In 2014 the Grammy-nominated rapper Iggy Azalea saw her artistic credibility drown in embarrassing waters when one of her close friends stepped forward to claim that he had penned her breakout single ‘Fancy.’
Pop audiences struggled to understand why or how the news went a long way to tarnish her already questionable public image.
Now, as UMG sibling Drake faces similar claims a ghostwriter has stepped forward to reveal just how he or she made a fortune building bops in a game where discretion isn’t always 100% guaranteed.
Read below…
The thing about ghostwriting is it’s extremely tough to get into because the lane is so small and it’s such a secret society. So there’s the trust factor that a lot of people have to have with you, there’s people not wanting you to get in. Let’s say, if this guy over here is a ghostwriter and y’all are friends, he’s probably not going to help you become a ghostwriter and get into that world, because the world is so small and if he does that, then he’s potentially taking bread out of his pocket. So it’s hard to get in, it’s very hard to get in the door. Once you’re in, you’re kinda in for a while, but getting that first crack is extremely tough.
There’s so many ways that it could be played out. You could be an artist that’s moving around, selling records, creating a buzz and then the person looking for help may hear you, reach out and come to you. Or it may be vice versa, you may have a connect to a certain artist, a certain rapper, you may have a connect to their A&R, their assistant, their management or whatever and you’re pitching them records. You’re giving them your stuff or stuff that you whipped up specifically for them. There’s so many ways that it goes about, but it really becomes a trust factor of being able to keep all that under the rug and then also being able to get the job done. Most of the time ghostwriters are either artists themselves, or aspiring artists.
You have two different types of people who are ghostwriters. One is the person who is an artist, moving around doing their thing so people are reaching out to them for help. Or on the other side is somebody who wanted to be an artist their whole life, but they haven’t cracked it yet. And a lot of times those become the best writers. To be a writer is one thing, but to actually be an artist, there’s a lot of other moving parts. There’s the flow, there’s diction, there’s the look, image, brand and some artists don’t have that… It takes a lot of moving parts to be a successful artist and if you don’t have those parts and you only have a pen, then you can sell that pen to somebody else who has all the parts but no pen. You can make money and live a life and still be able to walk to the store and not get harassed.
You’re still a ghostwriter if you’re getting credit, the difference is if it’s public knowledge. When you look at album credits and track one has five or six names on it. The artist, you know his real name, that name may be first. The second name is the producer’s name, so that name is there. Let’s say there’s a Michael Jackson sample, so you might have Michael Jackson’s name there. You might have Quincy Jones’ name there, because he produced the original Michael Jackson record. So now you got so-and-so rapper, so-and-so producer, M. Jackson from the sample, Q. Jones from the sample and then there’s a fifth name and it becomes, “Who’s that fifth name?” And that’s when people start doing research and trying to figure out who’s this fifth name on this record. And that’s when you start getting to the bottom of things. You gotta really read the credits. There’s a lot of musicians on the record, you may have 10 names, it doesn’t mean 10 people wrote the rhymes.
I say all that to say, you’re still a ghost if your name is in the credits… It’s still hidden, it’s still tucked away, that person isn’t doing interviews running around saying, “I wrote this and I wrote that.”
Why the secrecy?
When you look at R&B and you look at pop and all these other genres of music, it’s nothing to have writers. I see a lot of people arguing for different artists, saying, “Well, Michael Jackson had help with this and Mary J. Blige had help with that. And Usher had help with that.” That’s very true, the reason is because in R&B and pop it’s about so much more than what you’re saying. What you’re saying may be the last piece of the puzzle. It’s about vocally, can you hit octaves and ranges. And if it’s not dancing, it’s playing an instrument. So you take somebody like Alicia Keys, she has to be able to sing, she has to be able to play instruments, and then the writing is just the added component — and we all know Alicia Keys writes — but if she’s not writing a certain song, that’s not what she really came there for anyway. She came to sing and play the piano. Usher came to sing and dance, Mary came to sing and occasionally dance. It’s about those components.
The requirements in hip-hop are not about being a dancer, it’s not about being able to play the guitar and drums while you’re rapping, or even DJ’ing while you’re rapping. It is literally about what you’re saying, that’s it. And that’s why people have such a problem when they find out an artist that they look up to is getting help. It’s like, “Wait a minute, all you’re supposed to do is worry about what you’re saying.” I know an R&B artist may not have written their song, but I’m not coming to them for that, I’m coming because their voice is amazing… so it doesn’t matter if this guy or that guy wrote the record. With rappers, you’re only coming to them because they can rap. So if you’re not rapping, what are we doing, why am I here? And that’s the tug of war that the older fans understand from a different generation and the newer fans don’t get… Of course flow is a big part of it and cadence and different things like that. 100 percent, but it’s very different from hitting nine octaves like Mariah Carey.
