James Edward Fauntleroy II (born May 16, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and community builder from Inglewood, California. He is known for his extensive songwriting and vocal work for artists includingBruno Mars,Justin Timberlake,Rihanna,Beyoncé,Lady Gaga,Travis Scott,Frank Ocean,Kendrick Lamar,SZA,Drake,J. Cole,Vince Staples,Jhené Aiko,Big Sean,Jay-Z,Chris Brown, andJohn Mayer. A four-timeGrammy Award winner, Fauntleroy is also the co-founder of educational and workforce initiatives such as Laboratory^[2] and All New, both of which focus on entrepreneurship, music education, and economic development in South Los Angeles.

James Edward Fauntleroy II was born on May 16, 1984, in Inglewood, California. He attended the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES), a magnet school attended by several future artists, includingLauren Halsey. Growing up in Inglewood, he was influenced by the sounds and culture of his surroundings, which exposed him to a wide range ofR&B,gospel, andhip-hop.

Although he originally planned to pursue a career as a visual artist and studied graphic design, Fauntleroy shifted his focus toward music after joining his school and church choirs. These early experiences nurtured his interest in songwriting and provided the foundation for his career in music. Years later, Fauntleroy learned that music had also been part of his family background, including relatives such as his aunt, singerPatty Lemann.

Fauntleroy began his professional songwriting career working withThe Underdogs. His first major success came with “No Air” (2008), recorded byJordin Sparks andChris Brown, which became an international hit and one of the best-selling singles of 2008.

Following the success of “No Air,” Fauntleroy co-wrote several tracks for Chris Brown’s albumExclusive (2007), including “Take You Down,” “Help Me,” and “Lottery.” He also contributed to Rihanna’sRated R (2009), writing songs such as “Te Amo,” “Cold Case Love,” and “Photographs.” Around the same period, he began collaborating withBrandy, co-writing “True” and “Camouflage” for her albumHuman (2008).

During these years, Fauntleroy connected with peers who would become long-time collaborators, includingHit-Boy,Frank Ocean, producerBrian Kennedy, and future members of1500 or Nothin’, laying the foundation for a number of collaborations and partnerships that extended into the next decade.

By the early 2010s, Fauntleroy had become a sought-after songwriter and vocalist across R&B, pop, and hip hop. He co-founded the alternative R&B collectiveCocaine 80s with producerNo I.D. and rapperCommon, releasing a series of EPs between 2011 and 2013 that built a cult following for their experimental blend of soul, hip hop, and electronic textures. The group’s music was later re-released digitally, further expanding its reach.

In 2011, Fauntleroy provided vocals for five songs on Common'sThe Dreamer/The Believer album. He appeared on "Dreamer (feat.Maya Angelou)," "Gold," "Cloth," "Celebrate," and "Windows." He also provided vocals toFrank Ocean's 2011 song “American Wedding” on his debut mixtape,Nostalgia, Ultra.

In 2012, he contributed vocals to Kanye West's first G.O.O.D. Music collaborative album,Cruel Summer. He appears on "Clique," "Higher," "Sin City," and "The One."

In 2013, Fauntleroy made appearances onDrake's "Girls Love Beyoncé,"Nipsey Hussle's Crenshaw,Travis Scott's Owl Pharaoh,J. Cole's Born Sinner, andBig Sean's Hall of Fame. He also contributed writing and additional vocals toNew Kids on the Block's 10 (2013) andJay-Z'sMagna Carta Holy Grail (2013). That year, Fauntleroy performed at the2013 Soul Train Music Awards. On November 15, 2013,Timbaland released "Know Bout Me," the first single from his album Textbook Timbo, featuring Jay-Z.

Most notably, Fauntleroy co-wrote every song onJustin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience (2013) and twelve further tracks on the follow-upThe 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 (2013). In 2014, Fauntleroy won the Grammy Award^[3] for Best R&B Song for co-writing "Pusher Love Girl," for Justin Timberlake's highly successful third studio albumThe 20/20 Experience (2013). “Mirrors” currently sits with over a billion streams onSpotify.

