Freedom (EP)

Last updated

Freedom
Justin Bieber - Freedom.png
EP by
Justin Bieber
ReleasedApril 4, 2021 (2021-04-04)
RecordedApril 1–3, 2021
Genre Gospel • R&B • Pop Soul
Length22:20
Label Def Jam
Producer
  • Angel Lopez
  • Boi-1da
  • Cvre
  • Don Mills
  • Federico Vindver
  • Goatsmans
  • Sean Momberger
  • JulesTheWulf
  • Justin Bieber
  • Lee Major
  • Wallis Lane
  • Vinylz
Justin Bieber chronology
Justice
(2021)		Freedom
(2021)

Freedom is the second extended play (EP) by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It is also the first EP released by Bieber since My World (2009). [1] It was surprise-released on April 4, 2021, by Def Jam Recordings. [2] The EP is a follow-up to Bieber's sixth studio album Justice , released a few weeks prior on March 19, 2021. [3] The EP is gospel-inspired. [2]

Contents

Background and songs

Freedom is a gospel-inspired EP that serves as Bieber's way of professing his love to God as he embarks on a soul-searching journey to better understand himself and his past through the lens of his religious beliefs. [2] [4] [5] The EP begins with the Afrobeat-filled title track, a collaboration with Beam, where Bieber and Beam address temptation against laid-back tropical beats. [6] [7] On the following tracks, "All She Wrote" featuring Brandon Love and Chandler Moore and R&B cut "We're in This Together", Bieber shifts into rap, discussing his fame and "needing saving", with the latter alluding to the 2014 police raid of his Los Angeles home after being accused of allegedly egging a neighbor's house and ending with a prayer for those listening and their families. [5] [6] [8] [9] The fourth track, "Where You Go I Follow" featuring Moore, Pink Sweats, and Judah Smith, finds Bieber singing about the resurrection of Jesus. [6] [8] He is joined by Moore, Smith, and Tori Kelly on the fifth track, "Where Do I Fit In", where they sing about Jesus and his unconditional love for everyone. [6] [8] The final track, "Afraid to Say" featuring Lauren Walters, takes a more guitar-focused turn as Bieber explores the effects of cancel culture. [5] [6]

Reception

Critical response

Vulture 's Halle Kiefer compared Freedom to Bieber's sixth studio album, Justice , saying they both find him "ruminating on the spiritual and existential state of his existence". [10] Emlyn Travis, writing for MTV News, felt that the EP "allows Bieber to redefine himself and restructure his future". [5] Tomás Mier from People wrote that "Bieber is channeling his spirituality through song". [6] Brad Wheeler of The Globe and Mail found the EP to be "mundane" and that it came off as "self-absorbed", further adding, "He's not serving somebody – he's serving himself." [7]

Accolades

Year-end lists
PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
365 Days of Inspiring MediaTop 25 EPs of 202121
Louder Than The MusicLTTM Album Awards 20212

Commercial performance

Freedom debuted at number 172 on the US Billboard 200 chart. [13] The EP earned 7,000 equivalent album units with less than five full days of availability in its first tracking week. [14] It is Bieber's first entry on the Top Christian Albums chart, debuting at number three for the week of April 17, 2021. [14] All six of the EP's tracks concurrently charted on the Hot Christian Songs chart, also becoming Bieber's first entries there. [14]

Track listing

Freedom track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Freedom" (with Beam)
2:45
2."All She Wrote" (featuring Brandon Love and Chandler Moore)
3:54
3."We're in This Together"
  • Bieber
  • Nima Jahanbin
  • Paimon Jahanbin
  • Federico Vindver
  • Jose Velazquez
  • Isaiah Johnson
3:01
4."Where You Go I Follow" (featuring Pink Sweats, Chandler Moore, and Judah Smith)
  • Bieber
  • David Bowden
  • Judah Smith
  • Jonathan Gateretse
  • Lenard Ishmael
  • Luigi Tiano
  • O'Necean Gordon
  • Tarik Henry
3:32
5."Where Do I Fit In" (featuring Tori Kelly, Chandler Moore, and Judah Smith)
  • Bieber
  • Tori Kelly
  • Moore
  • Smith
  • Gateretse
  • Ishmael
  • Tiano
  • Gordon
  • Henry
4:46
6."Afraid to Say" (featuring Lauren Walters)
  • Bieber
  • Julian McGuire
4:22
Total length:22:20

