphis, Tennessee, USA
Albums6
Tracks80

Most frequent collaborator: Timothy Mosley  ·  44 tracks

PopR&BDance-popNeo soulFunk
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 80 of 80 tracks

Did Justin Timberlake write his own songs?

Yes, on nearly all of his solo material, but almost always with co-writers. Timberlake holds a writing credit on effectively 100% of his solo tracks, though only a small number are written entirely alone. He co-wrote hits like 'SexyBack,' 'Cry Me a River,' and 'Mirrors,' usually alongside his producers Timbaland or, in his early days, The Neptunes.

By the Numbers

6
Studio Albums
80
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
24
Years Active
72
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 80 / 80 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 80 tracks: how many Justin Timberlake 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.

Justin Timberlake has a writing credit100%
1%
99%
Sole author1tracks1%
Co-written79tracks99%
Outside writers0tracks0%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Justin Timberlake's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 80 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)100%
Composer (music)100%
Producer81%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

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

avg 100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
2002Justified
2006FutureSex/LoveSounds
2013The 20/20 Experience
2013The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2
2018Man of the Woods
2024Everything I Thought It Was
Early · 100% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
2000s
Justified, FutureSex/LoveSounds
100%
2010s
The 20/20 Experience, The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2 +1 more
100%
2020s
Everything I Thought It Was

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Justin Timberlake 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.

Justin Timberlake
Other artists on the site

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

Whitney Houston5%
Backstreet Boys25%
NSYNC41%
Michael Jackson51%
Selena Gomez60%
Christina Aguilera74%
Chris Brown91%
100%Justin Timberlake
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Like I Love You
Justified
Written by Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, Gene Thornton, Terrence Thornton
Co-wrote
Cry Me a River
Justified
Written by Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosley, Scott Storch
Co-wrote
Señorita
Justified
Written by Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo
Co-wrote
SexyBack
FutureSex/LoveSounds
Written by Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosley, Floyd Nathaniel Hills
Co-wrote
My Love
FutureSex/LoveSounds
Written by Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosley, Floyd Nathaniel Hills, Clifford Harris Jr.
Co-wrote
What Goes Around... / ...Comes Around (Interlude)
FutureSex/LoveSounds
Written by Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosley, Floyd Nathaniel Hills
Co-wrote
Suit & Tie
The 20/20 Experience
Written by Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosley, Shawn Carter, Jerome Harmon, James Fauntleroy, Terrence Stubbs, Johnny Wilson, Charles Still
Co-wrote
Mirrors
The 20/20 Experience
Written by Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosley, Jerome Harmon, James Fauntleroy
Co-wrote
Take Back the Night
The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2
Written by Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosley, Jerome Harmon, James Fauntleroy
Co-wrote
TKO
The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2
Written by Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosley, Jerome Harmon, James Fauntleroy, Barry White
Co-wrote
Not a Bad Thing / Pair of Wings
The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2
Written by Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosley, Jerome Harmon, James Fauntleroy
Co-wrote
Selfish
Everything I Thought It Was
Written by Justin Timberlake, Amy Allen, Henry Walter, Louis Bell, Theron Thomas
Co-wrote

Discography 6 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Justin Timberlake80 tracks
TM44 T43 JF23 JH22 J22 FN19

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. TM Timothy Mosley · T Timbaland · JF James Fauntleroy · JH Jerome Harmon · J J-Roc · FN Floyd Nathaniel Hills

The Writers & Producers Behind Justin Timberlake 6 key collaborators

TM
Timothy Mosley
Songwriter
Justified / FutureSex/LoveSounds / The 20/20 Experience / The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 244 tracks
T
Timbaland
Producer
Justified / FutureSex/LoveSounds / The 20/20 Experience / The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 243 tracks
JF
James Fauntleroy
Songwriter
The 20/20 Experience / The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2 / Man of the Woods / Everything I Thought It Was23 tracks
JH
Jerome Harmon
Songwriter
The 20/20 Experience / The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2 / Man of the Woods22 tracks
J
J-Roc
Producer
The 20/20 Experience / The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2 / Man of the Woods22 tracks
FN
Floyd Nathaniel Hills
Songwriter
FutureSex/LoveSounds / Man of the Woods / Everything I Thought It Was19 tracks

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

The most compelling authorship story for Justin Timberlake is the contrast between his two careers. As a member of NSYNC, he held almost zero writing credits, the group performed songs written by Scandinavian pop hitmakers like Max Martin and Kristian Lundin. As a solo artist that story reverses completely: he co-writes every track, working as a genuine creative partner with his producers (Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Danja) rather than simply performing their material. His solo authorship score sits well above 80%, which is exceptional for a mainstream pop-R&B artist. The data makes the before-and-after contrast stark: NSYNC is one of the lowest-scoring artists on the site; Timberlake solo is one of the highest.

