Carter Lang is an American record producer and songwriter. He is best known for his production work on SZA's albums Ctrl (2017) and SOS (2022), as well as his contributions to Chicago's burgeoning R&B/Hip-Hop scene. Lang was nominated for several Grammy Awards for his work on releases by Post Malone, Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, Justin Bieber, and Omar Apollo, and won his first two Grammys in 2024 and 2025 for his contributions to SZA's projects.
Career Musical origins Lang, trained in classical piano and bass guitar, formed soul-influenced band "The O'My's" in 2005 with several friends in Chicago. This would lead to collaborations with local acts including Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, and Mick Jenkins.
New Orleans, return to Chicago, and SZA Lang graduated high school and parted ways with his group, moving from Chicago to New Orleans to attend the Loyola University New Orleans music business program, where he was exposed to a diverse soundscape. After graduating from the Loyola College of Music & Media and returning to Chicago four years later, Lang began producing for members of Chicago Hip-Hop collective Savemoney, with whom he grew up. Lang was subsequently introduced to recording artist SZA in 2015 through a joint studio session with mutual friend Peter CottonTale, Chance The Rapper's music director. After an initial collaboration at SZA's Lollapalooza set that year, he became a member of her touring band. Lang is credited as a writer and/or producer on 8 tracks from her 2017 debut album, including hit single "Love Galore" and lead single "Drew Barrymore", recorded alongside several other tracks at his Lake Michigan cabin. Amongst productions for other artists (including "Sunflower" for Post Malone and Swae Lee), Lang resumed work with SZA, co-producing and co-writing a majority of her 2022 sophomore album SOS, including top 10 singles “Good Days”, “I Hate U”, “Nobody Gets Me”, and “Kill Bill”, which went #1 on five separate Billboard charts including the Hot 100, and held the #1 spot for 21 total weeks on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. He would also work with rapper Doja Cat, creating Top 5 single "Kiss Me More" featuring SZA (later winning the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance), as well as promotional single "Okloser" from her deluxe album Scarlet 2 Claude.
In 2024, Lang won his first Grammy (for Best Progressive R&B Album) as a main producer on SZA album SOS. In 2025, Lang won his second Grammy Award (in the Best R&B Song category) as a writer on SZA's lead single "Saturn" from 2024 SOS reissue Lana. In 2025, Lang was recruited to co-write and co-produce a majority of Justin Bieber's seventh studio album Swag, including standout tracks "All I Can Take" and "Daisies".
Production and songwriting credits
Credits are courtesy of Discogs, Tidal, Apple Music, and AllMusic.
Executive-produced/co-written projects + Albums with ~ 50% Carter Lang production/songwriting credits or more Album Artist Year Label CtrlSZA2017 RCA Records Ivory (Marfil) DeluxeOmar Apollo2022Warner Music Group SOSSZATDE | RCA Records Lana2024 SwagJustin Bieber2025ILH Production Co. LLC | Def Jam Recordings Swag II Swag Live From Coachella (Weekend I)2026 Thank YouMike DCapitol Records
Selected songwriting credits / productions
