Although you may not know Makeba Riddick by name, chances are you’ve already heard her work. In her short career, the Baltimore native has already penned hits for Jennifer Lopez (“All I Have” and “Hold You Down”) Rihanna (“If It’s Loving You Want”) and Mariah Carey (“So Lonely”).

When heading into the studio with an artist, Riddick says she tries to avoid using the same cookie-cutter formulas to churn out compositions. “If I’m going in with the artist, then we’re sitting down, vibing and talking so I can kind of pick of their brain and see what they’re going through,” she says.

The method worked for Beyoncé, who teamed up with Riddick on “Déjà Vu” and “Upgrade U.” Working with the superstar was a dream come true for the BMI songwriter. “It was amazing — I was nervous,” she recalls. “I just didn’t know what to expect.”

It wouldn’t take long for her nervous jitters to subside. “From the moment we shook hands and she hugged me, she just had one of the most genuine, humble spirits. We had a ball. I looked up and three weeks had gone by,” Riddick says.

Riddick recently spent time in London, recording with European newcomer Jessie James and Australian rockers Pendulum. Even with her success behind the scenes, Riddick hasn’t completely turned her back on her singing career. “I haven’t pursued being an artist like that because I get so much joy out of writing for other people and hearing how they interpret my songs,” she shares. “I never say never, though, I just say it just hasn’t happened yet.”  –ivory m. jones

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