Free Yourself (Fantasia song)

Last updated
"Free Yourself"
Freeyourselfsingle.jpg
Single by Fantasia featuring Missy Elliott
from the album Free Yourself
ReleasedApril 4, 2005
Genre
Length4:18
Label J
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Missy Elliott
Fantasia singles chronology
"Baby Mama"
(2004)
"Free Yourself"
(2005)
"Ain't Gon' Beg You"
(2005)
Missy Elliott singles chronology
"Lose Control"
(2005)
"Free Yourself"
(2005)
"Teary Eyed"
(2005)

"Free Yourself" is a song recorded by American singer Fantasia for her debut studio album of the same title (2004). It features a guest appearance from rapper Missy Elliott, who wrote the song alongside Craig Brockman and Nisan Stewart, and produced it with Brockman. The song was released as the fourth single from Free Yourself on April 4, 2005, by J Records.

Contents

A moderate commercial success, "Free Yourself" peaked at number 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number three on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Critically acclaimed, it was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards (2006).

Commercial performance

"Free Yourself" was released as the fourth single from Fantasia's debut album Free Yourself on June 1, 2005 in United States. It peaked at number forty-one on US Billboard Hot 100, number three on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number one the US Adult R&B Airplay chart. It received two Grammy nominations in 2006: for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. It won an ASCAP award (ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Award) for Most Performed Song in 2006.

Music video

The music video for "Free Yourself" was released in 2005 to promote the song, and, as of February 2023, it has over sixty-four million views. [1]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Free Yourself . [2]

Charts

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryResult
2006 Grammy Award Best R&B Song Nominated
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Nominated
ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Award Most Performed SongWon

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Free Yourself"
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesApril 4, 2005 Urban adult contemporary radio J
[6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missy Elliott</span> American rapper (born 1971)

Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott, also known as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She began her musical career as a member of the R&B girl group Sista during the 1990s, who were part of the larger musical collective Swing Mob—led by DeVante Swing of Jodeci. The former group's commercially unsuccessful debut album, 4 All the Sistas Around da World (1994), was released by Elektra Records and met with positive critical reception. She collaborated with album's producer and Swing Mob cohort Timbaland to work in songwriting and production for other acts, yielding commercially successful releases for 702, Aaliyah, SWV, and Total.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tweet (singer)</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1971)

Charlene Keys, better known by the stage name Tweet, is an American singer-songwriter.

<i>Free Yourself</i> (Fantasia album) 2004 studio album by Fantasia

Free Yourself is the debut studio album by American singer Fantasia. It was released on November 23, 2004, by J Records and 19 Recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1, 2 Step</span> 2004 single by Ciara

"1, 2 Step" is a song by American singer Ciara featuring American rapper Missy Elliott. Written alongside producer Jazze Pha, it was released on November 1, 2004, as the second single of the former's debut studio album, Goodies. It peaked within the top 10 of the charts in several countries worldwide, including Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for seven weeks. The song is heavily inspired by 1980s electro music production. Throughout the song, Ciara gives a description of how the song's beat feels as she exhorts party-goers to dance to the music. "1, 2 Step" was ranked 59th on Billboard's Top 100 Songs of the 2000s.

<i>Under Construction</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Missy Elliott

Under Construction is the fourth studio album by American rapper Missy Elliott, released by The Goldmind Inc. and Elektra Records on November 12, 2002, in the United States. The album was primarily produced by Timbaland, with additional production by Craig Brockman, Nisan Stewart, Errol "Poppi" McCalla and Elliott herself.

<i>This Is Not a Test!</i> 2003 studio album by Missy Elliott

This Is Not a Test! is the fifth studio album by American rapper Missy Elliott, released by The Goldmind Inc. and Elektra Records on November 25, 2003, in the United States. It was primarily produced by Timbaland, with additional production from Craig Brockman, Nisan Stewart and Elliott herself.

<i>The Cookbook</i> 2005 studio album by Missy Elliott

The Cookbook is the sixth studio album by American rapper Missy Elliott, released on July 4, 2005, by The Goldmind Inc. and Atlantic Records in Germany and the United Kingdom, and on July 5 in the United States and Japan. To date, it is her final long play studio effort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lose Control (Missy Elliott song)</span> 2005 single by Missy Elliott

"Lose Control" is a song by American rapper Missy Elliott featuring American singer Ciara and American hip hop artist Fatman Scoop. It was released as the lead single from Elliott's sixth studio album, The Cookbook, on May 23, 2005. It contains samples from Hot Streak's "Body Work" and Cybotron's "Clear". The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, number two in New Zealand, and in the top thirty in various countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missy Elliott discography</span>

The discography of American rapper Missy Elliott consists of six studio albums, three compilation albums, one extended play, seventy-four singles and twenty solo music videos.

<i>Its Me Again</i> 2005 studio album by Tweet

It's Me Again is the second studio album by American singer Tweet. It was released on March 21, 2005, by The Goldmind Inc. and Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 55,000 copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Truth Is (Fantasia song)</span> 2004 single by Fantasia

"Truth Is" is a song recorded by American singer Fantasia for her debut studio album Free Yourself (2004). It was written by Carsten Schack and Alex Cantrell, and produced by Soulshock & Karlin. A piano-driven R&B track, it incorporates a sample from "Highways of My Life" by the Isley Brothers; the group's members thus received writing credits for "Truth Is". The song was released as the lead single from Free Yourself on November 15, 2004, by J Records and 19 Recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Mama (Fantasia song)</span> 2005 single by Fantasia

"Baby Mama" is a song recorded by American singer Fantasia for her debut studio album Free Yourself (2004). It was written and produced by Vito Colapietro, Neely Dinkins, and Harold Lilly. The song samples from "There Will Never Be Any Peace " by American group The Chi-Lites; thus, Eugene Record and Barbara Acklin are also credited as songwriters. "Baby Mama" was released as the second single from Free Yourself on February 14, 2005, by J Records.

<i>Fantasia</i> (Fantasia album) 2006 studio album by Fantasia

Fantasia is the second studio album by American recording artist Fantasia. It was released by J Records on December 12, 2006 in the United States. Fantasia reteamed with Harold Lilly, Swizz Beatz and Missy Elliott and her team – all of which had contributed to her debut album to work on the project. The label also consulted new collaborators to record with her, including Babyface, Dre & Vidal, Kwamé, and Midi Mafia. Elliott, rapper Big Boi and Fantasia's brother Ricco appear as guest vocalists on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When I See U</span> 2007 single by Fantasia

"When I See U" is a song recorded by American singer Fantasia Barrino for her second studio album, Fantasia (2006). It written by Louis Biancaniello, Waynne Nugent, Erika Nuri, Kevin Risto, Janet Sewell, Sam Watters, and produced by Midi Mafia along with Mzmeriq. A R&B ballad, it was released to positive reviews by critics as the album's second single in April 2007. Its digital release spawned several remixes, three of which featured rappers Remy Ma, Young Jeezy, Lumidee, B.G. and Polow da Don.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let It Go (Keyshia Cole song)</span> 2007 single by Keyshia Cole featuring Missy Elliott and Lil Kim

"Let It Go" is a song by American R&B singer Keyshia Cole featuring American rappers Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim. It was written by Cole, Jack Knight, Cainon Lamb, Lil' Kim, and Missy Elliott for her second album Just Like You (2007) and samples "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume, and "Don't Stop the Music" by Yarbrough and Peoples, while also interpolating "Juicy" by The Notorious B.I.G., who also sampled "Juicy Fruit." An uptempo song written by all three artists with Jack Knight, Cainon Lamb and James Mtume and produced by Lamb and Elliott, it marked the first collaboration between any of the three artists with one another.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satisfaction (Eve song)</span> 2003 single by Eve

"Satisfaction" is a hip-hop song by American rapper-songwriter Eve, released on February 25, 2003, as the second and final single from the album, Eve-Olution (2002). Co-produced by Dr. Dre and his then-protégé Mike Elizondo, it was one of the last songs that Eve added to the final track listing of her album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Need U Bad</span> 2008 single by Jazmine Sullivan featuring Missy Elliott

"Need U Bad" is a song performed by American recording artist Jazmine Sullivan from her debut album, Fearless (2008). The song features rapper Missy Elliott, as well as rapper Pepa of rap duo Salt-N-Pepa speaking a Jamaican chant. "Need U Bad" is Sullivan's debut single and the lead single from Fearless. It was first released on May 13, 2008 in the United States by J and Arista Records. The song was co-written by Sullivan in collaboration with Elliott, Cainon Lamb, and Taurian Osbourne. It was produced by Elliott and Lamb. The song uses a sample from Nicholas Taylor Stanton's "Higher Meditation Riddim Version", and Tapper Zukie's "Papa Big Shirt".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4 My People</span> 2002 single by Missy Elliott

"4 My People" is a song by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. It was written by Elliott, Timbaland, Eve Jeffers, Nisan Stewart, Craig Brockman and Dante "D-Man" Nolan for her third studio album Miss E... So Addictive (2001). Production was helmed by Stewart and Nolan, with Elliott serving as a co-producer and Timbaland credited as an additional producer, with Eve providing featured vocals.

Cainon Renard Lamb, professionally known as Lamb or Lamb Litty, is an American record producer and songwriter from Miami, Florida. He has worked with artists including Beyoncé, SWV, Missy Elliott, Monica, Keyshia Cole and Jazmine Sullivan. In 2017, Lamb made his rapping debut on colleague Missy Elliott's single "I'm Better".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U-Haul (song)</span> 2004 single by Angie Stone

"U-Haul" is a song by American singer Angie Stone. It was written and produced by Missy Elliott, Nisan Stewart, Craig Brockman, and John "Jubu" Smith for Stone's third studio album Stone Love (2004). Apart from Elliott, singers Tweet and Betty Wright as well as Stone's daughter Diamond appear as backing vocalists on the song. Released as the album's second single, it reached number 19 on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs. "U-Haul" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 47th Grammy Awards.

References

  1. Official music video on YouTube
  2. Free Yourself (booklet). J Records, 19 Recordings. 2004.
  3. "Fantasia Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  4. "Fantasia Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  5. "2005 Year End Chart: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  6. "Going For Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records . No. 1600. April 1, 2005. p. 19. Retrieved December 27, 2024 via World Radio History.