Lil Freak

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This article is about the Usher song. For the Three 6 Mafia song, see
Little Freak
.

"Lil Freak"
pop-rap[1]
Length3:55
LabelLaFace
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Blac Elvis
  • Polow da Don
Usher singles chronology
"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)"
(2009) 		"Lil Freak"
(2010) 		"OMG"
(2010)
Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"My Chick Bad"
(2010) 		"Lil' Freak"
(2010) 		"Get It All"
(2010)
Music video
"Lil Freak" on
YouTube

"Lil Freak" is a song by American recording artist Usher, taken from his sixth studio album, Raymond v. Raymond. Featuring guest vocals by Trinidadian recording artist Nicki Minaj, the song was written by her, Usher, Ester Dean, Blac Elvis and Polow da Don, the latter two producing the track. Its hook is based on a manipulated sample of American soul musician Stevie Wonder's 1973 hit, "Living for the City". "Lil Freak" was released as the second single from the album in the United States and Canada on March 2, 2010.

Carrying a dark tone, composed of heavy bass beats derived from R&B and hip hop music, the lyrics are about the thrill of orchestrating a ménage à trois in a club. The song received positive reviews from critics who complimented its sensual nature. It peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming Usher's 16th top ten hit on the latter chart. The song's accompanying music video has a secret society concept, dealing with an underground club, playing on the storyline of the song.

Background

In an interview with MTV News when asked if he was just entertaining, Usher said the song was based on real life, stating, "Yeah, I mean, I wrote about it. It happens in this day and time. Those are the best chicks to be friends with, honestly."[2] Usher reiterated his statements in another interview with Access Hollywood, and when asked if he thought the racy lyrics would raise eyebrows, he said it would, commenting that that was an objective of the song.[3] Usher also said that the work was like the dichotomy of Raymond v. Raymond, distinguishing one world from another, as in "playing the nice guy" or "showing the other side."[3] Before official release, the song was leaked onto the Internet in December 2009.[4]

Composition

"Lil Freak" (2010)
A 30 second sample of "Lil Freak" featuring Usher singing the song's chorus, and the intro of Nicki Minaj's verse..
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The song is midtempo, with supported by heavy bass beats produced by

Cassie in her lines, that she's "plotting on how I can take Cassie away from Diddy".[7]

Critical reception

Critics positively received the song, complimenting Minaj's cameo and the track's production and lyrics. Andrew Winistorfer of Prefix Magazine thought that Usher should have gone with "Lil Freak" as the album's first big single, saying, "It (

Pitchfork Media commented favourably on the songs explicit nature, stating the song "isn't some R. Kelly-esque devotional hymn to sexual addiction", and that "The whole towering mess makes a drunken 3 a.m. threesome sound like the most epic endeavor anyone could hope for". The review also compared the song to Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River", stating, "it pushes into "Cry Me a River" territory for the same reason that "Cry Me a River" transcended: the gigantic, operatic backing track".[7]

Accolades

Accolades for "Lil Freak"
Publication Accolade Rank
Pitchfork The Top 100 Tracks of 2010 [12] 89
New York Post The Top 210 Songs of 2010[13] 108

Chart performance

On the week ending March 20, 2010, "Lil Freak" debuted at number 43 on the

UK Singles Chart.[16] Usher performed the song in the United Kingdom on The Graham Norton Show on June 7, 2010.[17]

Music video

Background and concept

Usher and Minaj shot the music video on March 9, 2010 in Los Angeles with director Taj Stansberry, represented by Leah Harmony and Ciarra Pardo.[18] In an interview with Vibe, Stansberry commented on the video's sex appeal and the pairing of Usher and Minaj, stating, "This probably has the potential to be [his sexiest video ever]. Usher’s one of the best entertainers in the world, then you have Nicki Minaj who’s fresh on the scene. Put them together and there’s just sparks, it was real good."[19] When asked about the music video's concept would redefine the word "freak", commenting:

Usher in front of a backdrop with Minaj and dancing and being flaunted by dancers.

"My general idea was to take the word and show its many faceted sides, twisting and turning it to where there’s really no distinguishing between one freak and another. Usher went there. When you’re engaging in sexual activity, there are many transitions and this is not about what they look like literally, but what they look like metaphorically. It’s about luring people into a situation. Because you have your thoughts on a ménage à trois, but then we’re doing it in a non-obvious way."[19]

On Minaj and her pairing with Usher, Stansberry said, " [Nicki] had a few looks that I really liked. She played the part, but still was her. If you really listen to her words in the song, you can kinda visualize her outfit."[19] Stansberry also confirmed that R&B singer Ciara and singer-actor Jamie Foxx would make appearances in the video.[19] In an interview with MTV News on the set of her video for "Massive Attack", Minaj said that "The video is freaky. And it's a great concept, a great story line," Minaj told MTV News. "It felt just like one of the sequels to Saw. It was dope."[20] Stating that the video had a "secret society" concept, Usher told Access Hollywood that the place symbolized locations where people use to get away from pressures, and also said the movie Eyes Wide Shut was some sort of inspiration of the video.[3] On March 22, 2010 a thirty second preview of the music video was surfaced onto the internet.[21] Two days later on March 24, 2010, Usher premiered the full music video on BET's 106 & Park.[22]

