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"
February 14, 2016
2015–16
2:03
- Kanye West
- Mike Dean
- Cyhi the Prynce
- Sidney Royel Selby III
- Ross Matthew Birchard
- Samuel Griesemer
- Noah Goldstein
- Caroline Shaw
- Trevor Gureckis
- Alison Goldfrapp
- Robert Locke
- Timothy Norfolk
- William Gregory
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 adapted from West's official website.[14]