4 Pop Artists Who Wrote No. 1 Hits for Other Pop Artists Before Scoring Their Own

Before ever achieving their own level of fame, some pop stars began their careers as songwriters. They wrote for other artists allowed them to get their foot in the door and gain valuable experience in the music industry as they honed their craft and pursued their career. Some of the biggest hits in pop music have come from some of its biggest stars, penned before anyone even knew who they were.

Bebe Rexha

While singing with the pop group Black Cards, pop artist Bebe Rexha was also working as a songwriter. She had her first major hit as a co-writer on “The Monster” by Eminem and Rihanna, and her songwriting credits also include work for Selena Gomez, Nick Jonas, and more. She has released three solo albums, beginning with her debut, Expectations, in 2018, and has had success as a solo artist, especially in collaboration with others. Her biggest hit so far has been “I’m Good (Blue),” a collaboration with David Guetta.

Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams has enjoyed plenty of success in the music industry in a variety of roles, from groups like The Neptunes and N.E.R.D. to producer. But some of his earliest success came as a songwriter–his writing credits include “Hella Good” by No Doubt, “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani, “Hot In Herre” by Nelly, and more. Although he scored a huge hit in 2014 with “Happy,” he still writes and produces for other artists.

Jessie J

Jessie J topped the charts around the world with her powerhouse vocals on tracks like “Price Tag” and “Bang Bang”. But before that, she wrote hit songs for other artists. The most famous of which is Miley Cyrus’ “Party In The U.S.A”, which she wrote along with Dr. Luke and Claude Kelly. Jessie J later revealed the royalties from the song paid her rent for three years. She’s also written for such artists as Chris Brown and Little Mix.

Bruno Mars

Singer Bruno Mars’ songwriting credits span from the early 2000s until the 2020s, marking a long and successful career, and one that spans genres, with songs for everyone from rappers to pop singers. He worked as part of the songwriting and producing team known as The Smeezingtons, and some of his biggest and earliest hits as a songwriter include “Right Round” by Flo Rida and “Forget You” by Cee Lo Green. Mars released his debut album in 2010, launching his own giant career as a musician.