Also ironically, Brown credited himself and other members of the J.B.'s with writing the song. While Brown and some of the bandmates wrote their own parts, the Isley Brothers' name were left off of credit for "The Grunt", similar to Marva Whitney's recording of "It's My Thing", in which was a response song to "It's Your Thing" and Brown's song "My Thang" interpolating the melody from the same song.
Brown claimed credit for himself and other members of the J.B.'s writing "The Grunt", while Brown and some bandmates wrote their own parts, but the Isley Brothers' name were left off of credit for "The Grunt", similar to Marva Whitney's recording of "It's My Thing", which was a response song to "It's Your Thing" and Brown's song "My Thang" interpolating the melody from the same song.