James Edward Fauntleroy II (born May 16, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and community builder from Inglewood, California. He is known for his extensive songwriting and vocal work for artists including Bruno 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, and John Mayer. A four-time Grammy Award winner, Fauntleroy is also the co-founder of educational and workforce initiatives such as Laboratory 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, including Lauren Halsey. Growing up in Inglewood, he was influenced by the sounds and culture of his surroundings, which exposed him to a wide range of R&B, gospel, and hip-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, singer Patty Lemann.
Fauntleroy began his professional songwriting career working with The Underdogs. His first major success came with âÂÂNo Airâ (2008), recorded by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown, which became an international hit and one of the best-selling singles of 2008.
Following the success of âÂÂNo Air,â Fauntleroy co-wrote several tracks for Chris BrownâÂÂs album Exclusive (2007), including âÂÂTake You Down,â âÂÂHelp Me,â and âÂÂLottery.â He also contributed to RihannaâÂÂs Rated R (2009), writing songs such as âÂÂTe Amo,â âÂÂCold Case Love,â and âÂÂPhotographs.â Around the same period, he began collaborating with Brandy, co-writing âÂÂTrueâ and âÂÂCamouflageâ for her album Human (2008).
During these years, Fauntleroy connected with peers who would become long-time collaborators, including Hit-Boy, Frank Ocean, producer Brian Kennedy, and future members of 1500 or NothinâÂÂ, 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 collective Cocaine 80s with producer No I.D. and rapper Common, 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 groupâÂÂs music was later re-released digitally, further expanding its reach.
In 2011, Fauntleroy provided vocals for five songs on Common's The Dreamer/The Believer album. He appeared on "Dreamer (feat. Maya Angelou)," "Gold," "Cloth," "Celebrate," and "Windows." He also provided vocals to Frank Ocean's 2011 song âÂÂAmerican Weddingâ 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 on Drake's "Girls Love Beyoncé," Nipsey Hussle's Crenshaw, Travis Scott's Owl Pharaoh, J. Cole's Born Sinner, and Big Sean's Hall of Fame. He also contributed writing and additional vocals to New Kids on the Block's 10 (2013) and Jay-Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail (2013). That year, Fauntleroy performed at the 2013 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 on Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience (2013) and twelve further tracks on the follow-up The 20/20 Experience â 2 of 2 (2013). In 2014, Fauntleroy won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for co-writing "Pusher Love Girl," for Justin Timberlake's highly successful third studio album The 20/20 Experience (2013). âÂÂMirrorsâ currently sits with over a billion streams on Spotify.
In 2015, Fauntleroy wrote four tracks on Rihanna's eighth studio album Anti (released in 2016) and appeared on Kendrick Lamar's album To Pimp a Butterfly, which was nominated for Album of the Year at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. RihannaâÂÂs âÂÂAntiâ Is The First Album By A Black Female Artist To Spend 200 Weeks On The Billboard 200 showing the massive reach of the project. âÂÂJames Jointâ is named after James himself.
In 2016, Fauntleroy also went on to work closely with Bruno Mars, co-writing hits such as âÂÂThatâÂÂs What I Like,â âÂÂVersace on the Floor,â and âÂÂFinesse (Remix).â Fauntleroy co-wrote seven tracks on Bruno Mars' third studio album 24K 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. FauntleroyâÂÂs collaborations also extended to Beyoncé and Jay-Z, contributing to âÂÂPart II (On the Run)â on Magna Cartaâ¦Holy Grail (2013) and âÂÂSummerâ from Everything 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 âÂÂPlease Meâ (2019), the collaboration between Cardi B and Bruno Mars, which reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. A year later, Fauntleroy co-wrote âÂÂFriendsâ for BTSâÂÂs , contributing to the albumâÂÂs global chart success.
