Studio Album · No. 8
Growing Pains Songwriting Credits by Mary J. Blige
Produced by Bryan-Michael Cox, Stargate, Ne-Yo, Tricky Stewart
Geffen
R&BContemporary R&BHip-Hop Soul
81%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 13 of 16 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 13 / 16 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 16 tracks with documented writers, by whether Mary J. Blige carries a lyricist or composer credit.
13 trackswritten by Mary J. Blige
3 tracksoutside writers
Mary J. Blige's roles on this album
Share of the 16 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist81%
Composer81%
Producer0%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
16
Tracks
23
Lyricists
14
Producers
1 million
US Copies Sold
2007
Released
Awards & Recognition 1
Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album (2009)
Data Insight
Growing Pains keeps Blige co-writing across a contemporary R&B production team: she shares credits with Ne-Yo, The-Dream, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Tricky Stewart on most tracks. 'Till the Morning,' written by Pharrell Williams, is the clearest song handed to her, while the rest reflect the collaborative authorship that defines her late-2000s work.
Growing Pains is the eighth studio album by Mary J. Blige, released in December 2007 as a follow-up to her career-best The Breakthrough. Themed around maturity and self-acceptance, it carried the upbeat hit 'Just Fine' and worked with producers including Stargate, Ne-Yo, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Tricky Stewart. Blige co-wrote most of the album, continuing the polished, contemporary R&B of her recent run while keeping her confessional voice. It debuted near the top of the chart, went platinum, and won her the Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album. The record showed her settling into a more content, grounded phase without losing her emotional core.
Track Listing & Credits 16 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Work That
#56
|
Mary J. BligeTheron FeemsterSean Garrett | Mary Jane BligeTheron FeemsterGarrett Hamler | Theron FeemsterSean Garrett | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Grown Woman
|
Mary J. BligeDejion MadisonLudacrisThe-Dream | Mary Jane BligeDejion MadisonChristopher Brian BridgesTerius Youngdell Nash | Dejion Madison | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals)Ludacris (Featured Artist) |
| 3 |
Just Fine
#22
|
Mary J. BligeThe-DreamTricky StewartJazze Pha | Mary Jane BligeTerius Youngdell NashChristopher Alan StewartPhalon Anton Alexander | Tricky StewartJazze PhaKuk Harrell | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Feel Like a Woman
|
Mary J. BligeTheron FeemsterThe-Dream | Mary Jane BligeTheron FeemsterTerius Youngdell Nash | Theron Feemster | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Stay Down
|
Mary J. BligeJohntá AustinBryan-Michael Cox | Mary Jane BligeJohntá AustinBryan-Michael Cox | Bryan-Michael Cox | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Hurt Again
|
Mary J. BligeAndre HarrisVidal DavisBrian Sledge | Mary Jane BligeAndre HarrisVidal DavisBrian Sledge | Dre & Vidal | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Shake Down
|
Mary J. BligeThe-DreamTricky StewartJazze Pha | Mary Jane BligeTerius Youngdell NashChristopher Alan StewartPhalon Anton Alexander | Tricky StewartJazze PhaKuk Harrell | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals)Usher (Featured Artist) |
| 8 |
Till the Morning
|
Pharrell Williams | Pharrell Lanscilo Williams | The Neptunes | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Roses
|
Mary J. BligeThe-DreamTricky Stewart | Mary Jane BligeTerius Youngdell NashChristopher Alan Stewart | Tricky StewartKuk Harrell | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
Fade Away
|
Mary J. BligeNe-YoMikkel S. EriksenTor Erik Hermansen | Mary Jane BligeShaffer Chimere SmithMikkel Storleer EriksenTor Erik Hermansen | StargateNe-Yo | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
What Love Is
|
Mary J. BligeNe-YoMikkel S. EriksenTor Erik Hermansen | Mary Jane BligeShaffer Chimere SmithMikkel Storleer EriksenTor Erik Hermansen | StargateNe-Yo | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 12 |
Work in Progress (Growing Pains)
|
Ne-YoChuck Harmony | Shaffer Chimere SmithCharles Harmon | Chuck HarmonyNe-Yo | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 13 |
Talk to Me
|
Mary J. BligeJohntá AustinEric HudsonRobert WrightVerdine White | Mary Jane BligeJohntá AustinEric HudsonRobert WrightVerdine Adams White | Eric Hudson | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 14 |
If You Love Me?
|
Mary J. BligeJohntá AustinBryan-Michael Cox | Mary Jane BligeJohntá AustinBryan-Michael Cox | Bryan-Michael Cox | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 15 |
Smoke
|
Ne-YoSyience | Shaffer Chimere SmithReggie Perry | SyienceNe-Yo | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
| 16 |
Come to Me (Peace)
|
Mary J. BligeThe-DreamKuk HarrellTricky Stewart | Mary Jane BligeTerius Youngdell NashAnthony HarrellChristopher Alan Stewart | Tricky StewartKuk Harrell | Mary J. Blige (Lead Vocals) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 40 contributors
MJ
Mary J. Blige
Writer · Vocals
MJ
Mary Jane Blige
Writer
TY
Terius Youngdell Nash
Writer
T
The-Dream
Writer
N
Ne-Yo
Writer · Producer
TS
Tricky Stewart
Writer · Producer
CA
Christopher Alan Stewart
Writer
SC
Shaffer Chimere Smith
Writer
JA
Johntá Austin
Writer
BC
Bryan-Michael Cox
Writer · Producer
JP
Jazze Pha
Writer · Producer
TF
Theron Feemster
Writer · Producer
More from Mary J. Blige
1992
0%
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1997
44%
Share My World
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1999
50%
Mary
MCA
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2001
82%
No More Drama
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2003
94%
Love & Life
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2005
69%
The Breakthrough
Geffen
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2009
83%
Stronger with Each Tear
Geffen
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2011
71%
My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1)
Geffen / Matriarch
14 tracksProd. Jerry Wonda
2013
0%
A Mary Christmas
Verve / Matriarch
12 tracksProd. David Foster
2014
83%
The London Sessions
Capitol / Matriarch
12 tracksProd. Rodney Jerkins
2017
93%
Strength of a Woman
Capitol / Matriarch
14 tracksProd. DJ Camper
2022
100%
Good Morning Gorgeous
300 Entertainment
13 tracksProd. D'Mile
Frequently Asked Questions Growing Pains
Who wrote Growing Pains?
Mary J. Blige co-wrote most of the album with producers like Ne-Yo, The-Dream, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Tricky Stewart. 'Till the Morning' was written by Pharrell Williams.
What is the hit single from Growing Pains?
'Just Fine' was the upbeat lead single and one of her most popular songs of the era.
Did Growing Pains win a Grammy?
Yes. It won the Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album.
Who produced Growing Pains?
Producers include Stargate, Ne-Yo, Bryan-Michael Cox, Tricky Stewart, and the Neptunes.
What is the theme of Growing Pains?
The album centers on maturity, self-acceptance, and finding contentment, a more grounded follow-up to The Breakthrough.
How well did Growing Pains sell?
It was certified platinum in the United States and debuted near the top of the Billboard 200.