The Prodigy

Band

Photo: ParaDoxus (talk) · Public domain
Active 1990-present
Origin Braintree, England
Albums 7
Tracks 82
Most frequent collaborator Neil McLellan · 9 tracks
Genres ElectronicBig BeatBreakbeat HardcoreRaveIndustrialAlternative Dance
Complete Artist
99%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 81 of 82 tracks

Who writes The Prodigy's music?

Liam Howlett, the band's founder and producer, writes and produces essentially every Prodigy track. Keith Flint and Maxim were the group's vocalists and live frontmen rather than its main writers, though Flint co-wrote 'Firestarter' and both contributed more to songwriting on later albums. Because Howlett builds tracks from samples and interpolations, the credits often list the sources he sampled alongside his own name.

By the Numbers

7
Studio Albums
82
Tracks Credited
99%
Self-Written
25 million
Records Sold
36
Years Active
117
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 81 / 82 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 82 tracks: how many The Prodigy 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.

The Prodigy has a writing credit99%
37%
62%
1%
Sole author30tracks37%
Co-written51tracks62%
Outside writers1tracks1%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
The Prodigy's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 82 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)73%
Composer (music)99%
Producer100%
Performer46%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 82 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Liam Howlett 1990-present
73%
99%
100%
0%
Maxim 1991-present
13%
13%
0%
37%
Keith Flint Died March 4, 2019 1990-2019 (died March 4, 2019)
12%
12%
0%
33%
Leeroy Thornhill 1990-2000
0%
0%
0%
0%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

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

avg 99%
100%
100%
90%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1992Experience
1994Music for the Jilted Generation
1997The Fat of the Land
2004Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned
2009Invaders Must Die
2015The Day Is My Enemy
2018No Tourists
Early · 97% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

97%
1990s
Experience, Music for the Jilted Generation +1 more
100%
2000s
Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, Invaders Must Die
100%
2010s
The Day Is My Enemy, No Tourists

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where The Prodigy 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.

The Prodigy
Other artists on the site

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

Katseye0%
Backstreet Boys25%
Rihanna44%
TLC59%
Mary J. Blige70%
George Michael80%
Massive Attack90%
99%The Prodigy
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Charly
Experience
Written by Liam Howlett
Wrote it
Out of Space
Experience
Written by Liam Howlett
Wrote it
Wind It Up (Rewound)
Experience
Written by Liam Howlett
Wrote it
No Good (Start the Dance)
Music for the Jilted Generation
Written by Liam Howlett, Kelly Charles, James Bratton
Co-wrote
Voodoo People
Music for the Jilted Generation
Written by Liam Howlett
Wrote it
Poison
Music for the Jilted Generation
Written by Liam Howlett, Maxim, Keith Palmer
Wrote it
Firestarter
The Fat of the Land
Written by Liam Howlett, Keith Flint, Kim Deal, Anne Dudley, Trevor Horn, Gary Langan, J.J. Jeczalik, Paul Morley, Kimberly Deal, Jonathan Jeczalik
Co-wrote
Breathe
The Fat of the Land
Written by Liam Howlett, Keith Flint, Maxim, Keith Palmer
Wrote it
Smack My Bitch Up
The Fat of the Land
Written by Liam Howlett, Cedric Miller, Trevor Randolph, Maurice Smith, Kool Keith, Keith Thornton
Co-wrote
Girls
Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned
Written by Liam Howlett, J. Martinez, F. Cooke, Hubert Barclay Eaves III, James Williams
Co-wrote
Omen
Invaders Must Die
Written by Liam Howlett, Tim Hutton, Maxim, Keith Palmer
Co-wrote
Warrior's Dance
Invaders Must Die
Written by Liam Howlett, Bridgette Grace, Jeffrey Mills, Anthony Srock
Co-wrote
Take Me to the Hospital
Invaders Must Die
Written by Liam Howlett, Keith Flint, Jari Salo, Paul Malmström
Co-wrote
Invaders Must Die
Invaders Must Die
Written by Liam Howlett, Nick Halkes
Co-wrote
Nasty
The Day Is My Enemy
Written by Liam Howlett, Keith Flint, Tim Hutton, Nick Halkes
Co-wrote

