INK Told Beyoncé She’d Write Her Next Album. Here’s What Happened.

INK has written with some of the biggest artists in music, from Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar to Justin Bieber and Lil Nas X. But her process starts with one rule: don’t force it.

INK joins Justin Tranter to break down how Beyoncé’s “16 Carriages” began during the one session she accidentally showed up early for, what Kendrick Lamar taught her about slowing down and letting go of good ideas, and how she found the missing melody for Lil Nas X’s “STAR WALKIN’” after the song had been worked on for months.

She also shares why she writes every song as if it’s for herself, how freestyling helps her find melodies, and the collaboration lesson she wishes more creatives understood: stop trying to do everyone else’s job and leave room for people to bring their own superpower.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Why collaboration matters
1:16 INK on writing for Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar + Justin Bieber
2:29 Why INK writes every song like it’s for herself
4:56 Success, failure + how her process keeps evolving
6:30 What Kendrick Lamar taught INK about songwriting
9:41 The “INK style”: how she freestyles melodies
13:20 INK’s legendary lateness
15:54 The accidental beginning of Beyoncé’s “16 Carriages”
16:52 Telling Beyoncé, “I’m going to write your next album”
21:04 The melody she’s most proud of
22:37 Finding the missing melody for Lil Nas X’s “STAR WALKIN’”
24:16 Why great collaboration should surprise you
27:22 Becoming an artist after years of writing for others
30:42 Building her live show + preparing for Stagecoach
33:40 Gag or Drag
37:51 INK’s best advice for collaborators

Credits:

Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter
Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart
Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart
Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart
Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary
Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri
Camera Assistants: Justin Stuart + Kyle Stuart

Special thanks to Jimmy Knehans, Mark Beaven, Adellyn Polomski, Luke Burland and Bailey Katler

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