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Starrah

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Starrah
Starrah in 2020
Starrah in 2020
Background information
Birth nameBrittany Talia Hazzard
Also known asStarrah
Born (1990-06-14) June 14, 1990 (age 34)
OriginDelaware, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Songwriter
  • singer
  • rapper
Years active2014–present
LabelsMad Decent

Brittany Talia Hazzard,[1] professionally known as Starrah, is an American songwriter, singer, and rapper from Delaware.[2] Best known for her songwriting work for other music industry artists, Starrah has co-written three singles that peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100: "Havana" for Camila Cabello in 2017, "Girls Like You" for Maroon 5 the following year, and "Savage Remix" for Megan Thee Stallion (featuring Beyoncé) in 2020;[3] the latter won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song.[4] In addition, she has co-written songs that have peaked within the top 20 of the chart: Rihanna's "Needed Me," Normani's "Wild Side" (featuring Cardi B), Halsey's "Now or Never," Kevin Gates' "2 Phones," Nicki Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne's "No Frauds," and Drake's "Fake Love."

Her album credits include Travis Scott's Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2017), Calvin Harris's Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 (2018)—including the top 20 single "Feels" featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, and Big Sean—Nicki Minaj's Queen (2018), and Madame X (2018) by Madonna.

As a recording artist, Starrah signed with Diplo's Mad Decent record label to release an eponymous collaborative project with the producer (titled Starrah x Diplo) in 2017. She released her debut commercial single, "How It Goes" on August 12, 2020, which preceded the release of her debut studio album, The Longest Interlude (2021).[3]

Early life and career

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Starrah grew up in Delaware as the youngest of nine siblings.[5] She has stated that she "grew up in the ghetto" and has written lyrics about police raids she experienced as a child.[5][6] Her songwriting grew from writing short stories and poems.[7] She attended Delaware State University and moved to Los Angeles after graduation to pursue a music career.[5][6] After a period of uploading music to SoundCloud and selling samples through Instagram, a manager in the industry reached out to her.[7] He connected her to more songwriters which led to Starrah writing "Be Real" by Kid Ink in 2015, which reached No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7]

In 2016, Starrah wrote several songs that became top 40 hits. "2 Phones" by Kevin Gates reached double platinum status.[8] Rihanna's single "Needed Me" reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 42 weeks on the chart.[8]

On September 22, 2017, Starrah released a joint EP with producer Diplo titled Starrah x Diplo.[9]

In April 2019, Starrah formed a partnership with Hipgnosis Songs Fund.[10][11] She worked closely with Madonna for her 2019 album Madame X, writing on six tracks.[6]

Starrah released her debut single "How It Goes" on August 12, 2020.[12][3]

Artistry

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Starrah stated that she writes lyrics first, and then finds a melody and production to fit them.[5][6] In her early career, she was sometimes turned away from studio sessions for being "too urban", but later found success with urban crossover into mainstream pop music.[5]

Personal life

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Due to a mixture of social anxiety and wishes for privacy, Starrah avoids being photographed and recognized in public.[5][6] Starrah identifies as queer.[5][13]

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • 2021: The Longest Interlude

EP

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  • Starrah x Diplo (with Diplo) (2017)

Singles

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As lead artist

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  • 2014
  • 2016
    • Starrah – "Rush / Rush (Remix)" featuring Kehlani
    • Starrah – "Dirty Diana"
  • 2017
    • Starrah and Diplo – "Imperfections"
    • Starrah and Diplo – "Swerve"
  • 2018
    • Starrah – "Codeine Cowgirl" prod. Aleksei
  • 2020
    • Starrah – "How It Goes" prod. June Nawakii
    • Starrah – "Keep Calm"
  • 2021
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Songwriting credits

