Freestyle 4

"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.

"Freestyle 4"
Song by Kanye West
from the album The Life of Pablo
ReleasedFebruary 14, 2016
Recorded2015-16
GenreExperimental hip hop[1]
Length2:03
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

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 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 CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[20] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes
  1. Credited as co-producer
  2. Credited as additional producer

References
  1. Thorogood, Tom (February 16, 2016). "The Life of Pablo by Kanye West | Album Review". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  2. "Freestyle 4 (feat. Desiigner) - Kanye West Song". BBC. BBC Music. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  3. https://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/2010s-kanyes-wake
  4. Reiff, Corbin (February 15, 2016). "Here's Every Sample on Kanye West's New Album, 'The Life of Pablo'". Complex. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  5. Emmanuel, C.M. (June 17, 2016). "Every Change Kanye West Made to 'The Life of Pablo'". XXL. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  6. 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.
  7. Yoo, Noah (February 12, 2016). "Tyler, The Creator Really Likes Kanye West's "Freestyle 4"". The FADER. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  8. Lauletta, Tyler (March 6, 2016). "Kanye West Approves of Tyler, the Creator's 'Freestyle 4' Bars". Fuse. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  9. Saxelby, Ruth (May 25, 2016). "LSDXOXO Turned Kanye West's "Freestyle 4" Into A Baltimore Club Banger". The FADER. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. "Kanye West Freestyle 4 Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  13. "Top Hip-Hop Songs / R&B Songs Chart - April 23, 2016". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  14. davidbaker.tv, builtbylane.com ×. "The Life of Pablo". The Life of Pablo – Kanye West. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  15. "CHART: CLUK Update 9.04.2016 (wk14)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  16. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  17. "Kanye West Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  18. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  19. "Kanye West Chart History (On-Demand Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  20. "American single certifications – Kanye West – Freestyle 4". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 27, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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