A Look at Who's Who on Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo'

A lot of names you know, and a lot of names you don't.

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Complex Original

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It was clear in the lead up to the release of Kanye West's new album that a lot of people were involved in the making of The Life of Pablo. This is nothing new for the Chicago rapper, either, who had upwards of 40 people writing, producing, and brainstorming song ideas with him in the studio for Yeezus. And based on the notepad he frequently updated and shared on Twitter over the last few weeks, people involved ranged from Kid Cudi to Kirk Franklin.

Now that The Life of Pablo is finally out, we got our hands on the credits. It turns out that notepad was just a preview of who Kanye worked with on this album. Rick Rubin, Fonzworth Bentley, Kendrick Lamar, yes, even Drake. Check out the full credits below.

“Ultralight Beam” f/ Chance the Rapper and Kirk Franklin


Producers:

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Derek Watkins: Listed above.
  • Mike Dean: Listed above

“Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1” f/ Kid Cudi


Producers:

  • Metro Boomin: Atlanta-based producer who works frequently with Future. He was executive producer of Drake and Future's What a Time to Be Alive.
  • Mike Dean: Listed above.
  • Rick Rubin: Listed above.

Composers/Lyricists:

"Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 2” f/ Desiigner


Producers:

  • Metro Boomin: Listed above.
  • Rick Rubin: Listed above.
  • Mike Dean: Listed above.

Composers/Lyricists:

“Famous” f/ Rihanna


Producers:

  • Charlie Heat: A producer out of New Jersey who is signed to Kanye's Very G.O.O.D. Beats.
  • Havoc: Veteran rap artist best known as one-half of Mobb Deep.
  • Noah Goldstein: A producer and engineer who has worked on past projects like Yeezus, Watch the Throne, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Giampiero Scalamogna: Italian singer who co-wrote "Mi Sono Svegliato E... Ho Chiuso Gli Occhi," which is sampled on "Famous."
  • Enzo Vita: An Italian guitarist who also co-wrote "Mi Sono Svegliato E... Ho Chiuso Gli Occhi."
  • Luis Enriquez Bacalov: Italian composer who also co-wrote"Mi Sono Svegliato E... Ho Chiuso Gli Occhi."
  • Sergio Bardotti: Yep, you guessed it, another Italian artist who worked on "Mi Sono Svegliato E... Ho Chiuso Gli Occhi."
  • Jimmy Webb: A songwriter who penned several hits in the '60s and '70s. He wrote Nina Simone's "Do What You Gotta Do," a song that's sampled on "Famous."
  • Winston Riley: A Jamaican songwriter and producer who wrote Sister Nancy's "Bam Bam," which is also sampled here.
  • Derek Watkins: Listed above.

“Feedback”


Producers:

  • Plain Pat: A behind-the-scenes player who has been linked with Kanye for over a decade as a manager, A&R, and producer.
  • Mike Dean: Listed above.
  • Charlie Heat: Listed above.

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Ardalan Sarfaraz: A songwriter whose work may have been sampled here.
  • Farid Zaland: An Afghan composer. Along with Sarfaraz, it's unclear in what capacity he was involved in the making of "Feedback."

“Low Lights”


Producers:

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Sandy Rivera: A New Jersey-based producer/DJ.

“Highlights” f/ Young Thug


Producers:

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Terius Nash: Better known as The-Dream. He's worked with Kanye in the past on songs like "No Church in the Wild" and "Walking on the Moon."
  • Jeffrey Williams: Also known as Young Thug. He says he has 40 songs recorded with Kanye.
  • Mike Dean: Listed above.

“Freestyle 4” f/ Desiigner


Producers:

  • Hudson Mohawke: Notable electronic producer/DJ who is signed to Kanye West's Very G.O.O.D. Beats.
  • Mike Dean: Listed above.
  • Noah Goldstein: Listed above.