Discography 7 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

The Prodigy82 tracks
9Neil McLellan, 9 tracks OB9Olly Burden, 9 tracks TH7Tim Hutton, 7 tracks 5Kool Keith, 5 tracks NH4Nick Halkes, 4 tracks JR4James Rushent, 4 tracks JL3Juliette Lewis, 3 tracks LB3Louise Boone, 3 tracks S2Simone, 2 tracks CM2Cedric Miller, 2 tracks TR2Trevor Randolph, 2 tracks MS2Maurice Smith, 2 tracks KD2Kim Deal, 2 tracks on Pixies's page KD2Kimberly Deal, 2 tracks HR2Hannah Robinson, 2 tracks JS2Jari Salo, 2 tracks PM2Paul Malmström, 2 tracks SH2Stuart Henshall, 2 tracks VW2Vincent Welch, 2 tracks PF2Paul Frazer, 2 tracks JE2Joe Erskine, 2 tracks LG2Luca Gulotta, 2 tracks BC2Brother Culture, 2 tracks PW1Pop Will Eat Itself, 1 track LR1Lance Riddler, 1 track KC1Kelly Charles, 1 track JB1James Bratton, 1 track MD1Mike D, 1 track on Beastie Boys's page A1Ad-Rock, 1 track on Beastie Boys's page M1MCA, 1 track on Beastie Boys's page MD1Michael Diamond, 1 track AY1Adam Yauch, 1 track LA1Leonard Arran, 1 track S1Skin, 1 track DD1Deborah Dyer, 1 track CM1Crispian Mills, 1 track AD1Anne Dudley, 1 track TH1Trevor Horn, 1 track GL1Gary Langan, 1 track JJ1J.J. Jeczalik, 1 track PM1Paul Morley, 1 track JJ1Jonathan Jeczalik, 1 track TT1Timothy Taylor, 1 track DS1Donita Sparks, 1 track PJ1Peter Jones, 1 track RK1Ross Knight, 1 track BW1Bill Walsh, 1 track S1Saffron, 1 track NA1Natalie Appleton, 1 track JM1J. Martinez, 1 track FC1F. Cooke, 1 track HB1Hubert Barclay Eaves III, 1 track JW1James Williams, 1 track TM1The Magnificent Ping Pong Bitches, 1 track PS1Princess Superstar, 1 track T1Twista, 1 track SB1Shahin Badar, 1 track CT1Carl Terrell Mitchell, 1 track JW1Jimmy Webb, 1 track JL1James Layne Webb, 1 track SD1Scott Donaldson, 1 track JH1Jim Hunt, 1 track PJ1Paul Jackson, 1 track RV1Robert van Leeuwen, 1 track MR1Matt Robertson, 1 track RT1Rod Temperton, 1 track JC1John Carter, 1 track GS1Geoff Stephens, 1 track LG1Liam Gallagher, 1 track on Oasis's page NG1Noel Gallagher, 1 track on Oasis's page TJ1Trevor Joe, 1 track JF1John Fortis, 1 track BG1Bridgette Grace, 1 track JM1Jeffrey Mills, 1 track AS1Anthony Srock, 1 track DG1Dave Grohl, 1 track on Nirvana's page MV1Marcos Vicente Salon, 1 track AG1Amanda Ghost, 1 track BC1Billy Childish, 1 track RR1Rajesh Roshan, 1 track SA1Sameer Anjaan, 1 track SH1Steven Hamper, 1 track MM1Manfred Mann, 1 track PT1Peter Thomas, 1 track MS1Manfred Sepse Lubowitz, 1 track CP1Cole Porter, 1 track CA1Cole Albert Porter, 1 track MT1Martina Topley-Bird, 1 track SF1Simon Fajemisin, 1 track JW1Jason Williamson, 1 track SM1Sleaford Mods, 1 track ZH1Zak H Laycock, 1 track JS1Joshua Steele, 1 track CW1Cheri Williams, 1 track DR1Dwayne Richardson, 1 track FP1Flux Pavilion, 1 track MH1Mark Hull, 1 track AB1Arthur Baker, 1 track GC1Gavin Christopher Wright, 1 track JS1Jiří Schelinger, 1 track RC1Robert Chetcuti, 1 track KC1Keith Camilleri, 1 track JD1John Du Prez, 1 track T1theOGM, 1 track E1Eaddy, 1 track JL1Jean Lebrun, 1 track LE1Lawrence Eaddy, 1 track H1Ho99o9, 1 track EC1Edward Chisholm, 1 track CB1Christopher Barbosa, 1 track LC1Leo Crabtree, 1 track AM1Andy Milonakis, 1 track AM1Andrew Milonakis, 1 track BC1Barns Courtney, 1 track BC1Barnaby Courtney, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. OB Olly Burden · TH Tim Hutton · NH Nick Halkes · JR James Rushent

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

Liam Howlett is the sole writer and producer of every Prodigy record. Keith Flint and Maxim served as studio and live vocalists while Leeroy Thornhill and Flint shaped the group's visual identity as dancers. The Fat of the Land (1997) debuted at number one in 22 countries.

