10 Songs You Didn't Know Warryn Campbell Produced

As a Kanye fan I’d heard Warryn Campbell’s name and I learned he was a producer when I started watching Mary Mary’s reality show. But I never really made the correlation. And while I watched him craft Mary Mary’s Grammy winning song, “Go Get It” and knew he’d worked with Death Row in the past, I had no idea that Warryn’s work was so heavily reflected in my personal musical collection.

Though he got his professional start under the tutelage of DJ Quik, Campbell began playing music at a young age. By 15 he’d mastered the drums, bass, guitar and the piano. By 16, he joined a gospel group called New Vision where he discovered his gift for musical production. Afterward he met Quik. From there he worked with Death Row and the rest is history.

Check out the songs you probably had no idea he helped to write, produce or both.

“How Deep is Your Love” – Dru Hill 

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love me some Dru Hill. I know there’s been some drama with the group members in the past, but as far as talent goes, I will always ride for them. With the exception of maybe Jodeci, no male group from the ’90’s to present day can touch them vocally. That’s just how I feel. So imagine my pleasant surprise when I learned that Warryn produced the 1998 song “How Deep Is Your Love.” You may remember it got major radio play as it ran during the ending credits of Rush Hour. Warryn not only served as a producer of the song along with Dutch and Nokio, he also shared writing credits. Campbell also helped write and produce “I’m Wondering” and “Angel” from the Enter The Dru album.

After All Is Said and Done – Beyoncé and Marc Nelson 

If you bought The Best Man soundtrack back in 1999, you know that the writing on the wall was very clear. Beyoncé was going to be a solo artist. Even back in 1999, she was working independently. She lent to her vocals to the beautiful wedding song, “After All Is Said and Done, ” written by Gordon Chambers & Phil Galdston and  produced by Campbell.  If you know the movie like the back of your hand, then you know it was played during that bittersweet wedding scene. A little fun fact about Marc Nelson, he was an original member of the group Boyz II Men but left before they released their first album to pursue his own solo career. Well… But don’t count Nelson out. He had a successful writing career, working with artists like  Toni Braxton, Brandy, Tamia, Tyrese and Jon B. He eventually went on to sing with the group AZ Yet and was signed to LaFace records.

Yeah- Yolanda Adams

Mary Mary is not the only gospel artists Warryn has worked with. He, his wife Erica and sister-in-law Tina came together to co-write the hit “Yeah” and Warryn served as the producer. The trio also worked together to pen the opening track on the album, “Time to Change.”

All I Want Is You- Kelly Price, Gerald Levert and K-Ci

I know some of y’all are still disgusted with the way Kelly Price behaved on “R&B Divas Atlanta,” but her attitude issues don’t deflect from her undeniable talent. I’ve always enjoyed Kelly’s voice and one of my favorite songs from her features R&B greats Gerald Levert and K-Ci of Jodeci. They sound impeccable together. Campbell produced this song for Price’s 2000 Mirror Mirror album. In addition, Campbell also helped to write the introductory interlude on the album, “Good Love,” “3 Strikes” and  “Can’t Run Away.”

Take You Out- Luther Vandross

In the early 2000’s Luther Vandross was trying to revamp his sound to be more current. So he solicited Warryn for what would ultimately become the single for his 2001 album, Luther Vandross. Campbell was the writer and producer for the song “Take You Out.” Words from the single were later used in Jay Z’s “Excuse Me Miss.”

Just A Friend 2002 – Mario 

For some tackling a classic like Biz Markie’s “Just A Friend’ would present some pressure. But Warryn rose to the occasion with this one. Then again, Markie was there to help write the lyrics for this remake along with Campbell, Harold Lilly and John Smith. Warryn also served as the lone producer of the 2002 debut single for the then R&B newcomer, Mario. The song peaked at 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. It was initially meant for Usher but when his album was shelved, he passed it along. And it ended up being Mario’s big break. In addition to “Just A Friend 2002,” Warryn also wrote and produced two of my favorites from Mario, “C’mon” and “Braid My Hair.” If you look at the album credits, you’ll also find that Alicia Keys provided background vocals and played instruments on his first album Mario. 

Love Changes- Jamie Foxx

Sometimes when I listen to Jamie Foxx sing, I feel like he’s playing. You know joking around. But I really loved his second studio album, (the first one most of us knew about), Unpredictable. Virtually every song was great and there was even a cover of “Love Changes” by Mother’s Finest. If you know the original, you know that the track begs for a female vocalist and Mary J. Blige came in and did her thang. The result was pure magic. It was easily one of my favorite songs on an all around solid album and it introduced a whole new generation to that classic.

We Major – Kanye

Any real deal Kanye fan will remember that in this song, “We Major,” from his Late Registration album Kanye gives his producer a shout out, saying “…and Warryn Campbell on the keys right now.” Many critics admit that the production on this album is significantly more advanced and layered than the work on College Dropout. In 2005, Rolling Stone named the album one of the greatest of all time. (Read that in your Kanye voice.) And Warryn Campbell was a part of that. Every song on this album is a gem but “We Major” always stood out to me as something extremely special. It didn’t sound like anything else I’d ever heard, even though it contains a sample from Orange Kush’s “Orange Action.” Genius for real.

Take You There- Musiq Soulchild

For all of you Musiq Soulchild fans out there, did you know that Warryn Campbell contributed heavily to his fourth studio album release, Luvanmusiq? He wrote and produced several songs on the album including “Makeyouhappy,” “Ridiculous” “TakeYouThere” and “Greatestlove.”

Ups and Downs – Snoop Dogg 

So we told you he worked for Death Row, right? So it would only be fair to include one of his songs from the label. I’m sure there will be some of you who’ll question his decision to make music for secular artists, especially someone as “worldly” as Snoop Dogg but despite his profanity, this song transitions from secular to spiritual all over an absolutely brilliant instrumental. Perhaps it gets deep at the end because Warryn shares writing credits along with Snoop and a handful of others for this one.

Quick – Jill Scott

Now we know why Jill Scott was singing at Erica and Warryn’s baby shower. The two worked together on what seems like  a very personal song from her latest album The Light of The Sun, “Quick.”

Why Do I Feel So Sad- Alicia Keys 

Just before Mario dropped his debut album and Alicia was in the studio singing background, she released her first album , Songs in A Minor. Warryn helped to write and produce one of the later songs on the album,