Read more here and weigh in below…
You forgot to mention Beyonce , David.
Bey has nothing to do with this lol you so pressed
Right lol, I think the writer was really trying to stress their point in concerns with rappers and not R&B or pop artist lop smh.
Pressed? Girl have you forgotten how many writers it took to write Thighyonce’s last album?
Beyoncé always have her writers credited on all her albums.
Very honest.
Wow, great read. I agree because if that’s the case, then anybody can rap. All you need is a cold ass writer. I see the big picture.
Iggy looks great on that pic!
she’s look gud 99.8% of the time (imo). she just can’t rap. kii
But umm, as for Drake. I heard that Quentin Miller 10 bands and it was only one verse. The swag was similar but who knows how long QM been around. I thunk Drake has always rapped like that. But I know one things for sure, he may be passive about a lot of things but this he has to speak on at some point. I see nothing wrong with getting a verse here and there sometimes and Meek needs to stfu! I know damn well Ross has lent a verse or probably even a course to ALL HIS artist. Now as for this being true, idk cuz I’m still waiting on somebody from the YMCMB to say something to his defense unless he done fell out with eveyone. (Shrugs)
I don’t even feed into this. Anyone can claim to be a ghostwriter, they may be telling the truth, may not. I personally don’t feel that those who come forth and claim that they are ghostwriters seriously. I’m sure their’s a lot of paper work behind keeping them quiet. But I agree with everything I just read. Everyone doesn’t have what it takes to be the star, or face. I’ve met a lot of great artist but I could never see them in the light unless they faked to be someone they’re not. Most would sale their material just to be heard or put food on the table in a heartbeat.
Yea, but in Drakes case, the writer never came forth to say anything and still hasn’t said anything. Honestly, if it was me. I’d keep my mouth shut cuz this is what you sign up for. You can’t get mad cuz the song YOU wrote is a number hit for someone else. Lol, I wouldn’t be mad at all. And I don’t think QM was either until his “boy” pretty much snitched.
Lol (but its very diffrent from hitting 9 octaves like Mariah carey)
Mariah carey is truly one of the greatest singers who has ever graced the world.
At top of that she has 18 nr1s in the states and more than 250 nr1s across the world.
She has written and coproduced all of her songs. And recorded a few covers ( Without you and i be there as the most succesful).
She is a Living legend with her 250 millon sold albums. No one is near her level.
As Much as i like Diana, patti, withney, celine, aretha and many more no of them is Even on the same league as her.
So happy she is killing it in vegas, Can wait to see her on This januari (2016). I Hope u seen the amazing youtube videos. Her voice is on form now, a few bad performances one in awhile does not tak anything from her unmatched legacey.
She is truly The Queen Of Music.
I wish her many years to Come of succés.
Her annually christmas shows, new christmas movie is confirmed This year. Hope many more Suprises to come.
Love you from all of My heart now, infinty and beyond miss Mariah Carey
That was in the past known her ego woun’t permit her get a top 10!!!
Mariah has no ego. Thats why your faves speak good things about her all day.
Mariah carey latest album would have Been a greater sucess if she didnt broke her arm or left that boy nick. Mark My words Mariah will comeback stronger soon. If she has dat american idol body and vegas recentley voice will take her back to the top 10 and hopefully nr1. If she could do it 18 Times’, i bealive she Can again
gurl sit down. she’s a great songwriter, businesswoman, and etc., but ur reaching w/ that Queen of Music comment. dat iz no shade bc i like auntee Mariah too.
Yes ain’t denying that fact of she as a song writer but her diva like attitude is over her… she needs to re-invente her self and learn what music looks like nown cuz she doesn’t! Infinity was a flop and emotionally empty song!
No shade or hate, but i do truly bealive dat.
She is so talented right. I will Hunt u down lee Daniels If i dont see mariah on season 2 of empire
Lol she is the Queen of all, just like micheal Jackson is the king of all.
She is to gifted and Rich and still humble
Nicki should stick to black hair. Or darker colors. Cause the lighter ones?? No bueno. And for drake, I don’t think he’s ever said he wrote all his rhymes himself.
“So now you got so-and-so rapper, so-and-so producer, M. Jackson from the sample, Q. Jones from the sample and then there’s a fifth name and it becomes, “Who’s that fifth name?” And that’s when people start doing research and trying to figure out who’s this fifth name on this record. And that’s when you start getting to the bottom of things. You gotta really read the credits. There’s a lot of musicians on the record, you may have 10 names, it doesn’t mean 10 people wrote the rhymes.”
