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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]| 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
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[20] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- 2016 songs
- Alternative hip hop songs
- Desiigner songs
- Kanye West songs
- Song recordings produced by Hudson Mohawke
- Song recordings produced by Kanye West
- Song recordings produced by Mike Dean (record producer)
- Songs written by Alison Goldfrapp
- Songs written by Cyhi the Prynce
- Songs written by Kanye West
- Songs written by Mike Dean (record producer)
- Songs written by Will Gregory