Before Lucky Daye made his debut in 2018 with his Grammy-nominated single “Roll Some Mo,” the singer, born David Brown, spent years working behind the scenes as a songwriter.
One of Daye’s major breakthroughs as a songwriter was with Jamie Foxx’s “She Got Her Own,” featuring Ne-Yo and Fabolous, from 2008’s Intuition.
Daye wrote Foxx’s verse for the song, which is part two of Ne-Yo’s “Miss Independent.” The former track, as well as “She Got Her Own,” also appeared on Ne-Yo’s Year of the Gentleman (2008).
While “She Got Her Own” didn’t rank as high on the Billboard Hot 100 as “Miss Independent,” which peaked at No. 7, it still made a mark with a No. 54 peak.
Since then, Daye has worked with a range of R&B legends, veterans, and upcoming acts, penning singles and beloved deep cuts.
Below are 15 songs Lucky Daye has written for other R&B artists, in order by name.
1. August Alsina feat. Nicki Minaj – “No Love (Remix)” (2014)
Written by: August Alsina, Christopher Gholson, Lucky Daye, Maurice Wade, Onika Maraj
Daye co-wrote the standard version of “No Love” from Alsina’s 2014 debut album, Testimony. The Nicki Minaj-assisted remix was the album’s sixth and final single. On “No Love,” in which Minaj declares in the beginning, “I swear this is my favorite song,” Alsina is reluctant about entering a relationship. However, he isn’t opposed to spending time popping “a couple bands” and drinking “a couple drinks” with this person. In the remix, Minaj calls his bluff, suggesting he let his guard down. In 2021, “No Love” was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA, selling over two million units.
2. B5 – “Say Yes” (2013)
Written by: Al Sherrod Lambert, Lucky Daye, Harmony Samuels
After a then-six-year hiatus, R&B group B5 made their comeback with “Say Yes,” produced by Harmony Samuels. With a more mature sound set, the devotional track hears the brother quintet professing their hearts to their respective love interests. “I promise I’ma keep your heart right in mine,” Patrick sings. “Say Yes” was the lead single from B5’s now-scrapped third album that was slated to release on Motown Records.
3. Beyoncé – “Alien Superstar” (2022)
Written by: Beyoncé, Honey Redmond, Christopher Lawrence Penny, Luke Francis Matthew Solomon, Mike Dean, Denisia “Blu June” Andrews, Brittany “@Chi_Coney” Coney, S. Carter, Lucky Daye, Dave Hamelin, Timothy Lee Mckenzie, Danielle Balbuena, Rami Yacoub, Leven Kali
UNIQUE! Daye was part of the songwriting team behind Beyoncé’s otherworldly “Alien Superstar” from her culture-shifting 2022 album, Renaissance. Daye’s contribution to the song landed him a nomination for Album of the Year at the 65th Grammy Awards. (And that wasn’t his only Album of the Year nod that year. More on that later.)
4. Ella Mai – “10,000 Hours” (2016)
Written by: Charles Hinshaw Jr., Lucky Daye, Dijon McFarlane, Ella Mai, Jordan Holt, Sam Roman
Lucky Daye has written a few songs for Ella Mai, including from her early EPs. “10,000 Hours,” from Mai’s Change EP, captures the thrill and adventure of falling in love. “Baby wind the clock up, I can’t wait / Promise this time won’t go to waste / For all we put up now I won’t let your love down,” Mai sings.
5. Ella Mai – “Own It” (2018)
Written by: Billy Moss, Ella Mai, Foxx Eastmountain, Lucky Daye, Marcos Palacios, Miykal Snoddy
A deep cut from Ella Mai’s self-titled debut album, “Own It” is a syrupy come-on that samples Adina Howard’s 1998 classic “T-Shirts & Panties.” She sings on the sultry tune: “I’ma let you play with this / Play that s**t, stay in it / Just tell me you want it.”
6. History in the Making – “Walk Away” (2015)
Written by: Lucky Daye, Dwayne Abernathy, James Smith
Short-lived R&B trio History In The Making (Jawan Harris, Dylan Allen, and Pryce Watkins), assembled by Darkchild and Mark Pitts, made their introduction with 2015’s “Walk Away.” Produced by Dem Jointz, “Walk Away” is a teen bop that hears the group singing: “Girl I really hate to see you leave / But I love it when you walk away.”
7. J. Holiday – “Make That Sound” (2009)
Written by: Adam Gibbs, Lucky Daye, Karl Antoine, Michael Chesser, Nahum Grymes, Travis Cherry
Before Daye shared his “F*****n Sound” in 2022, he penned “Make That Sound” from J. Holiday’s second album, Round 2. In “Make That Sound,” Holiday urges his partner not to hold back on her moans of pleasure. He’s willing to help drown out the shouts with the help of electronic devices. “Turn up the radio (turn up the radio baby) so you can yell as loud as you want / Turn up the TV (turn up the TV) / I don’t want nobody to hear me / Hear me while I’m makin’ you moan,” Holiday sings.
