"Freak Me" is a song by American R&B group Silk. It was released in February 1993 as the second single from their debut album, Lose Control (1992). It was co-written and co-produced by Keith Sweat, for whom Silk was a touring opening act. Tim Cameron, Jimmy Gates and Gary "Lil G" Jenkins sing lead on the song.
Commercial performance The song was the group's highest-charting hit single, reaching number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, and also spending ten weeks at number two. It also topped the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for eight weeks. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and sold over 1.3 million copies domestically.
The song was covered by Another Level, and their version reached No. 1 on the UK chart.
Music video Two versions of the music video for "Freak Me" were produced: the first was directed by Bronwen Hughes, while the second was directed by Lionel C. Martin.
Track listing US 7" Vinyl single" A1 "Freak Me" (LP Version) [featuring Teno West] – 4:35 B "Happy Days" – 4:06
US 12" Vinyl single" A1 "Freak Me" (Remix) [featuring Teno West] – 4:55 A2 "Freak Me" (Jeep Beat Mix) [featuring Teno West] – 4:55 B1 "Freak Me" (LP Version) [featuring Teno West] – 4:35 B2 "Happy Days" (Instrumental) – 3:45
Europe CD Maxi-Single "Freak Me" (LP Version) – 4:35 "Freak Me" (Remix) [featuring Teno West] – 4:55 "Freak Me" (Jeep Beat Mix) [featuring Teno West] – 4:55
Other versions "Freak Me" (Extended Version) – 5:38 "Freak Me" (12" Remix) – 4:57
Credits Co-producer – T.H. Producer – Keith Sweat Writer – Keith Sweat Co-producer – T.H. Rap – Teno West Producer – Alton Wokie Stewart (tracks: B2) Remix – Jermaine Dupri (tracks: B2), Carl Heilbron (tracks: A1, A2), Keith Sweat (tracks: A1, A2) Engineer – Phil Tan
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1993)PeakpositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)43Europe (European Dance Radio)8UK Singles (OCC)46US Billboard Hot 1001US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)1
Year-end charts Chart (1993)PositionAustralia (ARIA)15New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)43US Billboard Hot 1005US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)4US Cash Box Top 1007
Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999)Position US Billboard Hot 10032
Certifications
Another Level version
The song was covered by British boy band Another Level in 1998. It was released on 6 July 1998 as the second single from the band's self-titled debut album. This version reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, overtaking Billie's "Because We Want To". It was produced by Fitzgerald Scott, Cutfather and Joe; it was the seventeenth biggest-selling boy band single of the 1990s in the UK, selling over 415,000 copies.
Track listing UK CD single (1) "Freak Me" "Whatever You Want" "Freak Me"
UK CD single (2) "Freak Me" "Freak Me" "Freak Me"
German CD single "Freak Me" (C&J Radio Edit) — 3:39 "Freak Me" — 6:09
German CD maxi-single "Freak Me" "Whatever You Want" "Freak Me" "Freak Me" "Freak Me" "Freak Me"
Credits and personnel Production – Fitzgerald Scott Engineering – Alex Nesmith Programming – Alex Nesmith Co-production – Cutfather and Joe Keyboards, programming – Joe Belmaati Rhodes piano – Tue Röh Engineering – Bernard Löhr
Source:
Charts Chart (1998)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100)11Europe (European Hit Radio)34Netherlands Airplay (Music & Media)7 Airplay (Music & Media)17UK Airplay (Music Week) 10
Year-end charts Chart (1998)PositionBelgium (Ultratop Flanders)95Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)17Netherlands (Single Top 100)20Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)55 UK Singles (OCC)28 UK Urban (Music Week)29
Certifications
See also List of number-one R&B singles of 1993 (U.S.) List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1993 List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1990s
References