Freestyle 4
"Freestyle 4" | |
---|---|
Song by Kanye West | |
from the album The Life of Pablo | |
Released | February 14, 2016 |
Recorded | 2015–16 |
Genre | Experimental hip hop[1] |
Length | 2:03 |
Label |
|
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) |
|
"Freestyle 4" is a song by American hip-hop artist Kanye West that features vocals from rapper Desiigner, which is from West's seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo (2016).[2][3] It was remixed by Tyler, the Creator in March 2016.
Composition
The track samples the beginning of 2001 song "Human" by Goldfrapp and is heavily composed around the sample.[4]
By the time that all of the changes had been made to The Life of Pablo in June 2016, a different instrumental popped up at the 45-second mark and more synths were added.[5]
Remixes
On March 3, 2016, Odd Future rapper Tyler, the Creator released a remix of "Freestyle 4" titled "What the Fuck Right Now", which featured ASAP Rocky.[6] Shortly before releasing his remix, Tyler had shown that he was a fan of the song.[7] West tweeted out his approval of the remix three days after it was released.[8]
LSDXOXO remixed the original on May 25, 2016, flipping it to being more suitable for the clubs.[9] A remix of the song by Kanye West featuring ASAP Ferg and Big Sean was subject to an online leak on August 5, 2017.[10]
Critical reception
Tom Thorogood of The Line of Best Fit viewed "Freestyle 4" as "[picking] up where Daft Punk left off on Yeezus with Kanye rapping over electro beats and Hitchcock strings".[1] Its "dense claustrophobia" was pointed out in praise by Nosheen Iqbal of The Guardian.[11]
Commercial performance
Upon the release of The Life of Pablo in February 2016, the track debuted at number 9 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100.[12] Within the same week, it reached number 43 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[13]
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from West's official website.[14]
- Production – Kanye West
- Co-production – Hudson Mohawke, Noah Goldstein for Ark Productions, Inc & Mike Dean #MWA for Dean's List Productions
- Additional production – DJDS, Caroline Shaw & Trevor Gureckis
- Engineering – Noah Goldstein, Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer, Mike Dean & Tom Kahre
- Mix – Manny Marroquin at Larrabee Studios, North Hollywood, CA
- Mix assisted – Chris Galland, Ike Schultz & Jeff Jackson
- Vocals – Desiigner
Charts
Chart (2016) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[15] | 132 |
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[16] | 38 |
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[17] | 9 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] | 43 |
US On-Demand Songs (Billboard)[19] | 40 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[20] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Notes
- ^ a b c Credited as co-producer
- ^ a b c Credited as additional producer
References
- ^ a b Thorogood, Tom (February 16, 2016). "The Life of Pablo by Kanye West | Album Review". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
- ^ "Freestyle 4 (feat. Desiigner) – Kanye West Song". BBC. BBC Music. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "2010s: In Kanye's Wake". Tiny Mix Tapes.
- ^ Reiff, Corbin (February 15, 2016). "Here's Every Sample on Kanye West's New Album, 'The Life of Pablo'". Complex. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Emmanuel, C.M. (June 17, 2016). "Every Change Kanye West Made to 'The Life of Pablo'". XXL. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Young, Alex (March 3, 2016). "Tyler the Creator remixes Kanye West's "Freestyle 4" with ASAP Rocky — watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- ^ Yoo, Noah (February 12, 2016). "Tyler, The Creator Really Likes Kanye West's "Freestyle 4"". The FADER. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
- ^ Lauletta, Tyler (March 6, 2016). "Kanye West Approves of Tyler, the Creator's 'Freestyle 4' Bars". Fuse. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
- ^ Saxelby, Ruth (May 25, 2016). "LSDXOXO Turned Kanye West's "Freestyle 4" Into A Baltimore Club Banger". The FADER. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
- ^ Burgess, Omar (August 5, 2017). "A Version of Kanye's "Freestyle 4" With ASAP Ferg and Big Sean Leaked Online". Complex. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
- ^ Iqbal, Nosheen (December 13, 2016). "Best albums of 2016: No 4 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
- ^ "Kanye West Freestyle 4 Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
- ^ "Top Hip-Hop Songs / R&B Songs Chart – April 23, 2016". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