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Song Year Artist(s) Album
"Be Real" 2015 Kid Ink featuring Dej Loaf Full Speed
"2 Phones" Kevin Gates Islah
"Drank" Jeremih Late Nights: The Album
"Needed Me" 2016 Rihanna Anti
"Body" Dreezy featuring Jeremih No Hard Feelings
"The Half" DJ Snake featuring Jeremih, Young Thug and Swizz Beatz Encore
"Pick Up the Phone" Travis Scott with Young Thug featuring Quavo Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
"Way Back" Travis Scott
"Lose"
"Trust Nobody" Cashmere Cat featuring Selena Gomez and Tory Lanez 9
"Fake Love" Drake More Life
"True Colors" The Weeknd Starboy
"No Favors" 2017 Big Sean featuring Eminem I Decided
"Jump Out the Window" Big Sean
"Bigger Than Me" Big Sean featuring Starrah and Flint Chozen Choir
"Regret in Your Tears" Nicki Minaj Non-album single
"No Frauds" Nicki Minaj featuring Drake and Lil Wayne Non-album single
"Ice Melts" Drake featuring Young Thug More Life
"Heatstroke" Calvin Harris featuring Young Thug, Pharrell Williams and Ariana Grande Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
"Feels" Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean
"Skrt on Me" Calvin Harris featuring Nicki Minaj
"Prayers Up" Calvin Harris featuring Travis Scott and A-Trak
"Cash Out" Calvin Harris featuring Schoolboy Q, PartyNextDoor and DRAM
"Now or Never" Halsey Hopeless Fountain Kingdom
"Infinite Stripes" Cashmere Cat featuring Ty Dolla Sign 9
"Swish Swish" Katy Perry featuring Nicki Minaj Witness
"Know No Better" Major Lazer featuring Quavo, Travis Scott and Camila Cabello Know No Better
"Don't Quit" DJ Khaled and Calvin Harris featuring Travis Scott and Jeremih Grateful
"Havana" Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug Camila
"Inside Out" Camila Cabello
"What Lovers Do" Maroon 5 featuring Sza Red Pill Blues
"Girls Like You" Maroon 5
"No I Love Yous" Era Istrefi featuring French Montana Non-album single
"Wasted Times" 2018 The Weeknd My Dear Melancholy
"Hard White" Nicki Minaj Queen
"Run & Hide"
"Nip Tuck"
"2 Lit 2 Late Interlude"
"Come See About Me"
"Thought I Knew You" Nicki Minaj featuring The Weeknd
"Checklist" Normani and Calvin Harris featuring WizKid Normani x Calvin Harris
"Future" (feat. Quavo) 2019 Madonna Madame X
"Crave" (feat. Swae Lee)
"Crazy"
"Come Alive"
"Looking for Mercy"
"I Rise"
"Find Your Way Back" Beyoncé The Lion King: The Gift
"Already" Beyoncé featuring Shatta Wale and Major Lazer
"Hate Me" Ellie Goulding featuring Juice Wrld Brightest Blue
"Back For You" Cashmere Cat Princess Catgirl
"Smile" 2020 Katy Perry Smile
"Savage Remix" Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé Good News
"Tangerine" Glass Animals Dreamland
"Are You Even Real" James Blake Non-album single
"All Due Respect" Vory featuring Starrah Vory
"Prices" Lil Uzi Vert featuring WanMor Eternal Atake
"Wild Side" 2021 Normani featuring Cardi B Dopamine
"Coming Back" James Blake featuring Sza Friends That Break Your Heart
"Paradise" CL Alpha
"Automatic Woman" H.E.R. Bruised (Soundtrack from and Inspired by the Netflix Film)
"Remedy" Maroon 5 featuring Stevie Nicks Jordi
"Usain Boo" 2022 Kodak Black Back For Everything
"Feeling Like The End" Joji Smithereens
"Self Love" 2023 Metro Boomin and Coi Leray Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (Soundtrack From And Inspired By The Motion Picture)
"Fall Back" James Blake Playing Robots Into Heaven
"Birds Calling" 2024 Kevin Gates The Ceremony
"Ammunition" Zara Larsson Venus
"1:59" Normani featuring Gunna Dopamine
"Big Boy" Normani featuring Starrah
"Tantrums" Normani featuring James Blake
"Candy Paint" Normani
"Grip"
"Little Secrets"

References

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  1. ^ "Credits / Charli XCX / Number 1 Angel". Tidal. March 10, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  2. ^ "Meet Starrah, The Hit Songwriter Who Has Her Own Summer Anthem". PigeonsandPlanes. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Zidel, Alex (August 12, 2020). "Starrah Releases Debut Single "How It Goes"". HotNewHipHop.
  4. ^ "Brittany Hazzard". GRAMMY.com. April 22, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Coscarelli, Joe (December 28, 2017). "Why Every Pop Star Wants a Piece of Starrah". The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b c d e Hockley-Smith, Smith (June 13, 2019). "How Starrah Went From Working Retail to Writing For Madonna". Billboard.
  7. ^ a b c Lyle, Ashley (April 6, 2017). "Starrah, the Hitmaker Behind Songs From Drake, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, Is Ready For the Spotlight". Billboard.
  8. ^ a b Phillips, Yoh (December 7, 2016). "Meet Starrah, the Songwriter Behind Drake, Travis & Rihanna's Biggest 2016 Hits". DJ Booth.
  9. ^ Bein, Kat (September 22, 2017). "Starrah & Diplo's New EP Is Full of Slow Rumble Sensuality". Billboard.
  10. ^ Stassen, Murray (April 23, 2019). "Hipgnosis Songs Fund Acquires Catalog From Camila Cabello Co-Writer Starrah". Music Business Worldwide.
  11. ^ Paine, Andre (April 23, 2019). "Hipgnosis acquires Starrah catalogue". Music Week.
  12. ^ Angermiller, Michele Amabile (August 11, 2020). "Hitmaker Starrah Releases Debut Single as a Solo Artist". Variety.
  13. ^ Darville, Jordan (January 18, 2018). "Starrah on homophobic rappers: "Their hooks be written by me and I'm LGBT af"". The Fader.
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