Freestyle 4 Explained
"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
Notes and References
- Web site: Thorogood . Tom . The Life of Pablo by Kanye West Album Review . . November 27, 2018 . February 16, 2016.
- Web site: Freestyle 4 (feat. Desiigner) – Kanye West Song . . . July 4, 2018.
- Web site: 2010s: In Kanye's Wake. Tiny Mix Tapes.
- Web site: Reiff . Corbin . Here's Every Sample on Kanye West's New Album, 'The Life of Pablo' . . July 4, 2018 . February 15, 2016.
- News: Emmanuel . C.M. . Every Change Kanye West Made to 'The Life of Pablo' . . July 4, 2018 . June 17, 2016.
- Web site: Young . Alex . Tyler the Creator remixes Kanye West's "Freestyle 4" with ASAP Rocky — watch . . July 9, 2018 . March 3, 2016.
- Web site: Yoo . Noah . Tyler, The Creator Really Likes Kanye West's "Freestyle 4" . . November 27, 2018 . February 12, 2016.
- News: Lauletta . Tyler . Kanye West Approves of Tyler, the Creator's 'Freestyle 4' Bars . . November 27, 2018 . March 6, 2016.
- Web site: Saxelby . Ruth . LSDXOXO Turned Kanye West's "Freestyle 4" Into A Baltimore Club Banger . . November 27, 2018 . May 25, 2016.
- Web site: Burgess . Omar . A Version of Kanye's "Freestyle 4" With ASAP Ferg and Big Sean Leaked Online . . November 27, 2018 . August 5, 2017.
- Web site: Iqbal . Nosheen . Best albums of 2016: No 4 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West Music . The Guardian. November 27, 2018 . December 13, 2016.
- Kanye West Freestyle 4 Chart History. Billboard. November 27, 2018.
- Top Hip-Hop Songs / R&B Songs Chart – April 23, 2016. Billboard. November 27, 2018.
- Web site: The Life of Pablo. davidbaker.tv. builtbylane.com ×. The Life of Pablo – Kanye West. en-US. February 1, 2019.
- Web site: CHART: CLUK Update 9.04.2016 (wk14). Zobbel.de. September 22, 2018.
- Kanye West Chart History (On-Demand Songs). https://web.archive.org/web/20190214121118/https://www.billboard.com/music/Kanye-west/chart-history/on-demand-songs. dead. February 14, 2019. Billboard. February 13, 2019.