8701 cover art

  Studio Album · No. 3

8701 Songwriting Credits by Usher

2001 LaFace Records 15 tracks 57 min

Produced by Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, The Neptunes, Babyface  ·  Engineered by David Ashton, Brian Garten, Kevin Guarnieri, David Rideau

LaFace Records Contemporary R&B
73%
Authorship
Songwriter

Holds writing credit on 11 of 15 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 15 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 15 tracks with documented writers, by whether Usher carries a lyricist or composer credit.

73%
11 trackswritten by Usher 4 tracksoutside writers
Usher's roles on this album

Share of the 15 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist73%
Composer73%
Producer13%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

15
Tracks
15
Lyricists
11
Producers
2
No.1 Singles
8 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
2001
Released

Awards & Recognition 2

Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for U Remind Me (44th Grammy Awards, 2002)
Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for U Don't Have to Call (45th Grammy Awards, 2003)
Data Insight

8701 marks a selective shift in Usher's songwriting involvement: 'U Got It Bad' credits Usher, Jermaine Dupri, and Bryan-Michael Cox, while Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis co-wrote 'U Remind Me' without Usher's input. Pharrell Williams wrote 'U Don't Have to Call' in full for The Neptunes. Usher's authorship is concentrated on the album's most personal tracks, with the uptempo and producer-driven material largely bypassing his pen.

8701 is the third studio album by Usher, released in August 2001 on LaFace Records and produced by Jermaine Dupri, Babyface, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Lil Jon. The album marked a significant artistic leap, moving toward a more sophisticated sound that blended new jack swing with contemporary R&B and hip-hop production. 'U Remind Me' and 'U Got It Bad' both topped the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Usher Grammy Awards for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in consecutive years. The album's title refers to the date 8/7/01, a numerological reference Usher used to mark his creative rebirth. 8701 sold over four million copies in the U.S. and cemented Usher's reputation as one of the premier R&B vocalists of his generation.

Track Listing & Credits 15 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Intro-Lude 8701
Usher Raymond IV Usher Raymond IV Usher Raymond IVJimmy JamTerry Lewis Usher (Lead Vocals)
2
U Remind Me #1
Anita McCloudEdmund 'Eddie Hustle' Clement Anita McCloudEdmund 'Eddie Hustle' Clement Edmund 'Eddie Hustle' ClementJimmy JamTerry Lewis Usher (Lead Vocals)
3
I Don't Know
Pharrell WilliamsDrayton Goss Pharrell WilliamsDrayton Goss The Neptunes Usher (Lead Vocals)P. Diddy (Featured Vocals)
4
Twork It Out
Usher Raymond IVJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Usher Raymond IVJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Jimmy JamTerry Lewis Usher (Lead Vocals)
5
U Got It Bad #1
Usher Raymond IVJermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Usher Raymond IVJermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Jermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Usher (Lead Vocals)
6
If I Want To
Usher Raymond IVKenneth EdmondsJermaine DupriBryan-Michael CoxChristopher WallaceOsten HarveyRoger Troutman Usher Raymond IVKenneth EdmondsJermaine DupriBryan-Michael CoxChristopher WallaceOsten HarveyRoger Troutman BabyfaceJermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Usher (Lead Vocals)
7
I Can't Let U Go
Usher Raymond IVJermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Usher Raymond IVJermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Jermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Usher (Lead Vocals)
8
U Don't Have to Call #3
Pharrell Williams Pharrell Williams The Neptunes Usher (Lead Vocals)
9
Without U (Interlude)
Usher Raymond IV Usher Raymond IV Usher Raymond IVJimmy JamTerry Lewis Usher (Lead Vocals)
10
Can U Help Me
Usher Raymond IVJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Usher Raymond IVJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Jimmy JamTerry Lewis Usher (Lead Vocals)
11
How Do I Say
Usher Raymond IVJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Usher Raymond IVJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Jimmy JamTerry LewisJames 'Big Jim' Wright Usher (Lead Vocals)
12
Hottest Thing
Michael Flowers Michael Flowers Mike City Usher (Lead Vocals)
13
Good Ol' Ghetto
Usher Raymond IVJermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Usher Raymond IVJermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Jermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Usher (Lead Vocals)
14
U-Turn
Usher Raymond IVJermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Usher Raymond IVJermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Jermaine DupriBryan-Michael Cox Usher (Lead Vocals)
15
U R the One
Usher Raymond IVR.L. Huggar Usher Raymond IVR.L. Huggar Soulshock & Karlin Usher (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 23 contributors

UR
Usher Raymond IV
Writer · Producer
On this album11 written
BC
Bryan-Michael Cox
Writer · Producer
On this album5 written
JD
Jermaine Dupri
Writer · Producer
On this album5 written
TL
Terry Lewis
Writer · Producer
On this album3 written
JH
James Harris III
Writer
On this album3 written
PW
Pharrell Williams
Writer
On this album2 written
E'
Edmund 'Eddie Hustle' Clement
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
AM
Anita McCloud
Writer
On this album1 written
CW
Christopher Wallace
Writer
On this album1 written
DG
Drayton Goss
Writer
On this album1 written
KE
Kenneth Edmonds
Writer
On this album1 written
MF
Michael Flowers
Writer
On this album1 written

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A
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Frequently Asked Questions 8701

When did Usher release 8701?
Usher released 8701 on August 7, 2001 on LaFace Records. The album's title references that date as a numerological marker of Usher's creative rebirth after a gap between studio albums.
What does the title 8701 mean?
8701 refers to the date August 7, 2001 (8/7/01), which Usher designated as a symbolic fresh start for his career. The title reflects his intention to reintroduce himself as a mature R&B artist.
Who wrote U Got It Bad by Usher?
"U Got It Bad" was co-written by Usher, Jermaine Dupri, and Bryan-Michael Cox, making it one of the more author-driven singles on 8701. The track spent twelve weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who wrote U Remind Me on 8701?
"U Remind Me" was written by Anita McCloud and Edmund Clement and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Usher did not hold a co-writing credit on that track, though it earned him the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
How many Grammy Awards did Usher win for 8701?
Usher won two Grammy Awards associated with 8701: Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "U Remind Me" at the 44th Grammy Awards in 2002, and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "U Don't Have to Call" at the 45th Grammy Awards in 2003.
Who produced U Don't Have to Call on 8701?
"U Don't Have to Call" was written and produced entirely by Pharrell Williams for The Neptunes. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Usher his second consecutive Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

Sources

Wikipedia: 8701 (album) MusicBrainz: 8701 (release group) Cover Art Archive: 8701 Cover Art Archive: 8701 by Usher