Freek'n You

"Freek'n You"
Single by Jodeci
from the album The Show, the After Party, the Hotel
Released	June 30, 1995
Recorded	November 1994
Studio	Dajhelon Studios, Rochester, New York
Genre	R&B
Length	6:19 (album version) 4:19 (radio version)
Label	Uptown MCA
Songwriter(s)	DeVante Swing
Producer(s)	DeVante Swing
Jodeci singles chronology
"What About Us" (1994) "Freek'n You" (1995) "Love U 4 Life" (1995)
Music video
"Freek'n You" on YouTube

"Freek'n You" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci recorded for their third album, The Show, the After Party, the Hotel (1995). It was released as the album's first single in June 1995 by Uptown and MCA Records. The song was both written and produced by DeVante Swing, and peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Listed by Billboard magazine as one of the best selling singles of 1995, it was certified gold by the RIAA for sales in excess of 500,000 units.

The official remix, produced by Mr. Dalvin, features Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. They performed the remix version live with Jodeci (minus DeVante Swing) during the 200th episode of Showtime at the Apollo in February 1996. It features three models in the video: Veronica Webb, Beverly Peele, and Kara Young.

Critical reception

Steve Baltin from Cash Box wrote, "A slow and grinding tune, the first single from Jodeci's forthcoming The Show, the After-Party, the Hotel is a guaranteed hit, given the group's past success (lead singer K-Ci Hailey currently has a song on the charts) and the song's play it safe attitude." ^[1] Mark Sutherland from Smash Hits gave it two out of five, viewing it as "smooth-but-tune-free slabs of R&B". ^[2]

Track listing

• Vinyl, 12"

1. "Freek'n You" (Part 1) – 5:16
2. "Freek'n You" (Funky Freeky Mix) – 4:19
3. "Freek'n You" (Radio Edit) – 4:19
4. "Freek'n You" (P.J.B. 4 Play) – 1:23
5. "Freek'n You" (Freekstrumental Mix) – 4:01
6. "Freek'n You" (Freek-A-Pella Mix) – 5:09

• CD, maxi-single

1. "Freek'n You" (Part 1) – 5:16
2. "Freek'n You" (Funky Freeky Mix) – 4:19
3. "Freek'n You" (Radio Edit) – 4:19
4. "Freek'n You" (P.J.B. 4 Play) – 1:23
5. "Freek'n You" (Freekoustical Mix) – 5:17
6. "Freek'n You" (Freekstrumental Mix) – 4:01
7. "Freek'n You" (Freek-A-Pella Mix) – 5:09

Personnel

Information taken from the album's liner notes. ^[3]

• Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey – lead and background vocals
• Joel "JoJo" Hailey – lead and background vocals
• Mr. Dalvin – lead and background vocals
• DeVante Swing – background vocals, guitar, other instruments
• Darryl Pearson – additional guitar
• DeVante Swing (a.k.a. DeVanté 4HISDAMNSELF ENT.) – production & all vocal arrangements
• Andre Harrell – executive producer

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1995) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [4] 23 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [5] 42 UK Singles (OCC) [6] 17 US Billboard Hot 100 [7] 14 US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [8] 14 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [9] 3 US Rhythmic ( Billboard ) [10] 21 Zimbabwe (ZIMA) [11] 4

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position US Billboard Hot 100 [12] 57 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) [13] 19 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales United States (RIAA) [14] Gold 600,000 [15]

Covers and sampling

• The song was remixed by UK garage act Club Asylum in 1998, titled "Freek Me Up". It reached No. 92 on the UK Singles Chart. ^[16]
• The song was sampled in 2015 by British duo Tough Love on their debut single "So Freakin' Tight" as well as Future and Mila J's song "FreakNic".
• In 2017, PartyNextDoor released his EP Colours 2, featuring "Freak in You" which interpolates the song, as well as "Come and Talk to Me" from Jodeci. Drake would go on to remix PartyNextDoor's "Freak in You" as well.
• In 2019, the song was sampled by DJ Khaled in "Freak N You" featuring Lil Wayne and Gunna.
• Covers of the song have been performed live by R&B singers including Trey Songz, Ne-Yo and Anthony Hamilton.^{[ citation needed ]}

Media appearances

• The Notorious B.I.G. can be seen singing the beginning of the first verse in a video clip from 1996. The clip is shown in the beginning of the video for "Nasty Girl", a posthumous single released in 2005 from the album Duets: The Final Chapter .
• The song was featured in the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV , appearing on the R&B radio station The Vibe 98.8.
• The song is also featured on the official soundtrack for the 2015 film Magic Mike XXL .
• In a 2015 episode of Black-ish , the song was played.
• In 2018, the song was used as the first ending theme song for the Golden Wind arc of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime series.

References

1. Baltin, Steve (May 20, 1995). "Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box . p. 11. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
2. Sutherland, Mark (June 7, 1995). "Singles". Smash Hits . p. 54. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
3. Jodeci. “The Show, The After-Party, The Hotel” (Album Notes). Uptown Records / MCA Records. 1995.
4. "Jodeci – Freek'n You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
5. "Jodeci – Freek'n You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
6. "Jodeci: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
7. "Jodeci Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
8. "Jodeci Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
9. "Jodeci Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
10. "Jodeci Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
11. • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
12. "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
13. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
14. "American single certifications – Jodeci – Freek %27n You". Recording Industry Association of America. August 2, 1995. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
15. "Best-Selling Records of 1995". Billboard . Vol. 108, no. 3. BPI Communications. January 20, 1996. p. 56. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved May 5, 2015.
16. "JODECI VS CLUB ASYLUM | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts .