Backseat Freestyle
"Backseat Freestyle" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released as the third single from his second studio album "Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" (2012) on October 22, 2012. "Backseat Freestyle" was written by Lamar and Chauncey Hollis, and produced by Chauncey Hollis, under his stage name Hit-Boy. In 2019, it was used in the film "Waves." Background. Hit-Boy originally produced the beat for singer, Ciara, who used it for her song, "Hit Boy". However, after months went by with no response from her, he gave the beat to Kendrick Lamar, and it became  Backseat Freestyle. The song follows the concept of Lamar's album, which is basically a day in the life of a teenaged Kendrick Lamar. The song is preceded by a short skit, at the end of the previous track "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe", in which Lamar's friend tells him "K-Dot, get in the car, nigga, we finna roll out. Nigga, I got a pack of blacks and a beat CD, get your freestyles ready." In October 2013, Lamar said Detroit-based rapper Eminem influenced the song. Music video. The music video, directed by Kendrick Lamar and  Jerome D, was released on January 2, 2013. The video features model Tokyo portraying "Sherane". Live performances. Lamar has performed "Backseat Freestyle" on The Damn Tour. Release and reception. "Backseat Freestyle" was released as the third single from "Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2012. Following its single release, it entered and peaked at number 79 on the UK Singles Chart, dropping off the chart after one week. In the United States, "Backseat Freestyle" peaked at number six on the "Billboard" Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart following the release of "Good Kid, M.A.A.D City . It also peaked at numbers 29 and 22 respectively on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rap Songs charts. The single charted for one week on the Belgium Ultratop Urban 50 for the region of Flanders at number 50, and peaked at number 81 on the Ultratip chart. Backseat Freestyle" has been widely regarded as one of Lamar's best songs. In 2018, "Billboard" ranked the song number six on their list of the 20 greatest Kendrick Lamar songs, and in 2021, "Rolling Stone" ranked the song number three on their list of the 50 greatest Kendrick Lamar songs