Freak (Doja Cat song)

"Freak"
"Freak"
Promotional single by Doja Cat
Published	November 11, 2018
Released	August 7, 2020
Recorded	2018
Studio	Lineage Studios (Los Angeles, California); The Sound Factory (Los Angeles, California);
Genre	R&B
Length	4:44
Label	Kemosabe; RCA;
Songwriter(s)	Amala Zandile Dlamini; David Sprecher; Cameron Bartolini; Paul Anka; Chad Hugo; Pharrell Williams;
Producer(s)	Doja Cat; Cambo; Yeti Beats (add.);
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

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

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

Doja Cat – vocals, songwriting, production
Cameron Bartolini – songwriting; production, engineering as Cambo
David Sprecher – songwriting; additional production, engineering as Yeti
Paul Anka – songwriting
Chad Hugo – songwriting
Pharrell Williams – songwriting
Neal H Pogue – mixing for Roselle New Jersey
Mike Bozzi – mastering

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

Charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[12]	5
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (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


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[17]	Platinum	70,000^‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)^[18]	Platinum	40,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[19]	Platinum	30,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[20]	Silver	200,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[21]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Various	November 11, 2018	SoundCloud	Self-released	^[4]
Various	August 7, 2020	Digital download streaming	Kemosabe RCA	^[10]
Canada	November 12, 2020	LP	RCA	^[22]^[11]
United States	November 12, 2020	LP	RCA	^[22]^[11]

References

^ ^a ^b Freak (Vinyl) (Media notes). Kemosabe Records.
^ Zidel, Alex (August 6, 2020). "Doja Cat's "Freak" Single Gets Official Release Tonight: Listen Here". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
^ Rashed, Ayesha (August 7, 2020). "Doja Cat Releases "Freak" On Digital Service Providers For Fans". Respect. ISSN 2150-8674. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "FREAK – Track by DOJA CAT". SoundCloud. November 11, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
^ 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.
^ "♬ Freak by Doja Cat. On soundcloud on TikTok". TikTok. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
^ Lilah, Rose (June 24, 2020). "Doja Cat Teases A Bunch Of Unreleased Music To Be Packaged Into Project". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
^ 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)
^ "Freak – Single by Doja Cat". Apple Music. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Freak – Single by Doja Cat (Explicit)". Apple Music. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
^ ^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.
^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
^ "Doja Cat Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
^ "Doja Cat Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
^ "Doja Cat Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
^ "Doja Cat Chart History (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
^ "Brazilian single certifications – Doja Cat – Freak" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
^ "New Zealand single certifications – Doja Cat – Freak". Radioscope. Retrieved August 16, 2025. Type Freak in the "Search:" field.
^ "British single certifications – Doja Cat – Freak". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
^ "American single certifications – Doja Cat – Freak". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
^ "Doja Cat – Freak Limited LP". Urban Outfitters. Retrieved November 12, 2020.

[linernotes-1] 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. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.

[:3-4] "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.

[:0-8] 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.

[:1-10] "Freak – Single by Doja Cat (Explicit)". Apple Music. Retrieved August 6, 2020.

[:2-11] 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.

[sc_Billboardbubbling100_Doja_Cat-13] "Doja Cat Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.

[sc_Billboarddigitalsongs_Doja_Cat-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.

[AustraliasingleCertRef-17] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[BrazilDoja_CatFreaksingleCertRef-18] "Brazilian single certifications – Doja Cat – Freak" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved January 6, 2023.

[New_ZealandDoja_CatFreaksingleCertRef-19] "New Zealand single certifications – Doja Cat – Freak". Radioscope. Retrieved August 16, 2025. Type Freak in the "Search:" field.

[United_KingdomDoja_CatFreaksingleCertRef-20] "British single certifications – Doja Cat – Freak". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 7, 2024.

[United_StatesDoja_CatFreaksingleCertRef-21] "American single certifications – Doja Cat – Freak". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 19, 2022.

[22] "Doja Cat – Freak Limited LP". Urban Outfitters. Retrieved November 12, 2020.

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v t e Doja Cat
Discography Awards and nominations
Studio albums	Amala (2018) Hot Pink (2019) Planet Her (2021) Scarlet (2023) Vie (2025)
Extended plays	Purrr! (2014)
Singles	"So High" "Candy" "Mooo!" "Tia Tamera" "Juicy" "Bottom Bitch" "Rules" "Cyber Sex" "Say So" "Boss Bitch" "Like That" "Del Mar" "Streets" "Kiss Me More" "You Right" "Need to Know" "Woman" "Handstand" "Freaky Deaky" "Get Into It (Yuh)" "Vegas" "Paint the Town Red" "Agora Hills" "Jealous Type"
Featured singles	"Make That Cake" "BMO" (remix) "In Your Eyes" (remix) "Pussy Talk" "To Be Young" "Do It" (remix) "Baby, I'm Jealous" "Best Friend" "34+35" (remix) "Dick" "I Like You (A Happier Song)" "Kill Bill" (remix) "N.H.I.E." "Born Again" "Just Us" "Lose My Mind"
Promotional singles	"Freak" "You're the One That I Want" "Celebrity Skin" "Attention" "Demons" "Balut"
Other songs	"Motive" "Ain't Shit" "Tonight"
Concert tours	The Scarlet Tour Ma Vie World Tour
Related articles	Yeti Beats

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"Freak"

Promotional single by Doja Cat
Published	November 11, 2018 (2018-11-11)
Released	August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)
Recorded	2018
Studio	Lineage Studios (Los Angeles, California) The Sound Factory (Los Angeles, California) ^[1]
Genre	R&B
Length	4:44
Label	Kemosabe RCA
Songwriter(s)	Amala Zandile Dlamini David Sprecher Cameron Bartolini Paul Anka Chad Hugo Pharrell Williams
Producer(s)	Doja Cat Cambo Yeti Beats (add.)

Audio video
"Freak" on YouTube