Freedom (Nicki Minaj song)

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"Freedom"
Single by Nicki Minaj
from the album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up
ReleasedNovember 2, 2012 (2012-11-02)
Recorded2012
Genre
Length4:47
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"Beauty and a Beat"
(2012)
"Freedom"
(2012)
"Freaks"
(2013)
Music video
"Nicki Minaj - Freedom (Explicit)" on
YouTube

"Freedom" is a song by rapper

urban radio on November 27 and to mainstream radio in the United Kingdom the following day. "Freedom" is a downtempo hip hop and R&B song that features a "sonically breezy" soundscape, complied with ambient riffs, pop-inspired synths, and soft pop
choruses.

To promote the song, an accompanying

UK R&B Chart, number 23 on the US Rap Songs, and number 31 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. "Freedom" was promoted with several live performances, most notably the American Music Awards of 2012
.

Background

In September 2012, Minaj announced the

On Air with Ryan Seacrest, Minaj stated that "I feel like the music is such a better representation of me where I am now as an artist in my career. As long as people can hear the music, I'm good."[6]

Composition and critical reception

Musically, "Freedom" is a

Jesus Christ for helping them get far, saying: "They'll never thank me for opening doors / But they ain't even thank Jesus when he died on the cross / 'Cause your spirit is ungrateful, bitches is so hateful, I remain a staple."[12]

Charley Rogulewski of Vibe said "The old Nicki Minaj is back on her latest track "Freedom."", while going onto note the songs "dreamy" production and compared it to "Right Thru Me," "Your Love" and "Save Me" off her debut album.[9] Entertainment Weekly reviewer Kyle Anderson called the song "middle-of-the-road R&B" and criticized Minaj for choosing to make music that appeals to pop radio, instead of being unique.[7] Josiah Hughes of Exclaim! was critical of the song, saying it was: "by-the-books Nicki, as she delivers venomous raps on the verses before giving saccharine-sweet melody a whirl on the choruses. Surprise, surprise — the whole thing is delivered atop poppy, crystal clear synths."[8]

Music video

Minaj wearing a gold gown with a cross

Background and synopsis

The video was shot in

grass. Minaj is then seen singing the chorus in a blonde wig, in a vast space, with a lot of fog. Minaj raps her second verse sitting on a throne donning a black wig similar to the on she wore in her previous music video for "I Am Your Leader
". After scenes of nature and of Minaj, the video transforms into color. The video concludes as Minaj is seen with a stray-like face, walking in the wilderness, while clips of Minaj singing continue throughout the video. It closes with the stairway, seen in the beginning of the video.

Reception

Tom Eames of Digital Spy complimented the video for its "glamorous" shots of Minaj,[14] a sentiment echoed by Liza Darwin of MTV News, who said: "We already know Nicki's got her beauty and fashion game on lock these days, but for her new vid the singer ditches the bustiers, tutus, and Zenon-inspired ensembles for a toned-down (for her, at least) wardrobe of glittery gowns, decadent furs, and more than one crown. After all, if there's ANYONE fit to be queen bee, it's this lady."[15]

Live performances

Minaj performed the song live for the first time on the American Music Awards of 2012 on November 18, 2012.[16] For the performance, Minaj wore a white fur cape and boots, and was later joined on-stage by a choir.[16] "Freedom" was also performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on January 15, 2013, where she sang in a slim red dress, surrounded by fog and gina chandeliers.[17] On January 25, 2013, Minaj performed the song along with "Va Va Voom" and on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on January 25, 2013.[18]

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[19]
107
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[20]
17
US
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[21]
7
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 31

Radio and release history

Country Date Format Label
United States[23] November 2, 2012 Digital download Cash Money Records
Canada[24]
United Kingdom[25] November 6, 2012
Australia[26]
Bulgaria[27]
New Zealand[28]
United States[citation needed] November 27, 2012
Urban contemporary
radio
United Kingdom[29] November 28, 2012 Mainstream radio

References

  1. ^ a b Sam Lansky (November 5, 2012). "Nicki Minaj's "Freedom": Hear Her New 'Re-Up' Single". Idolator. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  2. ^ Frank, Alex. "Newly Single Nicki Minaj on Feminism, Meek Mill, and Rapping at 50". Vogue.com. Condé Nast. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  3. ^ a b Erika Ramirez (November 2, 2012). "Nicki Minaj 'The Re-Up' Track List: Lil Wayne, Ciara Featured". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  4. ^
    Buzz Media
    . September 7, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  5. Viacom
    . Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  6. ^ "Nicki Minaj: The Re-Up' Is a Better Representation of Me'". Rap-Up. Buzz Media. November 19, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  7. ^ a b Anderson, Kyle (November 5, 2012). "Nicki Minaj releases new song 'Freedom': Hear it here". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d Hughes, Josiah (November 4, 2012). "Nicki Minaj – "Freedom" (prod. Boi-1da)". Exclaim!. Ian Danzing. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d Rogulewski, Charley (November 3, 2012). "Nicki Minaj Releases "Freedom": Listen to the New "Roman Reloaded - The Re-Up" Track". Vibe. Vibe Media. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  10. ^ Corner, Lewis (November 20, 2012). "Nicki Minaj: 'The Re-Up' - EP review". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  11. ^ Hislop, Rachel (November 18, 2012). "Nicki Minaj "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up" Album (REVIEW)". Global Grind. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  12. News Limited
    . November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  13. ^ "Nick Minaj shoots music video in Kent!". kentfilmoffice.co.uk. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  14. ^ Eames, Tom (November 20, 2012). "Nicki Minaj glams up in new music video for 'Freedom'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  15. ^ Darwin, Liza (November 21, 2012). "Nicki Minaj's 'Freedom' Music Video: Look By Look". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  16. ^ a b "Nicki Minaj Performs New Single "Freedom" at 40th American Music Awards (VIDEO)". Vibe. Vibe Media. November 18, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  17. ^ Sheffer, Scott (November 4, 2012). "Nicki Minaj Performs 'Freedom' on 'Ellen'". Popcrush. Townsquare Media. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  18. Complex
    . Complex Media Network. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  19. ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK – 2012 + Weekly Updates + Sales 2012". zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  20. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  21. ^ "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  22. ^ "Nicki Minaj Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  23. Apple, Inc. Archived from the original
    on November 5, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  24. on November 5, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  25. Apple, Inc.
    Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  26. Apple, Inc.
    Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  27. Apple, Inc.
    Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  28. Apple, Inc.
    Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  29. on December 1, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2013.