Personnel

Charts

Related Research Articles

<i>The Beautiful Experience</i> 1994 EP by Prince

The Beautiful Experience is an EP by American musician Prince, his second commercial release under the symbolic moniker. The EP contained seven mixes of the song "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" in various formats, some with completely new vocals and/or instrumentation. Of particular note is the "Mustang Mix", in which Prince uses his normal singing voice and additional lyrics to give the song a sexual edge. The maxi-single also spawned two singles, "Staxowax" and "Mustang Mix", which were sold commercially in shops to support it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Bieber</span> Canadian singer (born 1994)

Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian singer. Regarded as a pop icon, he is recognized for his multi-genre musical performances. He was discovered by American record executive Scooter Braun in 2008 and subsequently brought to American singer Usher, both of whom formed the record label RBMG Records to sign Bieber in October of that year. He gained recognition following the release of his debut extended play (EP) My World (2009), which was quickly met with international commercial success and led to his establishment as a prominent teen idol.

<i>My World</i> (Justin Bieber EP) 2009 EP by Justin Bieber

My World is the debut extended play (EP) by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released on November 17, 2009, by Island, RBMG and Schoolboy Records. The EP is considered the first half of a two-piece project, later being supplemented by Bieber's debut studio album My World 2.0 (2010). After signing a recording contract in light of his growing popularity on YouTube, Bieber worked with various collaborators, including his mentor Usher and producers Tricky Stewart, D'Mile, and MIDI Mafia. The EP's music incorporates pop and dance-pop styles with R&B influences, and lyrically discusses teen romance and coming of age situations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Bieber discography</span>

The discography of Canadian singer Justin Bieber consists of six studio albums, three remix albums, three compilation albums, two extended plays, 76 singles, and 10 promotional singles. Bieber has attained eight number-one hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 and eight number-one albums on the US Billboard 200 charts. As of June 2019, Bieber has sold an estimated 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), he has sold 24 million albums and 121 million digital singles units as a lead artist, in the United States. Bieber was named the "Greatest Pop Star of 2016" by Billboard. He was also named the Billboard Year-End Top Male Artist for 2016 and placed number seven on the magazine's Decade-End Top Artists Chart for the 2010s.

<i>Believe</i> (Justin Bieber album) 2012 studio album by Justin Bieber

Believe is the third studio album by Canadian singer Justin Bieber, released on June 15, 2012, by Island Records. Looking to transition from the teen pop styles of his two-piece debut effort My World (2009) and My World 2.0 (2010), Bieber opted to create a follow-up record that featured more prominent elements of Eurohouse, dance-pop and contemporary R&B. As executive producers, mentor Usher and manager Scooter Braun enlisted collaborators including Darkchild, Hit-Boy, Diplo and Max Martin with the intention of creating a mature-sounding project.

<i>Believe Acoustic</i> 2013 remix album by Justin Bieber

Believe Acoustic is the third remix album by the Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released on January 29, 2013, by Island Records as the follow-up to his second remix album, Never Say Never: The Remixes (2011). It is Bieber's second acoustic album, following My Worlds Acoustic (2010). The album has acoustic and live versions of songs from his third studio album Believe (2012), as well as three new recordings. The album went to number one on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, making this Bieber's fifth number-one album and seventh consecutive top 10 album in the United States.

<i>Wild</i> (EP) 2015 EP by Troye Sivan

Wild is the fourth extended play (EP) by Australian singer Troye Sivan, released on 4 September 2015 by EMI Music Australia. It is Sivan's second extended play released through a major record label after TRXYE.

