Sublime

Solo Artist

Photo: WIKIMODBACKOFF223 · CC0
Active 1988-1996, 2023-present
Origin Long Beach, California
Albums 4
Tracks 83
Most frequent collaborator Jon Joseph · 22 tracks
Genres Ska PunkReggae RockAlternative Rock
Artist
90%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 75 of 83 tracks

Did Sublime write their own songs?

Bradley Nowell is credited on 53 of the 61 tracks the original band recorded. The other eight are covers, from Bad Religion and Toots Hibbert to the Grateful Dead.

By the Numbers

4
Studio Albums
83
Tracks Credited
90%
Self-Written
38
Years Active
54
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 75 / 83 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 83 tracks: how many Sublime 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.

Sublime has a writing credit90%
43%
47%
10%
Sole author36tracks43%
Co-written39tracks47%
Outside writers8tracks10%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Sublime's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 83 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)90%
Composer (music)90%
Producer51%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 83 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Eric Wilson 1988-1996, 2023-present
75%
75%
49%
73%
Bud Gaugh 1988-1996, 2023-present
75%
75%
49%
73%
Jakob Nowell 2023-present
27%
27%
0%
0%
Bradley Nowell Died May 25, 1996 1988-1996 (died May 25, 1996)
64%
64%
51%
73%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

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

avg 90%
77%
91%
94%
100%
199240oz. to Freedom
1994Robbin' the Hood
1996Sublime
2026Until the Sun Explodes
Early · 84% written
Late · 97% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

87%
1990s
40oz. to Freedom, Robbin' the Hood +1 more
100%
2020s
Until the Sun Explodes

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Sublime 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.

Sublime
Other artists on the site

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

Tim McGraw2%
Xscape17%
Marc Anthony37%
Boyz II Men51%
Sinéad O'Connor59%
Natalie Imbruglia78%
No Doubt99%
90%Sublime
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Discography 4 albums

All four studio albums, including Until the Sun Explodes, the 2026 record made by the surviving members with Bradley Nowell's son singing. The posthumous compilations and live albums sit outside this catalogue.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Photo of SublimeSublime83 tracks
JJ22Jon Joseph, 22 tracks ZV22Zane Vandevort, 22 tracks MH19Michael Happoldt, 19 tracks EL17Elephant Levitation, 17 tracks DK15David Kahne, 15 tracks Photo of Paul Leary12Paul Leary, 12 tracks MG8Marshall Goodman, 8 tracks K4KRS-One, 4 tracks M3Miguel, 3 tracks LP2Lawrence Parker, 2 tracks LP2Laurence Parker, 2 tracks CK1Chris Kay, 1 track MK1Michael Kay, 1 track GG1Greg Graffin, 1 track TH1Toots Hibbert, 1 track FH1Frederick Hibbert, 1 track JG1Jerry Garcia, 1 track RH1Robert Hunter, 1 track MA1Milo Aukerman, 1 track FF1Frank Farian, 1 track BD1Brent Dowe, 1 track GR1George Reyam, 1 track JM1James McNaughton, 1 track JH1Joe Higgs, 1 track RF1Ross Fletcher, 1 track WP1William Pangborn III, 1 track M1Mudhoney, 1 track LK1Linton Kwesi Johnson, 1 track HP1Half Pint, 1 track LA1Lindon Andrew Roberts, 1 track LM1Lloyd Mcdonald, 1 track WM1Winston Matthews, 1 track KR1Kevin Roach, 1 track MD1Mike Davis, 1 track RS1Rick Selga, 1 track GG1George Gershwin, 1 track IG1Ira Gershwin, 1 track DH1Dorothy Heyward, 1 track DH1DuBose Heyward, 1 track A1Ad-Rock, 1 track on Beastie Boys's page AY1Adam Yauch, 1 track RR1Rick Rubin, 1 track ZC1Zac Carper, 1 track F1Fidlar, 1 track S1Skegss, 1 track WP1Willard Pangborn, 1 track H1H.R., 1 track JF1Josh Freshy, 1 track GL1G. Love, 1 track GD1Garrett Dutton, 1 track GL1G. Love & Special Sauce, 1 track FD1Fletcher Dragge, 1 track P1Pennywise, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. JJ Jon Joseph · ZV Zane Vandevort · MH Michael Happoldt · EL Elephant Levitation · DK David Kahne

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

Bradley Nowell is on 53 of the 61 tracks the original band recorded, and the eight without him are all covers. The catalogue is full of other people's names because Sublime borrowed constantly: samples, riddims, whole verses, credited song by song.

Quick Facts

  • The writerBradley Nowell is on 53 of the original band's 61 tracks
  • CoversThe eight tracks without him are all songs by somebody else
  • Regular collaboratorMarshall "Ras MG" Goodman co-wrote eight songs across two albums
  • CertifiedThe 1996 self-titled album is RIAA diamond
  • Four albums1992, 1994, 1996 and 2026
  • Two monthsBradley Nowell died in May 1996, before the album came out in July

Creative Fingerprint

One writer plus a long list of borrowed sources, credited rather than hidden.

The Story

Sublime formed in Long Beach in 1988 and made three albums before Bradley Nowell died in May 1996, two months before the record that would sell the most. Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh restarted the band in 2023 with Nowell's son singing.

Frequently Asked Questions Sublime

Did Sublime write their own songs?
Bradley Nowell is credited on 53 of the 61 tracks the original band recorded. The other eight are covers, from Bad Religion and Toots Hibbert to the Grateful Dead.
Who wrote "What I Got"?
Bradley Nowell, Eric Wilson, Bud Gaugh and Half Pint, whose "Loving" the song borrows from.
How many albums did Sublime release?
Four studio albums: 40oz. to Freedom (1992), Robbin' the Hood (1994), Sublime (1996) and Until the Sun Explodes (2026).
What happened to Bradley Nowell?
He died of a heroin overdose on 25 May 1996, two months before the self-titled album was released.
Who sings in Sublime now?
Jakob Nowell, Bradley's son, who joined Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh in 2023 and sings on Until the Sun Explodes.
Who is Marshall Goodman?
Known as Ras MG, he drummed and played turntables with the band from 1990 and co-wrote eight of their songs, more than anyone outside the three members.
Which album sold the most?
The 1996 self-titled album, certified diamond by the RIAA.
Why do so many songs have extra writers?
Sublime built songs out of samples, reggae riddims and borrowed verses, and the credits name each source. "Doin' Time" alone credits the Gershwins, the DuBose Heywards and two Beastie Boys.
Did they have a Hot 100 hit?
No. Their singles table shows no Billboard Hot 100 entry, though "What I Got" went to number one on the Alternative chart.
Who guests on "Saw Red"?
Gwen Stefani of No Doubt sings on it. The song is on Robbin' the Hood.

Sources

Wikipedia: Sublime Wikipedia: Bradley Nowell Wikipedia: Bud Gaugh Wikipedia: Jakob Nowell Wikipedia: Sublime discography