Jay-Z Put The Brakes On Freeway’s G-Unit And Roc-A-Fella Collab

Freeway appears on VLAD TV where he reveals why Jay-Z stopped a G-Unit and Roc-A-Fella collab for his second studio album.

After releasing his debut album Philadelphia Freeway, Philly born rapper Freeway was on his way to bigger and better things. The album, released under Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella, landed at number 5 on the Billboard 200 and featured the lead single “What We Do.” Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Faith Evans and Nelly were some who joined Freeway on his 2003 project.

Four years later building momentum off his debut album, Freeway on the rise. In fact, the rapper who had mutual respect with 50 Cent, was ready to link wit the G-Unit superstar. Fif selfishly offered his guidance and contribution on Freeway’s sophomore project.

Freeway’s second studio album Free At Last was set to be released as a G-Unit and Roc-A-Fella collab, with Jay-Z and 50 Cent executive producing the project. Ultimately plans changed.

“At the end when it was time to turn the album in and everything was done, I had a conversation with Jay,” explained Freeway. “Jay was like, ‘We not going in that direction. We don’t need that.’ And I was like that’s how you feel, cool, let’s go. And that’s how it happened.”

50 Cent would still make an appearance on the album when he was featured on the J. R. Rotem produced record, “Take It To The Top.”

“He definitely wanted it to happen. He definitely was disappointed about it. But sometimes s*** work out and sometimes it don’t work out. I wasn’t trippin,” said Freeway on his and 50 Cent’s reaction to Jay-Z derailing the original plans. “It was an amazing album. I remember when the album came out I had chopped it up with big homie and like the numbers wasn’t as good as we expected to do, but it was a solid album. And he told me, he was like Free, ‘Long as you continue to make good music and you make great albums, you’re always gonna be able to make another album.'”

Indeed he did. Freeway would go on to release four more albums after his sophomore project. The rapper has not released an album since 2018 as his focus has fully turned to his acceptance of Islam.