<i>Add Violence</i> 2017 EP by Nine Inch Nails

Add Violence is the sixth EP and eleventh major release by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. Issued through the Null Corporation and Capitol Records on July 19, 2017, it is the second in a trilogy of releases, following the EP Not the Actual Events (2016) and preceding the band's ninth studio album Bad Witch (2018). It was produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

<i>Avīci (01)</i> 2017 EP by Avicii

Avīci (01) is the fourth and final extended play by Swedish DJ and record producer Avicii, serving as the last release in his lifetime. It was produced by Avicii, Benny Blanco, Andrew Watt, Cashmere Cat and Carl Falk, and released through Avicii Music on 10 August 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reckless Love (song)</span> 2017 song by Cory Asbury

"Reckless Love" is a song by Cory Asbury and it was released on October 27, 2017, as the lead single from his second studio album of the same name, Reckless Love (2018), via Bethel Music. The song also appeared on the album Bethel Music en Español (2019). The song was written by Caleb Culver, Cory Asbury and Ran Jackson, with production being handled by Jason Ingram and Paul Mabury.

<i>On the Rvn</i> 2018 EP by Young Thug

On the Rvn is the second extended play by American rapper Young Thug. It was released on September 24, 2018 by 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records to streaming platforms. It features collaborations with 6lack, Jaden Smith, Elton John, T-Shyne, and Offset and follows a month after Thug's compilation album Slime Language.

<i>Sick Boy</i> (album) 2018 studio album by The Chainsmokers

Sick Boy is the second studio album by American DJ and production duo The Chainsmokers. It was released on December 14, 2018, via Disruptor and Columbia Records. The album features collaborations with French DJ Aazar and fellow American DJ NGHTMRE as well as co-production from Sly, Chris Lyon, and Shaun Frank, and writing credits from frequent co-writer Emily Warren, Kate Morgan, Drew Love of THEY., Tony Ann, Corey Sanders, and Chelsea Jade. Sick Boy's tracklist is made up of singles gradually released throughout 2018 as an attempt to increase the songs' success.

<i>Inner Monologue Part 1</i> 2019 EP by Julia Michaels

Inner Monologue Part 1 is the fourth extended play by American singer and songwriter Julia Michaels, released on January 24, 2019, through Republic Records. It follows her 2017 EP Nervous System. The EP features six songs, including collaborations with Selena Gomez and Niall Horan. Michaels went on a tour in the second quarter of 2019 in support of the EP.

<i>Human</i> (Dodie EP) 2019 EP by Dodie

Human is the third extended play by English singer-songwriter Dodie Clark, known mononymously as dodie. The album was released by Clark's record label Doddleoddle on 18 January 2019 and distributed by The Orchard. It peaked at number 5 on the UK Official Albums Chart, Clark's highest charting album to date in her home country and her third consecutive entry in the top 40.

<i>6pc Hot EP</i> 2020 EP by 6lack

6pc Hot EP is the first extended play by American singer 6lack. It was released on June 26, 2020, through LVRN and Interscope Records. Production was handled by twelve record producers, including DJ Battlecat, Nick Mira, Stwo, Timbaland, Canadian producer London Cyr, and British producer Fwdslxsh, the latter two of whom executive-produced the EP. It features a sole guest appearance from rapper Lil Baby on the single "Know My Rights".

<i>All Out</i> (EP) 2020 EP by K/DA

All Out is the first extended play by virtual girl group K/DA. The EP was released on November 6, 2020, through Riot Games and Stone Music Entertainment. The EP contains five songs which feature vocals from the original line-up (G)I-dle, Madison Beer, and Jaira Burns plus a variety of influential singers, such as Bea Miller, Wolftyla, Lexie Liu, Kim Petras, Aluna, Bekuh Boom, and Annika Wells and with Twice members Jihyo, Sana, Nayeon, and Chaeyoung. Each song was produced by one of the fictional members of the group, with the exception of "More".

