Manuel Seal obit

Manuel Seal, Producer of Mariah Carey’s ‘We Belong Together,’ Dead at 66

Jermaine Dupri paid tribute to the So So Def songwriter-producer, who helped craft hits for Usher, TLC, Aretha Franklin, Destiny's Child, and more 

He was not on the list.

Manuel Seal, award-winning songwriter and producer of hits for Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Usher, and Aretha Franklin, has passed away at 66. The cause of death has not been publicly revealed.

On Sunday (Sept. 27), Seal’s longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri shared news of the So So Def hitmaker’s death on Instagram, crediting Seal as the co-creator of the label’s iconic sound.

“Today I lost the first person to really understand me musically,” Dupri, 54, wrote in his tribute to Seal. “He had an answer for every one of my ideas; he had a spirit and a presence that I never wanted to leave me.”

The “Money Ain’t a Thang” rapper continued, noting Seal’s impact on his creative approach and touching on the depth of their relationship beyond music.

“I used to try to do as much as I could when he was there because the one thing he taught me was that the more you know, the better it’s gonna sound. Every time we spoke, we always ended the conversation by saying I love you, so at least I know he knew, and he knows. I’m so hurt, but I also thank God for blessing me with the experience. May your soul rest in peace, Big E.”

A native of Chicago, IL, Seal played an integral role in creating So So Def’s sonic blueprint, lending his skills as a musician, songwriter, and producer to many of the label’s biggest releases and collaborations.

Earning multiple writing credits on TLC‘s multi-platinum sophomore album CrazySexyCool, Seal also appeared on the hook of rapper Da Brat’s chart-topping 1994 single “Funkdafied,” and co-wrote Mariah Carey’s 1995 hit, “Always Be My Baby.”

He went on to compose several songs on Usher’s breakout sophomore album My Way, including its title track and the hit singles “You Make Me Wanna” and “Nice and Slow,” and worked on albums by Aretha Franklin, Destiny’s Child, Xscape, Tyrese, Alicia Keys, Gerald Levert, Marc Dorsey, and more.

Earning thirteen Grammy Award nominations throughout his career, Seal won the Best R&B Song award for his work on Mariah Carey’s record-breaking smash “We Belong Together” in 2006. Released as a single from Carey’s tenth studio album The Emancipation of Mimi, “We Belong Together” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for fourteen non-consecutive weeks, tying it as the second longest-running Number 1 song in the chart’s history at the time of its release.