8. Joe – “Impossible” (2011)
Written by: Lucky Daye, Lamar Taylor, Darnell Dalton, Brennan Gragston, Gerald Isaac
In this gem from 2011’s The Good, The Bad, The Sexy, Joe gives his woman the ultimatum that he’s “close to throwing the towel in” on their relationship. Throughout the song, he details how he’s been doing the best he can to be a good man to her but feels unappreciated. “I know that I tell you that I am but I am not Superman,” Joe croons.
9. Keith Sweat feat. Joe – “Test Drive” (2010)
Written by: Lucky Daye, Michael Chesser, Adam Gibbs, Luke Austin
Keith Sweat and Joe are ready to take their respective women for a joyride in the bedroom on “Test Drive.” Lifted from Sweat’s album Ridin’ Solo, “Test Drive” is smooth like a freshly paved road, making it an ideal selection for sweet lovemaking.
10. Luke James – “Traveling” featuring Big K.R.I.T. (2020)
Written by: Lucky Daye, Floyd Nathaniel Hills, Candice Nelson, Jamaica Smith, Justin Lewis Scott, Kirk Franklin, Luke Boyd
Lucky Daye collaborated with fellow New Orleans native Luke James on his Grammy-nominated album to feel love/d. Daye co-wrote two tracks on the album, including the euphoric “Traveling” featuring Big K.R.I.T. Here, James desires to get lost with his lover. He doesn’t care where they go, as long as they’re together. “Take me there / Traveling / Only want to go where you can take me / Traveling / There’s so much to see on the other side of a picture,” James sings on the Danja and Guitarboy-produced gem.
11. Maeta – “Through The Night” feat. Free Nationals (2023)
Written by: Lucky Daye, Camper, Olivia Waithe, Derrus Rachel, Jose Manuel Rios, Maeta Hall, Michael “Hunnid” McGregor, Elijah Blake
Lucky Daye had a hand in Maeta’s breakout single “Through The Night” featuring the band Free Nationals. The song, which scored Maeta her first No. 1 hit on Billboard, appears on her 2023 EP, When I Hear Your Name. “Through The Night,” which closes the project, is a soul-stirring ballad that hears Maeta yearning for a romance in the bedroom until night meets day.
12. Mary J. Blige – “Good Morning Gorgeous” (2021)
Written by: D’Mile, Lucky Daye, H.E.R., Mary J. Blige, Tiara Thomas
Not only did Daye co-write two singles from Mary J. Blige’s album Strength of a Woman — “U + Me (Love Lesson)” and “Love Yourself” featuring Kanye West — he also wrote on “Good Morning Gorgeous,” the lead single from Blige’s 14th album. Over a soulful bassline punctuated with an electric guitar and cinematic strings, Blige showers herself with affirmational lyrics. “I wake up every morning and tell myself, ‘Good morning, gorgeous,’” Blige sings.
“Good Morning Gorgeous” scored three nominations at the 65th Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Best R&B Song and Best Traditional R&B Performance. The album also landed a nomination for Album of the Year, giving Daye his second nod in that category at the 65th Grammys. (As indicated above, he was also nominated for Beyoncé’s Renaissance.)
13. Michelle Williams – “Yes” (2014)
Written by: Harmony Samuels, Al Sherrod Lambert, Lucky Daye
While “Yes” is not an R&B song, the electronic-gospel song speaks to Daye’s range as a songwriter. Not only can he make unforgettable R&B jams but also uplifting anthems like track two from Michelle Williams’ album Journey To Freedom. On “Yes,” not to be confused with “Say Yes” from the same album, Williams sings, “Here am I / You can send me I’ll go / Lord just show me where I won’t run / I won’t fight you.” Daye also co-wrote “Everything,” also on Journey To Freedom.
14. Mýa – “The Truth” (2015)
Written by: Mýa, Lucky Daye
Daye worked alongside R&B veteran Mya on “The Truth” from her 2015 EP, Love Elevation Suite, released on Valentine’s Day. On the acoustic-laden track, Mýa declares her devotion to her love. “I’m so in love with you, just the way you are / I love the way you look, but even more I love your heart / Anywhere next to you is just where I belong,” she sings on the stripped-down number.
15. Usher – “Please U” (2024)
Written by: Lucky Daye, Vaughn Oliver, Anthony Watts, Earl Shuman, Isaac Fontaine Bolivar, Leon Carr, Jackson Lee Morgan
The Prince-inspired “Please U” finds Usher yearning to satisfy his woman in the bedroom with all his might. “Let’s take this good night, make it better / These sheets is dry, let’s make ’em wetter,” he croons. “Please U” appears on Usher’s ninth album, Coming Home, released Feb. 9, 2024. Prior to “Please U,” Daye co-wrote “LaLaLa” from Black Coffee’s 2021 album, Subconsciously.
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