<i>Justice</i> (Justin Bieber album) 2021 studio album by Justin Bieber

Justice is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released on March 19, 2021, by Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Khalid, Chance the Rapper, the Kid Laroi, Dominic Fike, Daniel Caesar, Giveon, Beam, Burna Boy, and Benny Blanco. The "Triple Chucks" deluxe edition of the album was released on March 26, 2021, exactly a week after the standard version. It features additional guest appearances from Lil Uzi Vert, Jaden, Quavo, DaBaby, and Tori Kelly. The complete edition was released on October 8, 2021, and includes the tracks on store versions of the album that did not make the regular album. It features additional guest appearances from TroyBoi and Poo Bear. The album includes production from Benny Blanco himself, Virtual Riot, Andrew Watt, Skrillex, Finneas, Jon Bellion, the Monsters & Strangerz, and numerous others. It serves as the follow-up to Bieber's previous album, Changes (2020). Justice is a pop, R&B, and dream pop album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jireh (song)</span> 2021 song by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music

"Jireh" is a song performed by American contemporary worship bands Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music, which features vocals from Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine. It impacted Christian radio in the United States on April 1, 2021, as the lead single from their collaborative live album, Old Church Basement (2021). The song was initially released as a promotional single on March 26, 2021. The song was written by Chandler Moore, Chris Brown, Naomi Raine, and Steven Furtick.

Chandler David Moore is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, and worship leader. Moore is also a member of Maverick City Music, a collective of worshippers working in the contemporary Christian music and Gospel world.

<i>Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition</i> 2021 live album by Maverick City Music

Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition is the fifth live album by American contemporary worship music collective Maverick City Music, which was released via Tribl Records on June 18, 2021.

References

  1. ↑ Close, Paris (April 5, 2021). "Justin Bieber Surprises Fans With New Gospel EP 'Freedom'". iHeartRadio . Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Iasimone, Ashley (April 5, 2021). "Justin Bieber Surprise Releases 'Freedom' EP". Billboard . Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  3. ↑ Minsker, Evan (April 4, 2021). "Justin Bieber Shares Surprise New Freedom. EP". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  4. ↑ Stone, Megan (April 5, 2021). "Justin Bieber releases surprise 'Freedom' EP on Easter". Good Morning America . Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Travis, Emlyn (April 5, 2021). "Justin Bieber Finds New Meaning In Life On Freedom". MTV News . Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mier, Tomás (April 5, 2021). "Justin Bieber Sings and Raps About Growing Up Famous on Gospel EP Freedom. Featuring Tori Kelly". People . Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Wheeler, Brad (April 8, 2021). "With his earnest pop-gospel EP Freedom, Justin Bieber is equal parts born again and boring again". The Globe and Mail . Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 Shaffer, Claire (April 5, 2021). "Justin Bieber Surprise-Releases 'Freedom' EP on Easter". Rolling Stone . Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  9. ↑ Alexander, Bryan (April 4, 2021). "Justin Bieber surprises fans with 'Freedom' EP on Easter Sunday". USA Today . Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  10. ↑ Kiefer, Halle (April 4, 2021). "Justin Bieber Fills Your Easter Basket With Surprise Freedom EP" . Vulture . Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  11. ↑ Andre, Joshua (May 9, 2022). "BEST OF 2021- PART 6: TOP 25 EP'S OF 2021 | 365 Days of Inspiring Media". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Louder Than The Music - LTTM Album Awards 2021 - No. 2: Justin Bieber - Freedom". Louder Than The Music. January 19, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Justin Bieber Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 Asker, Jim (April 13, 2021). "Justin Bieber Makes First Appearance on Top Christian Albums Chart as 'Freedom' Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Justin Bieber – Freedom. %5BEP%5D" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Justin Bieber – Freedom. %5BEP%5D". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart Top 20 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Justin Bieber Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Top Christian Albums – Billboard". Billboard . Year-End Chart. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.