In 2015, Fauntleroy wrote four tracks onRihanna's eighth studio albumAnti (released in 2016) and appeared onKendrick Lamar's albumTo Pimp a Butterfly, which was nominated for Album of the Year at the58th Annual Grammy Awards. Rihanna’s ‘Anti’ Is The First Album By A Black Female Artist To Spend 200 Weeks On The Billboard 200^[4] showing the massive reach of the project. “James Joint” is named after James himself.

In 2016, Fauntleroy also went on to work closely withBruno Mars, co-writing hits such as “That’s What I Like,” “Versace on the Floor,” and “Finesse (Remix).” Fauntleroy co-wrote seven tracks on Bruno Mars' third studio album24K Magic.

His work during this period also included writing and vocal contributions for J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Big Sean, further cementing his reputation as a central figure in shaping contemporary R&B and pop. Fauntleroy’s collaborations also extended toBeyoncé and Jay-Z, contributing to “Part II (On the Run)” on Magna Carta…Holy Grail (2013) and “Summer” fromEverything Is Love (2018).

From 2019 onward, Fauntleroy continued to write and co-write for some of the biggest names in popular music.

He co-wrote “Please Me” (2019), the collaboration betweenCardi B and Bruno Mars, which reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.^[5] A year later, Fauntleroy co-wrote “Friends” for BTS’sMap of the Soul: 7, contributing to the album’s global chart success.

In 2021, he contributed toAn Evening with Silk Sonic, the collaborative album between Bruno Mars andAnderson .Paak, co-writing songs including “Put On a Smile” and “After Last Night” (featuring Thundercat and Bootsy Collins). The album went on to win multiple Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year^[6] for “Leave the Door Open.”

Also in that year, Fauntleroy appeared as a co-writer and featured vocalist onDJ Khaled’s “Sorry Not Sorry” alongsideNas and Jay-Z, from the album Khaled Khaled. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200,^[7] marking Fauntleroy’s contribution to another chart-topping release.

In 2022, Fauntleroy co-wrote “Stay with Me” byCalvin Harris, Justin Timberlake, Halsey, and Pharrell Williams, as well as contributed to Rihanna’s “Born Again” from the soundtrack ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever. This project marked another chapter in Fauntleroy’s contributions to major film soundtracks, with his most recent being “Everything Goes With Blue” and “Big Dreams” fromThe Smurfs Movie soundtrack (2025) via Roc Nation Distribution.

In 2024, Fauntleroy co-wrote “Die with a Smile” byLady Gaga and Bruno Mars. The single debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and later reached number one in January 2025.^[8] It broke multiple streaming records, including becoming the fastest song to reach both one and two billion streams on Spotify,^[9] and was certified multi-platinum or diamond in more than a dozen countries. The track wonBest Pop Duo/Group Performance at the67th Annual Grammy Awards and was nominated for Song of the Year.

In 2025, Fauntleroy co-wrote “I Think You’re Special” onJustin Bieber’s albumSwag II, marking his first credited collaboration with Bieber. He also contributed to “Zombieboy” from Lady Gaga’s 2025 albumMayhem, expanding his catalog to more than 210 officially credited songs on Spotify.

Beyond his work for other artists, Fauntleroy has released music under his own name and through collaborations. He co-founded the R&B collectiveCocaine 80s (2011–2013) and re-released its catalog through Platoon in 2023 under the name The 80s. He also issued String Theory Acoustic (2014), a minimalist acoustic project.

In 2023, Fauntleroy released Nova, a collaborative album withTerrace Martin, blending progressive R&B, jazz, and electronic elements. It was nominated forBest Progressive R&B Album at the66th Annual Grammy Awards (2024). In 2024, he partnered with Platoon to release"The Warmest Winter Ever", a holiday-themed project.