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I always did have problems with artists that have ghost writers, ala Nicki Minaj, Igor Azealia, Jay Z (we all know the Blueprint 3 was Kanye West’s album)…why can’t you write your own rhymes, I could respect you more then.
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Anyway, it seems these rappers want to BEY inspired, sickening but what can I say, don’t get caught, the older generation can see through the b*******.
I think Jay Z does his own, but that’s just it. He’s just a rapper, he just comes in and raps. Others come up with the hook, the beasts and whatever else. So yes, Blue Print is all Kanye because of the prodution and I’m sure Kanye came up with the hooks and melodies. The same with Watch The Thron (a great album) vs Jay Z’s last album (boring).
That moment when cash money is slowy coming to an end. Lmao…..these n***** are all actors… Now all we need is safaree to really expose yo fav since y’all still think she wrote all her lyrics..
Mariah Carey is one of the greatest female songwriters, of all time.
No sh1t.
Don’t play with me, Mark.
I don’t believe for a minute that Drake doesn’t write his own lyrics…we already know for a fact nicki doesnt write her own rhymes, the ex boyfriend that she stays stalking, wrote for her..
Drake is my boo thang…I believe weak mill aka meek mill’s just mad drake didnt promote his wack a** album
i don’t understand when men gets into their feelings like that….meek is a weak a** boy..stalking your girlfriend’s ex…talking s*** about a rapper who’s talent shits on everything youve done
and nicki is a dumb bish for leaving a man who stood by her side through thick and thin..for a wack a** little boy…
I don’t usually encourage beefs but..drake needs to come beat this moron for talking lies..I can’t say sue, because we all know meek aint got no money
where’s wayne?
I think rappers that always popping out songs ARE using GW. You’re just NOT going to keep on thinking of clever rhymes over and over again at the paste this rappers of today are going. No back in the day, a rapper fropped an album like every 2 to 3 years. Now there’s a new mixtape, album, song, remix every other week. Drake was writing for Wayne back in the Carter 3 days, they rapping style were the same. The video of Draks GW sounds JUST like drake. As in the same flow, just like SB sounds JUST LIKE Nicki, go listen to the GW and change the tones to the rapper. You can tell what songs TI wrote for Iggy, just like you could tell what songs Biggie wrote for Lil Kim.
Like beg for it, all you have to do is lower the tone to a mans voice and you hear TI from the first verse to the last.
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TI may not be Eminem, Biggie or Pac big but people have been listening to him for years, the fact that Iggy thought she could get away with not only TIs rhymes but diction, style and flow, and people wouldn’t notice is laughable
To this date. Idk wat that song is about. Catchy hook tho. People give her such hard time lol
If T.I was writing Iggys rhymes YALL would not be calling her wack first of all. He is literally one of the best rappers to come along. I mean you can just tell she writes her own s***, it’s obvious
I just watched the Nicki bit.. She called him faree how cute. But anyway everybody is jus so fake nowadays… Ghost writers? Wtf cares just keep it real! Every and I mean every single artist on earth, I’m sure somewhere a song or hook something was given to them . like even if they worked on a song allll night and even if it was fire I’m quite sure the next day that third ear was like an son u should say this or do that or whatever! Like Nicki minaj she doesn’t write her own raps but come on man. She pulled stunts. She went pop. She don’t count! Lol her flow is sick tho but anyway. Talent isn’t even a factor anymore these days. Which is y I don’t listen to or purchase music (except occasionally)
This was a great read. Very informational. Its good to know some of the other sides of the business.
Nicki writes her own bars. She isnt lil kim or foxt brown.MANY artists seen Nic writing her own s***. SB is a liar, I dont believe him at all, cause HIS songs r trash.
N lol @ ppl thinking that all this drama will affect YOUNG MONEY. Nic, Drake n Wayne r still selling so .. ?
How hard is it to believe that a rapper who has 5 albums out and 3 mixtapes could run out of inspiration for another album of 13 songs and countless collaborations?
Meek Mill thinks he’s the realest because he’s still a struggling nikka. Kendrick too. Once the money will pile up, they will run out of struggle to rap about just like the older rappers.
I don’t mind Drake using ghostwriters, if he really does. But I do mind that people keep asking him features then turn around and backstab him.
The problem I have with ghostwriter claims is that there is no proof at all. Anyone can claim to write your songs and it’s really just their word vs the artist’s word. People won’t believe Drake has a ghostwriter because they like him. They’ll believe Iggy does because they dont like her. People claim TI wrote Fancy then someone else claimed to write it. There is no consistency. Plus if TI wrote it, no one would be calling it trash because he’s a damn good rapper. People believe what they want to.
In the music business people do co-writer song for artist