Synopsis and reception

The video begins with a woman walking in a tunnel, and she enters and elevator with Minaj, sporting a Cruella de Vil hairstyle, and other women.[2] The elevator goes to what MTV News calls "Usher's underground playground," then soon finds Usher against a wall.[2] A laptop is shown, and the video goes on to show people who are there, including Ciara playing a casino game.[23] Then, girls are performing choreography on poles, as Usher sings his verses on the wall in the tunnel.[23] Nicki Minaj then comes to sing her verse and starts talking to the unknown woman who was in the tunnel with Usher, and then Minaj guides the woman somewhere.[23] Foxx makes appears near the end of the video, with a red light on him. Usher sings the rest of the song on the wall in the tunnel with choreography from the women, until the video fades out.[23]

BET Sound Off complimented the video and that it stuck to the storyline of the song, stating "there's only but so much you can do with a video like this" without the video being banned, being labelled offensive, or "resemble a video we’ve already seen."[24]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[25]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Lil Freak"
Chart (2010) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[16]
 109
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 40
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] 8
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[27] 21

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Lil Freak"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[28] Platinum 1,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Lil Freak"
Region Date Format(s) Ref.
Canada March 2, 2010 Digital download [29]
United States [30]

References

  1. ^ "Listen to "Little Freak" [ft. Nicki Minaj] by Usher". Pitchfork.
  2. ^ a b c Reid, Shaheem (2010-03-25). "Usher Dicusses [sic] Racy Lyrics On 'Lil Freak': 'It Happens'". MTV News. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
  3. ^ a b c "Behind The Scenes: Usher's 'Lil Freak'". Access Hollywood. NBC Universal Inc. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  4. ^ Bain, Becky (2009-12-21). "Usher's A 'Little Freak' On New Leaked Track". Idolator. Buzzmedia Publishers. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  5. ^ a b Ryan, Chris (2010-03-22). "Song You Need To Know: Usher, Featuring Nicki Minaj, 'Little Freak' (WARNING: NSFW)". MTV Buzzworthy. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
  6. ^ Anderson, Sara (2010-01-14). "Usher 'Little Freak' Feat. Nicki Minaj - New Song". AOL. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
  7. ^
    Pitchfork Media
    . Retrieved 2010-03-07.
  8. ^ a b ""Little Freak" f. Nicki Minaj (MP3)". Prefix Magazine. 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
  9. ^ Winistorfer, Andrew. ""Oh My Gosh" f. will.i.am". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  10. ^ Winistorfer, Andrew. ""Little Freak" f. Nicki Minaj (Video)". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  11. ^ "Singled Out: Usher Feat. Nicki Minaj "Lil Freak"". Vibe. 2009-12-20. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
  12. ^ "The Top 100 Tracks of 2010". Pitchfork.
  13. ^ "Top 25 Songs of 2010". New York Post. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Usher Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  15. ^ Grein, Paul (October 6, 2010). "America's Most Popular Inmate". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
  16. ^
    The Official Charts Company
    . Zobbel. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  17. British Broadcasting Corporation
    ). Series 7, Episode 9.
  18. ^ "New Music: Jason Derulo f/ Nicki Minaj – 'In My Head (Remix)'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  19. ^ a b c d Hova, Tray (2010-03-12). "Director Says "Lil Freak" Is Usher's Sexiest Video Yet". Vibe. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  20. ^ Rodriguez, Jayson (2010-03-17). "Nicki Minaj Says Usher's 'Lil Freak' Video Is 'Dope'". MTV News. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
  21. ^ "Sneak Peek: Usher f/ Nicki Minaj – 'Lil Freak'". Rap-Up. 2010-03-22. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  22. ^ "106 & Usher: Usher Visits BET's 106 & Park". Singersroom. Singersroom.com. 27 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  23. ^ a b c d "Video: Usher f/ Nicki Minaj – 'Lil Freak'". Rap-Up. 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  24. BET Interactive. 2010-03-25. Archived from the original
    on 2010-05-02. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  25. ^ Usher Raymond v. Raymond liner notes. LaFace Records (2010)
  26. ^ "Usher Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  27. ^ "Usher Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  28. ^ "American single certifications – Usher – Lil Freak". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  29. Apple). Archived from the original
    on 2010-10-02.
  30. ^ "Lil Freak (feat. Nicki Minaj) - Single by Usher". United States: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on 2010-03-08.
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