Outside of his work as a songwriter and recording artist, Fauntleroy has pursued an active career in design, product development, and branding.

His first major partnership came withDisney, where he designed the Mickey Mouse “Leader of the Club” “Leader of the Club” Milestone Statue for D23 Gold Members, part of Disney’s 100th anniversary (Disney100) celebration. The statue, created with Darren Romanelli (DRx), features a stylish varsity jacket with the Disney100 logo,Black Panther pin, and chrome finish. The statue was unveiled at the 2022 D23 Expo and sent to allD23 Members.^[10]

Fauntleroy has also worked closely with gear and technology manufacturers who have supported his music and education efforts. HisRoland partnership includes Beat Garden,^[11] a workshop series teaching individuals about beat making and music production. He has also worked withFender, AVID,Microsoft, andPioneer DJ in educational settings, helping provide access to instruments, software, and resources for emerging musicians.

His branding work extends into lifestyle and fashion, with collaborations involvingAirbnb andAnti Social Social Club, among others.

In partnership withGoodwill Industries International, Fauntleroy has supported numerous projects^[12] and campaigns, contributing to events, messaging, and creative initiatives that blend music, design, and social impact.^[13]

Fauntleroy’s community engagement began through the collective1500 or Nothin’, which evolved into the educational venture 1500 Sound Academy (2019)^[14] in Inglewood. The academy offers courses in songwriting, production, and music business and has partnered withRoland andGibson Gives to expand internationally to Bangkok, Beijing, and Taipei.

In 2025, Fauntleroy founded Laboratory,^[15] a workforce and economic development program centered on entrepreneurship in South Los Angeles. Laboratory operates classrooms, retail storefronts, and content production studios that connect the community with resources for emerging businesses. Its mission focuses on three pillars: educate, employ, and empower.

Alongside Laboratory, he launched All NEW, a platform creating opportunities for underrepresented creatives. Its early programming included Beat Garden workshops for foster youth hosted with Roland andNFL Media.^[16]

He also supports theStax Music Academy in Memphis and continues collaborations withGoodwill Industries International on campaigns that combine music, design, and community impact.

James Fauntleroy has won 4 awards out of 8 nominations.^[17]

• “That’s What I Like” — certified Diamond by the RIAA in the U.S.; multi-platinum in several other countries.^{[citation needed]}

• “No Air” — sold over 3.5 million copies in the U.S.; certified Platinum internationally.

• “Mirrors” and other songs co-written by Fauntleroy, including “Finesse (Remix),” “Please Me,” and “Versace on the Floor,” have achieved multi-platinum certifications and hundreds of millions of streams worldwide.

• “Die With A Smile” — co-written by Fauntleroy and performed by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, has achieved multi-platinum certifications internationally, sold over one million units in the United States, and became the fastest song in Spotify history to surpass one billion streams.

In 2023, theCity of Inglewood declared January 15 as “1500 Day,”^[18] honoring Fauntleroy and the1500 or Nothin’ collective for their contributions to music and the arts.

Fauntleroy is widely regarded as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation,^[19] helping to shape the sound of contemporary R&B and pop through collaborations with artists such as Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga. His writing is noted for blending intricate melodic structures with accessible hooks, a style that has influenced both mainstream and alternative R&B. Beyond his catalog of hits, Fauntleroy has impacted the next generation^[20] of creators through his work with educational initiatives including 1500 Sound Academy, Laboratory, and All New. His integration of music with design,3D modeling, and community programs has positioned him as a figure who bridges creative artistry with broader cultural and social influence.^[21]

• James Fauntleroy atAllMusic
• James Fauntleroy II discography atDiscogs
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• Check The Credits: Songwriter James Fauntleroy II On Writing Hits For Rihanna, Jordin Sparks, Justin Timberlake & More Life + Times

• 1984 births
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• American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
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