Check the Credits: Blac Elvis Tells the Stories Behind Writing Hits for Beyonce, T.I., Rick Ross & More

“Lil Freak” – Usher feat. Nicki Minaj

“Ester Dean wrote that. I had did that beat like a year before Usher heard it. Actually Cry$tyle had written another record to it for Rihanna. Rihanna walked around with that record for a couple months. I’m thinking I had Rihanna’s first or second single, but nothing ever happened. Ester ended up writing “Lil Freak” to it and she was in the studio with Usher and played it for him and he cut it. We got a Grammy for that shit as well. Stevie Wonder at first wouldn’t clear it, because of what Usher was talking about. He gave us a little trouble at first. [laughs]”