Studio Album · No. 8
Hard II Love Songwriting Credits by Usher
Produced by Paul Epworth, Pop Wansel, The-Dream, Tricky Stewart, Metro Boomin, D'Mile, Raphael Saadiq
Holds writing credit on 14 of 15 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 14 / 15 documented
Scored across the 15 tracks with documented writers, by whether Usher carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 15 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Hard II Love is one of Usher's more author-driven records since Confessions: he co-wrote much of the album with Bryan-Michael Cox, D'Mile, and Paul Epworth, addressing his stepson's death and personal grief directly in the lyrics. The neo-soul and trap influences are filtered through Usher's own emotional lens, resulting in a more authentic authorship ratio than his dance-oriented albums of the 2010s.
Hard II Love is the eighth studio album by Usher, released in September 2016 on RCA Records and produced by Bryan-Michael Cox, Zaytoven, Young Thug, and No I.D. The album marked a return to pure R&B after the electronic experimentation of Looking 4 Myself, drawing on neo-soul and trap influences to create a more emotionally raw and personal record. Written partly in the wake of his stepson's tragic accident and subsequent death, the album carries a weight of grief and reflection that gives songs like 'Stronger' and 'Missin U' particular resonance. Hard II Love received strong critical praise for its emotional honesty and mature songwriting. The album cemented Usher's reputation as an artist willing to channel genuine personal pain into his music.
Track Listing & Credits 15 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Need U
|
Paris JonesAlbert BowmanPaul EpworthFaheem MardreRobert CallowayJuan Najera | Paris JonesAlbert BowmanPaul EpworthFaheem MardreRobert CallowayJuan Najera | Paul Epworth | Usher (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Missin U
|
Usher Raymond IVAndrew WanselAutoro WhitfieldFaheem MardreRobert CallowayWarren FelderWalter BeckerDonald Fagen | Usher Raymond IVAndrew WanselAutoro WhitfieldFaheem MardreRobert CallowayWarren FelderWalter BeckerDonald Fagen | Pop WanselToro | Usher (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
No Limit
#32
|
Usher Raymond IVBrandon HodgeChristopher PerryTheron ThomasTimothy ThomasKeith ThomasJeffrey Williams | Usher Raymond IVBrandon HodgeChristopher PerryTheron ThomasTimothy ThomasKeith ThomasJeffrey Williams | B.A.M.Rock City | Usher (Lead Vocals)Young Thug (Featured Vocals) |
| 4 |
Bump
|
Usher Raymond IVTerius NashChristopher StewartJonathan SmithLuther Campbell | Usher Raymond IVTerius NashChristopher StewartJonathan SmithLuther Campbell | The-DreamTricky Stewart | Usher (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Let Me
|
Usher Raymond IVJahron BrathwaiteDavid HughesMelvin Riley | Usher Raymond IVJahron BrathwaiteDavid HughesMelvin Riley | PartyNextDoorDavid Hughes | Usher (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Downtime
|
Usher Raymond IVMario JeffersonDarius Ginn Jr. | Usher Raymond IVMario JeffersonDarius Ginn Jr. | R!OKamo | Usher (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Crash
|
Usher Raymond IVLee StashenkoCarlos St JohnCorey Williams | Usher Raymond IVLee StashenkoCarlos St JohnCorey Williams | f a l l e nSt. John | Usher (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
Make U a Believer
|
Usher Raymond IVLeland WayneAdam FeeneyTommy Paxton-Beesley | Usher Raymond IVLeland WayneAdam FeeneyTommy Paxton-Beesley | Metro BoominFrank Dukes | Usher (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Mind of a Man
|
Usher Raymond IVDernst Emile II | Usher Raymond IVDernst Emile II | D'Mile | Usher (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
FWM
|
Usher Raymond IVDernst Emile IIParis Jones | Usher Raymond IVDernst Emile IIParis Jones | D'Mile | Usher (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
Rivals
|
Usher Raymond IVKendricke BrownCameron MurphyParis JonesCarlos St JohnNayvadius Wilburn | Usher Raymond IVKendricke BrownCameron MurphyParis JonesCarlos St JohnNayvadius Wilburn | K-MajorMurphy Kid | Usher (Lead Vocals)Future (Featured Vocals) |
| 12 |
Tell Me
|
Usher Raymond IVTrevian ChandlerGeorge JohnsonRyan TobyNazir Assad | Usher Raymond IVTrevian ChandlerGeorge JohnsonRyan TobyNazir Assad | Tre DrumzGeniuz LeagueTrack King ColeRyan Toby | Usher (Lead Vocals) |
| 13 |
Hard II Love
|
Usher Raymond IVBibi BourellyYonatan Ayal | Usher Raymond IVBibi BourellyYonatan Ayal | xSDTRK | Usher (Lead Vocals) |
| 14 |
Stronger
|
Usher Raymond IVTitus StubblefieldYonatan AyalJoseph Hill Jr.Taji AusarAndrew FridgeElley DuheZachary Williams | Usher Raymond IVTitus StubblefieldYonatan AyalJoseph Hill Jr.Taji AusarAndrew FridgeElley DuheZachary Williams | J. HillTane Runo | Usher (Lead Vocals) |
| 15 |
Champions
|
Usher Raymond IVRubén BladesRaphael SaadiqTaura Stinson | Usher Raymond IVRubén BladesRaphael SaadiqTaura Stinson | Raphael Saadiq | Usher (Lead Vocals)Rubén Blades (Featured Vocals) |