Freak (Doja Cat song)

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"Freak"
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]
GenreR&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.

Background and release[edit]

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[edit]

Recording and management

  • Engineered at Lineage Studios (Los Angeles, California)
  • Vocals Recorded at The Sound Factory (Los Angeles, California)
  • Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
  • Doja Cat Music/Prescription Songs (BMI), Yeti Yeti Yeti/WB Music Corp. (ASCAP), Cameron Bartolini Music (ASCAP), EPA Publishing/PW Ballads/Songs of Universal, Inc. (BMI), Chrysalis Standards, Inc./BMG Rights Management (BMI), Universal Music – Careers (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), Waters of Nazareth Publishing/Warner Geo Met Ric Music (GMR)
  • Contains a sample from "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", words and music by Paul Anka, published by EPA Publishing/PW Ballads/Songs of Universal, Inc. (BMI) and 1938 (Renewed 1986) Chrysalis Standards, Inc./BMG Rights Management (BMI)/BMG Blue (BMII) administers 100% for the World ex USA obo Paul Anka/Chrysalis Standards, Inc. (BMI), used courtesy of Paul Anka Productions, by arrangement with Primary Wave Music
  • Contains a portion of the composition "Milkshake", written by Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, published by Universal Music – Careers (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI) and Waters of Nazareth Publishing/Warner Geo Met Ric Music (GMR)

Personnel

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

Charts[edit]

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[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[17] Platinum 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[18] Platinum 40,000‡
United States (RIAA)[19] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various November 11, 2018 SoundCloud Self-released [4]
August 7, 2020
[10]
Canada November 12, 2020 LP RCA [20][11]
United States

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b 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. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Freak – Single by Doja Cat (Explicit)". Apple Music. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  11. ^ a b 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. ^ "Oct 2023 Single Accreds" (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. ^ "American single certifications – Doja Cat – Freak". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  20. ^ "Doja Cat – Freak Limited LP". Urban Outfitters. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
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