Title Year Artist Album "Burnout" (Featuring Eryn Allen Kane) 2014 Saba ComfortZone "Wanna Be Cool"2015Donnie TrumpetSurf "Just Wait" "All 4 You" (featuring Yuna)KyleSmyle "Japanese" (featuring Twista)Alex WileyVillage Party 2: Heavens Gate "Addicted (Interlude)"Towkio.Wav Theory "Break You Off" "How Great" (featuring Jay Electronica)2016Chance the RapperColoring Book "Shades of Blue"Vic MensaThere's Alot Going On "There's Alot Going On" "Lonely" (featuring Lornie Chia)Jamila WoodsHeavn "Lately" "Holy" "Don't Matter"Isaiah RashadThe Sun's Tirade "Godbody"Joey PurpIiiDrops "Didn't I (Say I Didn't)"2017Vic MensaThe Autobiography "I Love You So Much" (featuring Chance the Rapper)DJ KhaledGrateful "Thirst"Ravyn LenaeMidnight Moonlight "Cool" (with Alex Wiley & Calez)2018Mick Jenkins "Sunflower"Post Malone & Swae LeeSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (soundtrack) & Hollywood's Bleeding "Hollywood's Bleeding"2019Post MaloneHollywood's Bleeding "Small Worlds"Mac MillerSwimming "Wires in the Way"SirChasing Summer "Easy"Camila CabelloRomance "I Got You (Always and Forever)" (featuring En Vogue, Ari Lennox & Kierra Sheard)Chance the RapperThe Big Day "The Big Day" (featuring Francis and the Lights) "Let's Go on the Run" (featuring Knox Fortune) "Zanies and Fools" (featuring Darius Scott & Nicki Minaj) "Good Days"2020SZASOS "Thin White Lies"5 Seconds of SummerCalm "Cinderella Story"A Boogie wit da HoodieArtist 2.0 "Ain't No Doubts"Rich the KidBoss Man "I Want Mo"Rich the Kid & London on da Track "Hi 5" (featuring Eryn Allen Kane, Grace Weber, Sing Harlem & Yebba)Peter CottonTaleCatch "Compromise"Knox FortuneStock Child Wonder "Change Up" "Static" "Kiss Me More" (featuring SZA)2021Doja CatPlanet Her "Void"Lil Nas XMontero "Life After Salem" "What a Life"Big Sean & Hit-BoyWhat You Expect "Feels Like"Gracie AbramsThis Is What It Feels Like "Breath Away"24kGoldnEl Dorado "All Pride Aside"Shelley FKA Dram & Summer WalkerShelley FKA Dram "In The Dark"Swae Lee & Jhené AikoShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: The Album "Come for Me" (featuring Khalid & Lucky Daye)Alicia KeysKeys "The Anonymous Ones"SZADear Evan Hansen Original Motion Picture Soundtrack "I Hate U"SOS "Love Galore" (Alt version)2022Ctrl (deluxe) "Remind Me"GiveonGive or Take "Conversation"Muni LongPublic Displays of Affection: The Album "Arya" (featuring ASAP Rocky)NigoI Know Nigo! "Happy Hurts"Lykke LiEyeye "5D" "Okloser" 2024 Doja Cat Scarlet 2 Claude "¿Cómo Así?"Kali UchisOrquídeas "Igual que un Ángel" (with Peso Pluma) "Pensamientos Intrusivos" "Mad In Love"Jennifer LopezThis Is Me... Now "Saturn"SZALana "False Starts"Zayn MalikRoom Under the Stairs "Good Books"Lola YoungThis Wasn't Meant for You Anyway "Messy" "Crush" "Boy Bye"ChloëTrouble in Paradise "Be Careful with Me"Omar ApolloGod Said No "Done with You" "While U Can" "Black Void" (with Thundercat and Eryn Allen Kane)Big SeanBetter Me Than You "Number One Girl"RoséRosie "Drinks or Coffee" "What Do I Do"SZALana "Diamond Boy (DTM)" "BMF" "Love Me 4 Me" "Crybaby" "Mad" 2025 Reneé Rapp Bite Me "I Can't Have You Around Me Anymore" "Yamaha"DijonBaby "One Thing"Lola YoungI'm Only F**king Myself "Walk All Over You" "Post Sex Clarity" "Not Like That Anymore" "Nearsight [SID]"MiguelCaos "Porcelana"RosalíaLux "Back 2 Love"2026The Kid LaroiBefore I Forget Deluxe Edition
Awards and nominations Year Category Nominated work Result 2018BMI Most-Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs"Love Galore"2020Grammy Award for Record of the Year"Sunflower" 2022Grammy Award for Album of the YearPlanet Her (Deluxe) Grammy Award for Album of the YearMontero Grammy Award for Song of the Year"Kiss Me More" Grammy Award for Best R&B Song"Good Days" BMI Most-Performed Pop Songs"Kiss Me More"BMI Most-Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs"Good Days" 2023 Soul Train Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award "Kill Bill" BMI Most-Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs "I Hate U" 2024 Grammy Award for Record of the Year "Kill Bill" Grammy Award for Song of the Year "Kill Bill" Grammy Award for Album of the YearSOS Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album BMI Most-Performed Pop Songs "Kill Bill" BMI Most-Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs "Nobody Gets Me" 2025 Grammy Award for Best R&B Song "Saturn" Asian Pop Music Award for Best Composer "Number One Girl" 2026 Grammy Award for Album of the Year Swag
References