Quick Facts

  • MastermindLiam Howlett writes and produces every track
  • FrontmenKeith Flint and Maxim were the vocalists and live focal points
  • Breakout albumThe Fat of the Land (1997) hit number one in 16 countries, including the US and UK
  • UK chart-toppersSeven consecutive number-one albums on the UK chart
  • Records soldAbout 25 million worldwide
  • Studio albumsSeven, from Experience (1992) to No Tourists (2018)

Creative Fingerprint

A one-writer studio act built on samples: Liam Howlett composes and produces everything, while Keith Flint and Maxim front the songs live, so the credits fill with sample and interpolation sources rather than bandmates.

The Story

British electronic group formed in Braintree, Essex by Liam Howlett in 1990. Known for merging rave and breakbeat hardcore with rock aggression, The Prodigy became one of the biggest electronic acts of the 1990s. Their confrontational sound and live energy, anchored by vocalist Keith Flint and MC Maxim, brought underground rave culture to mainstream global audiences.

Awards & Recognition

The Fat of the Land reached number one in 16 countries, including the UK and US (1997)
Seven consecutive number-one albums on the UK Albums Chart
Guinness World Records named The Fat of the Land the fastest-selling dance album in the UK (1999)

Frequently Asked Questions The Prodigy

Who writes The Prodigy's music?
Liam Howlett, the band's founder and producer, writes and produces essentially every Prodigy track. Keith Flint and Maxim were the group's vocalists and live frontmen rather than its main writers, though Flint co-wrote 'Firestarter' and both contributed more to songwriting on later albums. Because Howlett builds tracks from samples and interpolations, the credits often list the sources he sampled alongside his own name.
Who wrote 'Firestarter'?
'Firestarter' was written by Liam Howlett with vocalist Keith Flint, marking the point where Flint moved from frontman to credited songwriter. The 1996 track also interpolates The Breeders' 'S.O.S.' and samples Art of Noise and Ten City, so its credits carry several additional names. It reached number one in the UK and appears on The Fat of the Land.
What is The Prodigy's best-selling album?
The Fat of the Land (1997) is their best-selling album, with more than 10 million copies sold worldwide. It topped the charts in 16 countries, including the UK and the US, on the strength of 'Firestarter,' 'Breathe,' and 'Smack My Bitch Up.'
What happened to Keith Flint?
Keith Flint, The Prodigy's vocalist and dancer, was found dead at his home in Essex on March 4, 2019, at the age of 49. He had provided vocals on the band's final album with him, No Tourists (2018), including 'We Live Forever' and 'Champions of London.'
How many albums has The Prodigy released?
The Prodigy have released seven studio albums: Experience (1992), Music for the Jilted Generation (1994), The Fat of the Land (1997), Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (2004), Invaders Must Die (2009), The Day Is My Enemy (2015), and No Tourists (2018). Six of them reached number one in the UK.
Why do The Prodigy's songs have so many songwriters?
Liam Howlett builds tracks around samples and interpolations, and every sampled work must be credited, which is why songs like 'Firestarter' and 'Smack My Bitch Up' list long writer credits. 'Smack My Bitch Up,' for example, is built on a Kool Keith line sampled from Ultramagnetic MCs. The core composition is still Howlett's.
How many records has The Prodigy sold?
The Prodigy have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide, including over 4.7 million albums in the UK alone. The Fat of the Land accounts for more than 10 million of those sales.
Was Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned a full band album?
No. The 2004 album was effectively a Liam Howlett solo project, recorded largely without Keith Flint and Maxim. Howlett built the tracks around guest vocalists such as Juliette Lewis, Twista, and Liam Gallagher instead of the band's usual frontmen.

Sources

The Prodigy - Wikipedia The Fat of the Land - Wikipedia