Joelle James is an American songwriter and singer. She is best known for writing the lyric melody for Ella Mai's 2018 single "Boo'd Up", which was nominated for Song of the Year and won Best R&B Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, and is the longest charting number one R&B/Hip-Hop record for a female artist on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts since its inception in 1992.
James was discovered by American singer Chris Brown in 2011, who signed her to his eponymous record label in a joint venture with Interscope Records. James has also written songs for Muni Long, Tamar Braxton, Saweetie, Coi Leray, Justine Skye, Ari Lennox, JoJo and Coco Jones among others.
Songwriting and Production credits Credits are courtesy of Discogs, Tidal, Apple Music, and AllMusic.
+ Title Year Artist Album"All the Way Home" 2013 Tamar Braxton Love and War"Bandit" 2015 Justine Skye Emotionally Unavailable"Don't Worry""I'm Yours" (Featuring Vic Mensa)"Love O’Clock" (Featuring Phaedra) 2016 Chocolate Droppa Kevin Hart: What Now? (The Mixtape Presents Chocolate Droppa)"Boo'd Up" 2017 Ella Mai Ready (EP) & Ella Mai"Cliché" (Featuring Ari Lennox & Westside Boogie) 2019 Wale Wow... That's Crazy"Gold" 2020 JoJo Good to Know"Next Episode" Angelica Vila Deception SZN 1"Don't Say Nothin" 2022 Saweetie The Single Life"Handle My Truth""The Baddest" 2024 Muni Long Revenge"On Sight"2025Coco JonesWhy Not More
Guest appearances + List of guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name Title Year Other performer(s) Album "Leave The Club"2011Chris BrownBoy In Detention (Mixtape) "4 Seconds"2015Chris BrownBefore the Party "Scream"2016Chris BrownKevin Hart: What Now? (The Mixtape Presents Chocolate Droppa) "Good Person"2017Bone Thugs-n-HarmonyNew Waves "Messy"2020Coi LerayNow Or Never EP"Handle My Truth"2022SaweetieThe Single Life
Film/TV Sync Placements Title Year Performer(s) Album/Film "Love O'Clock" (Written by Joelle James)2016PhaedraThe Perfect Match "Scream" (Written by Joelle James)Joelle James & Chris BrownKevin Hart: What Now? (The Mixtape Presents Chocolate Droppa)"No Place I'd Rather Be" 2017Joelle JamesHeartbeats 'Beside You" (Written by Joelle James)2018Joelle JamesTraffik "Ready But Not Ready" (Written by Joelle James) "Dare You To Love Me" (Written by Joelle James) "Bad For Me" (Written by Joelle James) "Bleeding Machines" "One Day At A Time" (Written by Joelle James) "Love O'Clock" (Written by Joelle James) "Heart Of A Woman" (Written by Joelle James) "Make A Little Room" (Written by Joelle James) 2020Joelle James2 Minutes of Fame
Discography Release Date Song Title Project TtileRef June 1, 2011 "Dear Santa" Sounds of Christmas 7 Oct 14, 2016 "Scream" feat. Chris Brown, Kevin Hart What Now? Soundtrack 7 Mar 23, 2018 "No Place I'd Rather Be" Heartbeats(Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 7 Oct 8, 2018 "Bleeding Machines" (Brea Closing Scene/End Credit) Traffik(Music from the Motion Picture)Soundtrack 7 Oct 8, 2018 "Beside You" (Pool Scene) Traffik(Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack) 7 Oct 8, 2018 "Ready but Not Ready" (Girl Talk/Bathroom Scene) Traffik(Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack) 7 Oct 8, 2018 "Bad for Me" (Club Scene,Pt.2) Traffik(Music from the Motion Picture)Soundtrack 7 Oct 8, 2018 "Dare You to Love Me" (Opening Credits, Club Scene, Pt.1) Traffik(Music from the Motion Picture) Soundtrack 7 Nov 20, 2020 "2020 Vision" 2020 Vision/Where In The World(Bundle) 7 Nov 20, 2020 "Where in the World Has Love Gone?" 2020 Vision/Where In The World(Bundle) 7 Apr 23, 2021 "Heart Can't Take It" Single Release 7 May 21, 2021 "Apply Pressure" (Single Release) off the iSCREAM Scoop 1 EP 7 Aug 4, 2023 "Been That Girl" (Single Release) off the iSCREAM Scoop 1 EP 7 Nov 17, 2023 "Tomorrow" Single release 7 Mar 29, 2024 "Make a Little Room" Single release 7 May 24, 2024 "Tell Me" iSCREAM Scoop 1(EP)(Single Release) 7 Jul 24, 2024 "iSCREAM" iSCREAM Scoop 1(EP)(Single Release) 7 Aug 30, 2024 "Enough" iSCREAM Scoop 1(EP) 7 Aug 30, 2024 "iSCREAM Scoop 1" iSCREAM Scoop 1(EP) 7 Dec 12, 2024 "The Sweetest Gift Ever" (Single Release) 7 Jul 25, 2025 "Love Over Everything" iSCREAM Scoop 2(EP)(Single Release) 7 Oct 31, 2025 "iSCREAM MiCRO MOViE MUSiC" iSCREAM MiCRO MOViE(EP) 7 Oct 31, 2025 "Get It Together" iSCREAM MiCRO MOViE(EP)Soundtrack 7 Oct 31, 2025 "Got Your Back" iSCREAM MiCRO MOViE(EP)Soundtrack 7 Oct 31, 2025 "Why Did You Go?" iSCREAM MiCRO MOViE(EP)Soundtrack 7 Oct 31, 2025 "Talking to Myself" iSCREAM MiCRO MOViE(EP)Soundtrack 7 Oct 31, 2025 "Nothing at All" iSCREAM MiCRO MOViE(EP)Soundtrack 7 Oct 31, 2025 "Misunderstanding" iSCREAM MiCRO MOViE(EP)Soundtrack 7 Oct 31, 2025 "Can't Do It Baby" iSCREAM MiCRO MOViE(EP)Soundtrack 7 Nov 7, 2025 "Kiss Me for Christmas" Piano Diaries(LP)Single Release w/Toby Gad 7 Feb 6, 2026 "iSCREAM Scoop 2" iSCREAM Scoop 2(EP) 7 Feb 6, 2026 "iSCREAM'd" iSCREAM Scoop 2(EP) 7 Feb 6, 2026 "No Temporary Love" iSCREAM Scoop 2(EP) 7 Feb 6, 2026 "Heartache" iSCREAM Scoop 2(EP) 7 Feb 6, 2026 "2nd Chances" iSCREAM Scoop 2(EP) 7 Apr 24, 2026 "Journey" Single release 7June 26, 2026"My Girlies"Single release7
Awards and nominations Year Ceremony Award ResultRef 2018 Soul Train Awards The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter's Award (Boo'd Up) 2019 61st Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (Boo'd Up) Grammy Award for Song of the Year (Boo'd Up) ASCAP Pop Music Awards Most Performed Pop Songs (Boo'd Up) 2020 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Boo'd Up) 2022 ASCAP Women Behind The Music Award
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