- ^ davidbaker.tv, builtbylane.com ×. "The Life of Pablo". The Life of Pablo – Kanye West. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- ^ "CHART: CLUK Update 9.04.2016 (wk14)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "Kanye West Chart History (On-Demand Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
- ^ "American single certifications – Kanye West – Freestyle 4". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- v
- t
- e
- "We Don't Care"
- "All Falls Down"
- "Spaceship"
- "Jesus Walks"
- "Never Let Me Down"
- "The New Workout Plan"
- "Slow Jamz"
- "Two Words"
- "Through the Wire"
- "Heard 'Em Say"
- "Touch the Sky"
- "Gold Digger"
- "Drive Slow"
- "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" (remix)
- "Hey Mama"
- "Gone"
- "Diamonds from Sierra Leone"
- "Good Morning"
- "Champion"
- "Stronger"
- "I Wonder"
- "Good Life"
- "Can't Tell Me Nothing"
- "Flashing Lights"
- "Everything I Am"
- "Homecoming"
- "Big Brother"
- "Say You Will"
- "Welcome to Heartbreak"
- "Heartless"
- "Amazing"
- "Love Lockdown"
- "Paranoid"
- "RoboCop"
- "Street Lights"
- "See You in My Nightmares"
- "Coldest Winter"
Twisted Fantasy
- "Dark Fantasy"
- "Gorgeous"
- "Power"
- "All of the Lights"
- "Monster"
- "So Appalled"
- "Devil in a New Dress"
- "Runaway"
- "Hell of a Life"
- "Blame Game"
- "Lost in the World"
- "See Me Now"
- "No Church in the Wild"
- "Lift Off"
- "Niggas in Paris"
- "Otis"
- "Gotta Have It"
- "Welcome to the Jungle"
- "Who Gon Stop Me"
- "Murder to Excellence"
- "Made in America"
- "Why I Love You"
Deluxe |
---|
- "To the World"
- "Clique"
- "Mercy"
- "New God Flow"
- "Cold"
- "Don't Like.1"
- "On Sight"
- "Black Skinhead"
- "I Am a God"
- "New Slaves"
- "Hold My Liquor"
- "I'm in It"
- "Blood on the Leaves"
- "Guilt Trip"
- "Send It Up"
- "Bound 2"
- "Ultralight Beam"
- "Father Stretch My Hands"
- "Famous"
- "Feedback"
- "Low Lights"
- "Highlights"
- "Freestyle 4"
- "I Love Kanye"
- "Waves"
- "FML"
- "Real Friends"
- "Wolves"
- "Frank's Track"
- "30 Hours"
- "No More Parties in LA"
- "Facts (Charlie Heat Version)"
- "Fade"
- "Saint Pablo"
- "I Thought About Killing You"
- "Yikes"
- "All Mine"
- "Wouldn't Leave"
- "No Mistakes"
- "Ghost Town"
- "Violent Crimes"
- "Feel the Love"
- "Fire"
- "4th Dimension"
- "Freeee (Ghost Town, Pt. 2)"
- "Reborn"
- "Kids See Ghosts"
- "Cudi Montage"
- "Selah"
- "Follow God"
- "Closed on Sunday"
- "On God"
- "Everything We Need"
- "Water"
- "God Is"
- "Hands On"
- "Use This Gospel"
- "Jesus Is Lord"
- "Donda Chant"
- "Jail"
- "God Breathed"
- "Off the Grid"
- "Hurricane"
- "Praise God"
- "Jonah"
- "Ok Ok"
- "Junya"
- "Believe What I Say"
- "24"
- "Remote Control"
- "Moon"
- "Keep My Spirit Alive"
- "New Again"
- "Tell the Vision"
- "Pure Souls
- "Come to Life"
- "No Child Left Behind"
- "Jail pt 2"
- "Ok Ok pt 2"
- "Junya pt 2"
Deluxe |
|
---|
- "City of Gods"
- "Eazy"
- "True Love"
- "Stars"
- "Talking / Once Again"
- "Back to Me"
- "Hoodrat"
- "Burn"
- "Fuk Sumn"
- "Vultures"
- "Carnival"
- "Good (Don't Die)"
- "Slide"
- "Field Trip"
- "Promotion"
- "530"
- "River"
- "Can U Be"
- "Impossible"
- "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)"
- "Forever"
- "We Are the World 25 for Haiti"
- "Christmas in Harlem"
- "Only One"
- "FourFiveSeconds"
- "All Day"
- "Facts"
- "Champions"
- "Lift Yourself"
- "Ye vs. the People"
- "XTCY"
- "I Love It"
- "Wash Us in the Blood"
- "Nah Nah Nah"
- "No Face"
- "This Way"
- "Talk About Our Love"
- "The Food"
- "I Changed My Mind"
- "Down and Out"
- "The Corner"
- "Go!"
- "Number One"
- "Extravaganza"
- "Brand New"
- "Grammy Family"
- "Number One"
- "Wouldn't Get Far"
- "I Still Love H.E.R."
- "Pro Nails"
- "Finer Things"
- "American Boy"
- "Put On"
- "Stay Up! (Viagra)"
- "Swagga Like Us"
- "Go Hard"
- "Knock You Down"
- "Kinda Like a Big Deal"
- "Walkin' on the Moon"
- "Supernova"
- "Maybach Music 2"
- "Make Her Say"
- "Run This Town"
- "Whatever U Want"
- "Live Fast, Die Young"
- "Erase Me"
- "Deuces" (remix)
- "Start It Up"
- "Hurricane 2.0"
- "E.T."
- "Marvin & Chardonnay"
- "Pride N Joy"
- "I Wish You Would"
- "Birthday Song"
- "Thank You"
- "I Won"
- "Blessings"
- "U Mad"
- "One Man Can Change the World"
- "Pop Style"
- "Figure It Out"
- "That Part"
- "Friends"
- "Ballin"
- "Castro"
- "Feel Me"
- "Love Yourself"
- "Glow"
- "Watch"
- "Take Me to the Light"
- "Ego Death"
- "Keep It Burnin"
- "Hot Shit"
- "Champions"
- "Us Placers"
- "Beat Goes On"
- "Billie Jean 2008"
- "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)" (remix)
- "Therapy"
- "Ego" (remix)
- "Blazin'"
- "Welcome to the World"
- "Sanctified"
- "Drunk in Love" (remix)
- "All Your Fault"
- "Smuckers"
- "Jukebox Joints"
- "All We Got"
- "Pussy Print"
- "Cops Shot the Kid"
- "Kanga"
- "Mama"
- "One Minute"
- "Mixed Personalities"
- "Go2DaMoon"
- "Brothers"
- "LA Monster"
- "New Body"
Category