Quick Facts

  • GrammysTen Grammy Awards
  • EmmysFour Primetime Emmy Awards
  • NSYNCWas a lead vocalist of NSYNC (1995-2002) before going solo
  • TimbalandHis solo sound was built with producer Timbaland and, early on, The Neptunes
  • SalesJustified and FutureSex/LoveSounds each sold over 10 million copies worldwide

Creative Fingerprint

A co-writer with a producer's ear: Justin Timberlake writes on virtually every solo track, but almost never alone, shaping his sound hand-in-hand with Timbaland and, in his Neptunes-produced early days, Pharrell Williams.

The Story

Justin Timberlake (born January 31, 1981, in Memphis, Tennessee) first gained global fame as a member of NSYNC, one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. When he launched his solo career with Justified in 2002, he emerged as something very different from his boy band origins: a hands-on creative collaborator who co-writes virtually every song in his catalog. Working most closely with producers Timbaland and Pharrell Williams, Timberlake built a critically acclaimed discography across six studio albums, winning ten Grammy Awards and selling over 32 million albums worldwide. His 2006 album FutureSex/LoveSounds and his 2013 double-album The 20/20 Experience are considered landmarks of 2000s and 2010s pop.

Awards & Recognition

Ten Grammy Awards
Four Primetime Emmy Awards
Both Justified and FutureSex/LoveSounds sold over 10 million copies worldwide
Sold over 70 million records as part of NSYNC before going solo
One of the best-selling music artists of all time

Frequently Asked Questions Justin Timberlake

Did Justin Timberlake write his own songs?
Yes, on nearly all of his solo material, but almost always with co-writers. Timberlake holds a writing credit on effectively 100% of his solo tracks, though only a small number are written entirely alone. He co-wrote hits like 'SexyBack,' 'Cry Me a River,' and 'Mirrors,' usually alongside his producers Timbaland or, in his early days, The Neptunes.
Who wrote 'SexyBack'?
'SexyBack' (2006) was co-written by Justin Timberlake with Timbaland (Timothy Mosley) and Danja (Floyd Hills). It was the lead single from FutureSex/LoveSounds and a number-one hit.
Who wrote 'Cry Me a River'?
'Cry Me a River' (2002) was co-written by Justin Timberlake with Timbaland and Scott Storch. It was the breakout single from his debut solo album Justified.
Did Justin Timberlake work with Timbaland?
Yes, extensively. Timbaland is Timberlake's most frequent collaborator, co-writing and producing much of his catalogue from 'Cry Me a River' through the 20/20 Experience albums. Their partnership defines his solo sound.
Was Justin Timberlake in NSYNC?
Yes. He was one of two lead vocalists of NSYNC, alongside JC Chasez, from 1995 until the group went on hiatus in 2002, when he launched his solo career.
Who produced Justin Timberlake's early solo work?
His debut album Justified (2002) was built mainly with The Neptunes, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, along with Timbaland. That mix of producers gave the album its R&B and funk sound.
How many albums has Justin Timberlake released?
This catalogue covers 6 of his solo studio albums, from Justified (2002) to Everything I Thought It Was (2024).
How many Grammys has Justin Timberlake won?
Ten Grammy Awards, plus four Primetime Emmy Awards from his television work.
Who wrote 'Mirrors'?
'Mirrors' (2013) was co-written by Justin Timberlake with Timbaland, Jerome Harmon, and James Fauntleroy. It was one of the biggest hits from The 20/20 Experience.
Why is Justin Timberlake called the Prince of Pop?
The nickname reflects his long run of chart-topping solo hits and his status as one of pop's leading male stars in the 2000s and 2010s, following his start as a teen idol in NSYNC.

Sources

Wikipedia: Justin Timberlake discography Wikipedia: Justin Timberlake