In 2021, he contributed to An Evening with Silk Sonic, the collaborative album between Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, co-writing songs including âÂÂPut On a Smileâ and âÂÂAfter Last Nightâ (featuring Thundercat and Bootsy Collins). The album went on to win multiple Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year for âÂÂLeave the Door Open.âÂÂ
Also in that year, Fauntleroy appeared as a co-writer and featured vocalist on DJ KhaledâÂÂs âÂÂSorry Not Sorryâ alongside Nas and Jay-Z, from the album Khaled Khaled. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking FauntleroyâÂÂs contribution to another chart-topping release.
In 2022, Fauntleroy co-wrote âÂÂStay with Meâ by Calvin Harris, Justin Timberlake, Halsey, and Pharrell Williams, as well as contributed to RihannaâÂÂs âÂÂBorn Againâ from the soundtrack of . This project marked another chapter in FauntleroyâÂÂs contributions to major film soundtracks, with his most recent being âÂÂEverything Goes With Blueâ and âÂÂBig Dreamsâ from The Smurfs Movie soundtrack (2025) via Roc Nation Distribution.
In 2024, Fauntleroy co-wrote âÂÂDie with a Smileâ by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. The single debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and later reached number one in January 2025. It broke multiple streaming records, including becoming the fastest song to reach both one and two billion streams on Spotify, and was certified multi-platinum or diamond in more than a dozen countries. The track won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards and was nominated for Song of the Year.
In 2025, Fauntleroy co-wrote âÂÂI Think YouâÂÂre Specialâ on Justin BieberâÂÂs album Swag II, marking his first credited collaboration with Bieber. He also contributed to âÂÂZombieboyâ from Lady GagaâÂÂs 2025 album Mayhem, 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 collective Cocaine 80s (2011âÂÂ2013) 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 with Terrace Martin, blending progressive R&B, jazz, and electronic elements. It was nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 66th 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 with Disney, where he designed the Mickey Mouse âÂÂLeader of the Clubâ âÂÂLeader of the Clubâ Milestone Statue for D23 Gold Members, part of DisneyâÂÂs 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 all D23 Members.
Fauntleroy has also worked closely with gear and technology manufacturers who have supported his music and education efforts. His Roland partnership includes Beat Garden, a workshop series teaching individuals about beat making and music production. He has also worked with Fender, AVID, Microsoft, and Pioneer 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 involving Airbnb and Anti Social Social Club, among others.
In partnership with Goodwill Industries International, Fauntleroy has supported numerous projects and campaigns, contributing to events, messaging, and creative initiatives that blend music, design, and social impact.
FauntleroyâÂÂs community engagement began through the collective 1500 or NothinâÂÂ, which evolved into the educational venture 1500 Sound Academy (2019) in Inglewood. The academy offers courses in songwriting, production, and music business and has partnered with Roland and Gibson Gives to expand internationally to Bangkok, Beijing, and Taipei.
In 2025, Fauntleroy founded Laboratory, 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 and NFL Media.
He also supports the Stax Music Academy in Memphis and continues collaborations with Goodwill Industries International on campaigns that combine music, design, and community impact.
James Fauntleroy has won 4 awards out of 8 nominations.
|- ||2014 |"Pusher Love Girl" <small>(As a songwriter)</small> |Best R&B Song | |- ||2015 |BEYONCÃÂ <small>(featured artist)</small> |rowspan=2|Album of the Year | |- ||2016 |To Pimp a Butterfly <small>(featured artist)</small> | |- |rowspan="3"|2018 |rowspan="2"|"That's What I Like" <small>(As a songwriter)</small> |Song of the Year | |- |Best R&B Song | |- |"24K Magic" <small>(As a songwriter)</small> |Album of the Year | |- ||2024 |Nova <small>(with Terrace Martin)</small> |Best Progressive R&B Album | |-
||2025 |Die With A Smile | Song of The Year | |-
In 2023, the City of Inglewood declared January 15 as âÂÂ1500 Day,â honoring Fauntleroy and the 1500 or Nothinâ collective for their contributions to music and the arts.
Fauntleroy is widely regarded as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, 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 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.