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Alison Goldfrapp: Lead vocalist of electronic duo Goldfrapp, whose song, "Human," is sampled on "Freestyle 4."
  • William Gregory: Keyboardist and producer who serves as the other half of Goldfrapp.
  • Robert Locke: Songwriter who co-wrote Goldfrapp's "Human."
  • Timothy Norfolk: Another songwriter who worked on Goldfrapp's "Human."
  • Mike Dean: Listed above.

“I Love Kanye”


Producers:

  • Kanye West: Duh.

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Kanye West: Duh part deux.

“Waves” f/ Chris Brown


Producers:

  • Anthony KilHoffer: A producer and engineer who works frequently with Kanye.
  • Charlie Heat: Listed above.
  • Hudson Mohawke: Listed above.

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Kanye West: Listed above.

“FML” f/ the Weeknd


Producers:

  • mitus: A producer who also worked on "Goodnight Gotham" off Rihanna's ANTI.
  • Metro Boomin: Listed above.
  • Noah Goldstein: Listed above.

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Lawrence Cassidy: Vocalist and bassist for Section 25, an English post-punk and electronica band. Their song, "Hit," is sampled on "FML," which he co-wrote.
  • Vincent Cassidy: Drummer for Section 25 and younger brother of Lawrence.
  • Paul Wiggin: Former member of Section 25 who also co-wrote "Hit."
  • Mike Dean: Listed above.

“Real Friends” f/ Ty Dolla $ign


Producers:

  • Boi-1da: Toronto producer who frequently works with Drake.
  • Frank Dukes: Another producer out of Toronto. He's best known for his work with Ghostface Killah, 50 Cent, and more recently on Travi$ Scott's Rodeo.
  • Havoc: Listed above. 

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Glenda "Gizzle" Proby: A songwriter who goes by the alias Lady G Da Real Deal.
  • Cydel Young: CyHi the Prynce, a member of G.O.O.D. Music who worked on Yeezus and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
  • Darren King: Drummer for the band Mutemath. King plays additional instrumentation on "Real Friends." He did the same on Travi$ Scott's "Piss on Your Grave."
  • Adam Feeney: Frank Dukes, listed above.
  • Tyrone Griffin, Jr.: Better known as Ty Dolla $ign. He also worked with Kanye on "Only One" and "FourFiveSeconds," two early records that didn't make the final cut.
  • Kejuan Mujita: Havoc, listed above.
  • Jahlil Hutchins: The main lyricist of pioneering rap group Whodini. He co-wrote their song, "Friends," which is sampled on "Real Friends."
  • Lawrence Smith: The late Larry Smith, who produced Whodini's "Friends."
  • Matthew Samuels: Boi-1da, listed above.
  • Mike Dean: Listed above.

“Wolves” f/ Frank Ocean and Caroline Shaw


Producers:

  • Sinjin Hawke: Canadian producer/DJ who has worked with the likes of Just Blaze and Gangsta Boo.
  • Cashmere Cat: An enigmatic Norwegian electronic artist who has worked with Ariana Grande, Miguel, Tinashe, and more.
  • Caroline Shaw: New Yorked-based violinist and singer who also has additional vocals on this song.
  • Mike Dean: Listed above.

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Christopher Breaux: Frank Ocean. Where's the album, bruh?
  • Elon Rutberg: A writer and director who is a part of Kanye's DONDA creative team.
  • Ryan McDermott: A songwriter and producer who is signed to G.O.O.D. Music.
  • Alan Stanley Soucy Brinsmead: Sinjin Hawke, who is listed above.
  • Magnus August Høiberg: Cashmere Cat, who is listed above.
  • Cydel Young: Listed above.
  • Mike Dean: Listed above.
  • Noah Goldstein: Listed above.

“Silver Surfer Intermission”


Producers:

  • Kanye West: Listed above.

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Kanye West: Listed above:

“30 Hours”


Producers:

  • Karriem Riggins: Veteran Detroit producer who has worked with J Dilla, Slum Village, Common, the Roots, and more.
  • Mike Dean: Listed above.

