[5] Beyoncé took a wider role in the production of Dangerously in Love, co-writing a majority of the songs, choosing which ones to produce and sharing ideas on the mixing and mastering of tracks.
[8] Beyoncé began working with songwriter-producers Rich Harrison, Rodney Jerkins, Sean Garrett,[9][10] Cameron Wallace, The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, and Walter Millsap.
[14][15] The first disc I Am... was intended to show her insecurities about love,[16] and to give a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Beyoncé's life, stripped of her make-up and celebrity trappings.
[17] Inspired by her husband Jay-Z and Etta James,[18] she collaborated with several producers and songwriters – including Kenneth Edmonds, Stargate, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Rodney Jerkins, Sean Garrett, Solange, Jim Jonsin, Rico Love and Ryan Tedder – while either co-wroting or co-producing each song on the record.
[21] During the hiatus, she dedicated herself to enjoying the everyday things in life, which reignited her creativity and became a source of inspiration for her fourth studio album 4 that she described as "a labor of love".
[22][23][24] Beyoncé also drew inspiration from the work of Fela Kuti, Earth, Wind & Fire, Lionel Richie, The Jackson 5, New Edition, Florence and the Machine, Adele, and Prince.
[23][25] Wanting to bring back "the emotion and live instruments and just soul missing out of the music industry",[24] Beyoncé co-produced the entire record[26] as she worked with Diane Warren, Diplo, Ester Dean, Switch, Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Sean Garrett and Shea Taylor, among others.