Freedom by Beyoncé ft. Kendrick Lamar (2016)

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Freedom Cover

Freedom is a song by American singer Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar, released on September 9, 2016, produced by Just Blaz, Beyoncé, and Jonny Coffer. [1]. The blues song is from Beyoncé’s sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016). Upon its release, the song charted on various music charts, reaching number 35 in the US, on the Billboard Hot 100 and 40 in the UK. Freedom received a nomination at 2017 Grammy Awards for Best Rap/Sung Performance. [2]

Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar

Key Lyrics

Open our mind as we cast away oppression

Open the streets and watch our beliefs

And when they carve my name in the concrete I hope it forever reads

Freedom, freedom, I can’t move

Freedom, freedom, cut me loose

Freedom, freedom, where are you

Cause I need freedom too [3]

Black Empowerment

The song is an anthem dedicated to black women which brings hope by featuring the mothers of victims Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner pictured with photos of their deceased sons.

Throughout the song, she points to herself who can empower other women to break free the bonds in society placed on them. Beyoncé addresses the struggle as a black woman, also alluding to the history of slavery of African-Americans, including Black Lives Matter movement. Differently with Beyoncé who focuses on women’s issues, Kendrick Lamar touches on racism, a major theme of his 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly. However, Lamar also brings women to the forefront, 2Pac’s Dear Mama and Ride 4 Me while sending an empowerment message to his mother. The focus major of this song is black women and social equality justice. [4]

Beyoncé has extended herself through Freedom, reaching more deep to deliver the core message in the song, music, and motion with absolute brilliance. [5]

References