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Aubrey Graham: Yes, Drake did indeed get some work in on Kanye's new album. Fingers crossed their next collaboration involves both artists featured on the track.
  • Pharrell Williams:A legend, plain and simple.
  • Charles L. Brown: It's unclear who Brown is as he's not a behind-the-scenes dude for Kanye, nor is he a sampled artist.
  • Cornell Haynes: Better known as Nelly, a man of many hits. Elements of his song, "E.I.," are sampled on "30 Hours."
  • Jason Epperson: St. Louis producer who goes by Jay E. He made the beat for Nelly's "E.I."
  • Charles Arthur Russell: His record, "Answers Me," is sampled on "30 Hours."

“No More Parties in LA” f/ Kendrick Lamar


Producers:

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Kendrick Duckworth: Kendrick Lamar, but you can call him King Kendrick or Cornrow Kenny.
  • Dennis Coles: Ghostface Killah, whose song "Mighty Healthy" is sampled on "No More Parties in LA."
  • Highleigh Crizoe: A songwriter who worked on Ghostface's "Mighty Healthy."
  • Ronald Bean: Producer who goes by Mathematics. He's heavily affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan and he made the "Mighty Healthy" beat.
  • Larry Graham:Drake's uncle, whose song "Stand Up and Shout About Love" is sampled here.
  • Tina Graham: Larry's wife, who co-wrote "Stand Up and Shout About Love."
  • John Watson: Also known as Johnny "Guitar" Watson, his song "Give Me My Love" is sampled on "No More Parties in LA."
  • Herbert Rooney: A notable artist who produced Melvin Bliss' 1973 record, "Synthetic Substitution," which is sampled on Ghostface's "Mighty Healthy."
  • Walter Morrison: A '70s artist who goes by the name Junie. His record, "Suzie Thundertussy," is sampled here.
  • Sam Dees: A songwriter and producer who worked on Larry Graham's "Stand Up and Shout About Love."
  • Otis Jackson, Jr.: Madlib, listed above.

“Facts (Charlie Heat Version)”


Producers:

  • Charlie Heat: Listed above.
  • Metro Boomin: Listed above.
  • Southside: Listed above.

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Nayvadius D. Wilburn:Future, who gets a credit for Kanye using an interpolation of "Jumpman."
  • Nicholas Smith: A member of Father's Child who also went by Nick Smith. Their song "Dirt and Grime" is sampled on "Facts."
  • Bryan Simmons: It's unclear what role Simmons played on this song.
  • Sonny Uwakzuoke: Sonny Digital, a producer out of Atlanta who works frequently with Metro Boomin and Southside.
  • Aubrey Graham: Drake, listed above.
  • Jeffrey Williams: Young Thug, listed above.
  • Leland T. Wayne: Metro Boomin, listed above.

“Fade” f/ Post Malone and Ty Dolla $ign


Producers:

  • Charlie Handsome: A producer out of Los Angeles who works frequently with Post Malone.
  • Mike Dean: Listed above.
  • Anthony Kilhoffer: Listed above.

Composers/Lyricists:

  • Ronald Carroll: A Chicago songwriter and producer who co-wrote Barbara Tucker's "I Get Lifted," which is sampled on "Fade."
  • Barbara Tucker: Songwriter and performer on "I Get Lifted."
  • Louie Vega: Puerto Rican artist who co-wrote "I Get Lifted."
  • Larry Heard: Notable Chicago house artist who was a part of the group Fingers, Inc. He co-wrote their song, "Mystery of Love," a record sampled here.
  • Robert Owens: Another past member of Fingers, Inc. He also co-wrote "Mystery of Love."
  • Harold Matthews: Another co-writer on "I Get Lifted."
  • Austin Post:Post Malone of "White Iverson" fame.
  • Cornelius Grant: Co-writer of the Temptations "(I Know) I'm Losing You," a song that was later covered by Rare Earth. That version of the song was sampled on "Fade."
  • Norman Whitfield: Motown producer and songwriter who co-wrote the Temptations "(I Know) I'm Losing You."
  • Eddie Holland: Another songwriter who co-wrote "(I Know) I'm Losing You."
  • Tyrone Griffin, Jr.: Ty Dolla $ign, listed above.

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