Freak (Doja Cat song)

Last updated
"Freak"
Doja Cat - Freak.png
Promotional single by Doja Cat
PublishedNovember 11, 2018 (2018-11-11)
ReleasedAugust 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)
Recorded2018
Studio
  • Lineage Studios (Los Angeles, California)
  • The Sound Factory (Los Angeles, California)
[1]
Genre R&B
Length4:44
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Audio video
"Freak" on YouTube

"Freak" is a song by American rapper and singer Doja Cat released through Kemosabe Records and RCA Records on August 7, 2020. [2] Originally uploaded exclusively to SoundCloud in 2018, it was repackaged and released commercially due to popular demand by fans online. [3] [4] The single samples the 1959 song, "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" by Paul Anka. [5] A standalone promotional single, "Freak" received a limited vinyl release via Urban Outfitters in November 2020.

Contents

Background and release

Prior to its re-release, "Freak" had gained popularity on the video-sharing platform TikTok, where it had been used in over 1.2 million videos. [6] In late June 2020, Doja Cat teased multiple new songs on an Instagram Live which she stated would all be released together in an upcoming project. [7] Alongside the announcement of "Freak", Doja Cat wrote that she had released the song to hold her fans off while she works on "a new surprise." [8] Both a clean and explicit version were released digitally. [9] [10] In November 2020, a limited edition vinyl release of the song was made available exclusively through Urban Outfitters to support 11/11 Singles Day. [11]

Credits and personnel

Recording and management

Personnel

Credits adapted from "Freak" vinyl liner notes. [1]

Charts

Chart (2020)Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [12] 5
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [13] 21
US Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [14] 32
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [15] 8
US Hot R&B Songs ( Billboard ) [16] 6

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [17] Platinum70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [18] Platinum40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [19] Silver200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [20] Platinum1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
VariousNovember 11, 2018 SoundCloud Self-released [4]
August 7, 2020
 [10]
CanadaNovember 12, 2020 LP RCA [21] [11]
United States

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References

  1. 1 2 Freak (Vinyl) (Media notes). Kemosabe Records.
  2. ↑ Zidel, Alex (August 6, 2020). "Doja Cat's "Freak" Single Gets Official Release Tonight: Listen Here". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  3. ↑ Rashed, Ayesha (August 7, 2020). "Doja Cat Releases "Freak" On Digital Service Providers For Fans". Respect . ISSN   2150-8674. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "FREAK – Track by DOJA CAT". SoundCloud . November 11, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  5. ↑ Lavin, Will (August 8, 2020). "Listen to Doja Cat sample Paul Anka on doo-wop inspired 'Freak'". NME . ISSN   0028-6362 . Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  6. ↑ "♬ Freak by Doja Cat. On soundcloud on TikTok". TikTok . Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  7. ↑ Lilah, Rose (June 24, 2020). "Doja Cat Teases A Bunch Of Unreleased Music To Be Packaged Into Project". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  8. ↑ FRONK DINGBUNGUS THE 5TH [verified account] [@DojaCat] (August 6, 2020). "Here's a special treat ! FREAK will be available on all streaming services tomorrow to hold you guys off while I'm working on new surprise" (Tweet) – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ "Freak – Single by Doja Cat". Apple Music . Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Freak – Single by Doja Cat (Explicit)". Apple Music . Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  11. 1 2 Mamo, Helen (November 11, 2020). "Britney Spears Drops a Previously Unreleased Song, But There's Only One Way to Get It For Now". Billboard . Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  12. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Doja Cat Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Doja Cat Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Doja Cat Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales)". Billboard . Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Doja Cat Chart History (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  17. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Doja Cat – Freak" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  19. ↑ "British single certifications – Doja Cat – Freak". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  20. ↑ "American single certifications – Doja Cat – Freak". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Doja Cat – Freak Limited LP". Urban Outfitters . Retrieved November 12, 2020.
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