Freak Like Me

### Songwriter(s)

Nicole Valentine, Ariana Grande, Michael Williams, Eugene Hanes, Marc Valentine, Loren Hill, William "Bootsy" Collins, George Clinton, Jr.

## singles chronology

### Previous

Nicky Risqué: "Kamikaze Bitch" (2017)
 Ariana Grande: "Quit" (2017)

### Next

Nicky Risqué: "Put 'Em Up High" (2018)
 Ariana Grande: "No Tears Left to Cry" (2018)

**Freak Like Me** is a single by American rapper Nicky Risqué, featuring guest vocals from American singer Ariana Grande. The song was released as the second single from Risqué's fourth studio album *Masquerade*. "Freak Like Me" heavily samples Adina Howard's 1995 single of the same name.

## Background and release

After corresponding online for many years, Nicky and Ariana finally met at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards. In the two years prior, they had tried to arrange a collaboration over email, but plans fell through. Determined to get Ariana on the album, she played her the demo of "Freak Like Me" and Ariana absolutely loved it, wanting to contribute her voice to the chorus of the song. They recorded the song in September 2016, with Nicky agreeing to record a rap verse for Ariana in return, however the collaboration was shelved, with Nicky saying in a Twitter Q&A in 2019 that "we're both perfectionists and we weren't happy with the result, maybe it'll be released at some point but we're happy with "Freak Like Me" for the time being and who knows, maybe we'll have another go of it soon, I know we're both up for it." "Freak Like Me" was released as the second single from *Masquerade* on February 19, 2018, hitting number five on the Billboard Hot 100.

## Composition

"Freak Like Me" is a hip hop song that runs for two minutes and forty-five seconds, written by Nicky Risqué, Ariana Grande, and Mike WiLL Made-It, who also produced the track. The song heavily samples the chorus and bassline from Adina Howard's 1995 single of the same name. Ariana Grande sings in the chorus "I want a freak in the morning, freak in the evening, just like me, I know your girl does it well but tell me can she freak like me."

## Critical reception

"Freak Like Me" received mainly positive reviews from music critics. *Vice* said "Nicky and Ariana teamed up and managed to breathe new life into an R&B classic from the '90s, and the results were glorious. Ariana sounds incredible in the chorus, Nicky's spitfire verses didn't miss even once, and Mike WiLL once again proved that he's a king in the scene of rap production." Vulture gave the song 4/5 stars, saying "The only downside is that while Ariana kills the chorus, she deserved a verse, or at least a bridge on this song. The song is already incredible but it could have been elevated so much more, that being said, if this is what a Nicky Risqué hip hop return sounds like, we're all on board!"

## Music Video

The music video, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, was released on February 24, 2018. The video opens with Ariana Grande and actress Alexa Demi pulling up to a mansion in a Mercedes, stepping out the door and standing against the car as Ariana sings the chorus. Nicky is shown to be a mobster's wife - with the mobster played by model David Gandy. Ariana and Alexa play friends of Nicky who she's invited over for dinner. Ariana walks up to greet the two and the mobster clearly takes an interest in her, making Nicky jealous, intercut with scenes of Nicky sitting alone at a dinner table, smoking a cigar in a chainmail dress. At dinner, Ariana makes advances on David right in front of Nicky, and the two compete for his affection much to his enjoyment, all while Alexa explores the mansion while they're distracted and finds a safe. Once he leaves the room, it becomes clear that Ariana seducing David is all part of Nicky's plan, and the three women are working on something together. One night, Nicky and Ariana surprise David and initiate a threesome, while Alexa distracts the bodyguards. While the three are in bed together, Ariana holds David down while Nicky pulls a knife out of the drawer, with the implication being that she slit his throat. Alexa subdues the bodyguard and directs Ariana and Nicky to the safe, where Nicky reveals that she got the code from David's little black book in his drawer. They steal all the money that they can find and escape in the Mercedes, laughing together as the leave the mansion, while the bodyguard comes to and finds David's body in the ransacked bedroom.