Free at Last
Studio album by
Freeway
ReleasedNovember 20, 2007
Genre
Length51:01
Label
Producer
Freeway chronology
Philadelphia Freeway
(2003)		 Free at Last
(2007)		 Philadelphia Freeway 2
(2009)
Singles from Free at last
  1. "Roc-A-Fella Billionaires"
    Released: July 10, 2007
  2. "Lights Get Low"
    Released: November 20, 2007

Free at Last is the second studio album by rapper Freeway. It was released on November 20, 2007 by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings in the United States. The album enlists guest performances from Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Marsha Ambrosious, Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, and Jadakiss.

Background

In a recent interview, Freeway stated why he took such a lengthy hiatus.[2] He had this to say:

I just been grinding you know the whole Roc break up really took a toll on me and kind of even held my career up a little bit, but I been working and I'm ready to get back out. It was a couple of things. The whole family structure wasn't in place like it was. There was a time when I could just go to Bassline [studios] and knock it out but it wasn't like that this time.

Production

Free at Last features production from Bink!, J. R. Rotem, Needlz, and Cool & Dre, amongst others. Guest appearances include Marsha Ambrosius, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Scarface, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, and Rick Ross. According to Freeway, the album was executive-produced by 50 Cent—who also purchased publishing on the album—leading journalists to conclude he was signed to G-Unit Records, which was not true.[3]

Commercial performance

Free at Last debuted at number 42 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling about 36,000 units during its first week.[4][5] As of April 2, 2008, the album has sold 100,206 copies in the United States.[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[7]
AllHipHop.com[8]
Allmusic[9]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[10]
Pitchfork Media(7.7/10)[11]
Rolling Stone[12]
PopMatters[13]
USA Today[14]

Free at Last was called "The Album of the Month" by the German hip hop magazine Juice, aiming 5 of 6 "Crowns". In the 01-02 / 2008 Issue (# 104).

Track listing

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."This Can't Be Real" (feat. Marsha Ambrosius)
3:44
2."It's Over"Jake One3:40
3."Still Got Love"Bink!3:45
4."Roc-A-Fella Billionaires" (feat. Jay-Z)Dame Grease3:41
5."When They Remember"Bink!3:43
6."Take It To The Top" (feat. 50 Cent)J. R. Rotem3:42
7."Spit That Shit"Dangerous LLC3:43
8."Reppin' The Streets"Chad "Wes" Hamilton3:59
9."Free at Last"Double-O3:38
10."Baby Don't Do It" (feat. Scarface)Chad "Wes" Hamilton3:27
11."Nuttin' On Me"Needlz2:55
12."Walk Wit Me" (feat. Busta Rhymes and Jadakiss)Don Cannon4:06
13."Lights Get Low" (feat. Rick Ross)Cool & Dre3:47
14."I Cry"DJ Noodles3:11
Total length:51:01

Singles

"Roc-A-Fella Billionaires" is the lead single. The song, produced by Dame Grease, features a guest appearance from Roc-A-Fella label-boss and fellow American rapper Jay-Z. Grease's production contains a sample of a version of "Big Spender", originally written for the 1966 musical Sweet Charity, by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields, as performed by Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly.[15]

Sample credits

This Can't Be Real

It's Over

  • "The Masquerade Is Over" by David Porter
  • vocals by Sean Michael from "Encore"

Still Got Love

Roc-A-Fella Billionaires

When They Remember

Reppin' The Streets

Free At Last

Baby Don't Do It

I Cry

Charts

References

  1. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "Free at Last - Freeway". Allmusic.
  2. ↑ Thought, Lyrical (17 November 2007). "[News] Freeway Talks About His New Album 'Free At Last'". Def Sounds. Archived from the original on 4 December 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
  3. ↑ "What Happened Between Freeway and G-Unit?". DJ Vlad.
  4. ↑ Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 11/25/07 | Hip Hop News > HipHopDX.com
  5. ↑ Katie Hasty, "'Oprah' Visit Helps Groban Soar To No. 1", Billboard.com, November 28, 2007.
  6. ↑ Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 3/30/08 | Hip Hop News > HipHopDX.com
  7. ↑ About.com review
  8. ↑ AllHipHop.com review
  9. ↑ Allmusic review
  10. ↑ Entertainment Weekly review
  11. ↑ Pitchfork Media review
  12. ↑ Rolling Stone review
  13. ↑ Pop Matters review
  14. ↑ USA Today review Archived 2008-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ Free at Last (Liner notes). Freeway. Def Jam Recordings. 2007. B0004853-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ "Freeway Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  17. ↑ "Freeway Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
  18. ↑ "2008 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
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