Free at Last (Freeway album)

Free at Last
Studio album by Freeway
Released	November 20, 2007
Genre	East Coast hip-hop Hardcore hip-hop
Length	51:01
Label	Roc-A-Fella Def Jam
Producer	Bink! Carvin & Ivan Chad "Wes" Hamilton Cool & Dre Dame Grease Dangerous LLC DJ Noodles Don Cannon Double-O J.R. Rotem Jake One Needlz Ron Fair
Freeway chronology
Philadelphia Freeway (2003) Free at Last (2007) Philadelphia Freeway 2 (2009)
Singles from Free at last
"Roc-A-Fella Billionaires" Released: July 10, 2007 "Lights Get Low" Released: November 20, 2007

Free at Last is the second studio album by Philadelphia 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 Ambrosius, Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, and Jadakiss.

Background

In a November 2007 interview, Freeway explained why he took such a lengthy hiatus. 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 several publications to falsely conclude he was signed to G-Unit Records.

Commercial performance

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

"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.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	StarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg
AllHipHop.com	StarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svgFile:Star empty.svg
Allmusic	StarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg
Entertainment Weekly	B−
Pitchfork Media	(7.7/10)
Rolling Stone	StarStarStarHalf starFile:Star empty.svg
PopMatters	StarStarStarStarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svgFile:Star empty.svgFile:Star empty.svg
USA Today	StarStarStarHalf star

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.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"This Can't Be Real" (featuring Marsha Ambrosius)	Leslie Pridgen Ivan Barias Carvin Haggins Gil Scott-Heron	Carvin & Ivan	3:44
2.	"It's Over"	Pridgen Jacob Dutton Herb Magidson Allie Wrubel	Jake One	3:40
3.	"Still Got Love"	Pridgen Roosevelt Harrell Curtis Mayfield	Bink!	3:45
4.	"Roc-A-Fella Billionaires" (featuring Jay-Z)	Pridgen Damon Blackman Shawn Carter Cy Coleman Dorothy Fields	Dame Grease	3:41
5.	"When They Remember"	Pridgen Harrell Alan Bergman Alan and Marilyn Bergman Marilyn Bergman]] Marvin Hamlisch	Bink!	3:43
6.	"Take It To The Top" (featuring 50 Cent)	Pridgen Jonathan Rotem Curtis Jackson	J. R. Rotem Carvin & Ivan (vocal)	3:42
7.	"Spit That Shit"	Pridgen Teraike Crawford Jason Turnbull Ryan Presson	Teraike "Chris Styles" Crawford Jason "Sire" Turnbull	3:43
8.	"Reppin' The Streets"	Pridgen Chad Hamilton Presson Homer Banks Carl Hampton	Chad "Wes" Hamilton	3:59
9.	"Free at Last" (featuring Kidz In The Hall)	Pridgen Michael Aguilar Presson Michael Gradney Jr. David Oliver	Double-O	3:38
10.	"Baby Don't Do It" (featuring Scarface)	Pridgen Hamilton Presson Brad Jordan Willie Hutch	Chad "Wes" Hamilton Ryan Press (co.)	3:27
11.	"Nuttin' On Me"	Pridgen Khari Cain	Needlz	2:55
12.	"Walk Wit Me" (featuring Busta Rhymes and Jadakiss)	Pridgen Donald Cannon Trevor Smith Jason Phillips	Don Cannon	4:06
13.	"Lights Get Low" (featuring Rick Ross)	Pridgen Marcello Valenzano Andre Lyon William Roberts	Cool & Dre	3:47
14.	"I Cry"	Pridgen Matthew Naples Raeford Gerald Gary Byrd	DJ Noodles	3:11
Total length:				51:01

Leftover Track

• "Where U Been"

Sample credits

• "This Can't Be Real" embodies portions of "Did You Hear What They Said?", written by Gil Scott-Heron.
• "It's Over" contains elements of "I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is Over", written by Herb Magidson and Allie Wrubel, and performed by David Porter
• "Still Got Love" contains samples from "Eddie, You Should Know Better", written and performed by Curtis Mayfield.
• "Roc-A-Fella Billionaires" contains a sample of "Big Spender", from the "Sweet Charity Original Soundtrack", written by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields.
• "When They Remember" contains samples from "The Way We Were", written by Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and Marvin Hamlisch; and performed by Gladys Knight & the Pips.
• "Reppin' the Streets" contains samples from "I'll Be the Other Woman", written by Homer Banks and Carl Hampton, and performed by The Soul Children.
• "Free at Last" contains a sample of "I Wanna Write You a Love Song", written by Michael Gradney Jr. and David Oliver, and performed by David Oliver.
• "Baby Don't Do It", embodies portions of "Overture of Foxy Brown", written by Willie Hutch.
• "I Cry" contains a sample of "I Cry" written by Raeford Gerald and Gary Byrd, and performed by Millie Jackson.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2007)	Peak position
US Billboard 200	42
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	5

Year-end charts

Chart (2008)	Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	70