"I Need a Freak" is an influential

rap Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates " rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backin ...

/ electro song, originally released in 1983 by the musical act Sexual Harassment. It has been recorded and sampled many times, most notably by the hip hop group

Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas are an American musical group formed in Los Angeles in 1995, composed of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo (rapper), Taboo. Fergie (singer), Fergie was a member during the height of their popularity in the 2000s, and ...

for their 2005 hit song "

My Humps "My Humps" is a song by American hip hop group the Black Eyed Peas, released on September 20, 2005 by A&M Records and Interscope Records. It was originally written by will.i.am for the American girl group the Pussycat Dolls, but was ultimately ...

". The late Lynn Tolliver, who composed the song, was awarded a $1.2 million lawsuit in 2011 against his former collaborator, James McCants, for using the song without permission. Tolliver, a popular, long-time DJ from

WZAK WZAK (93.1 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, featuring an urban adult contemporary format. Owned by Urban One, WZAK serves Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio as a local affiliate for national ...

in Cleveland, Ohio told the Cleveland ''Plain Dealer'', "I don't get all that money, and I don't have any of it yet, but this couldn't have happened at a better time... I've been unemployed the last few years and was near bankruptcy, so this is a blessing." Tolliver, who was well known in Cleveland for his daring on-air stunts, passed away in February 2022 due to an undisclosed medical condition. Tolliver is listed under his pseudonym David Payton on the album credits. The song was also released on the 1996

Thump Records Thump Records is a record label specialized in various genres of music. Founded by Bill Walker and Al Lopez for $10,000 in 1990. In 1997 Bill Walker became its sole C.E.O. and President. History Thump's success was ignited by the popularity of i ...

compilation album, ''Old School: Volume 6'', as well as the 2000

Priority Records Priority Records is an American distribution company and record label known for artists including N.W.A, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Eazy-E, Master P, Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Silkk the Shocker, Jay-Z, Paris, Mack 10, 504 Boyz, Brotha Lynch Hung, ...

compilation, '' In tha Beginning...There Was Rap''. A dispute over royalties for the song were heard in an Ohio court in 2014. The Sexual Harassment band consisted of Lynne Poole, Dale Jackson, Lourdes Figueroa, Kelly Albright, Alicia Starr, and Charlie Inez.

Covers versions

Other artists who have covered the song include: *

Egyptian Lover Gregory James Broussard (born August 31, 1963), better known by his stage name Egyptian Lover, is an American musician, vocalist, producer and DJ, and was a part of the L.A. dance music, electro, and rap scene in the early 1980s. History T ...

- "I Need a Freak" from ''

Back from the Tomb ''Back From the Tomb'' is the fourth studio album and fifth overall by rapper/DJ, Egyptian Lover. The album was released in 1994 for Egyptian Empire Records and was produced by Egyptian Lover. The album was Egyptian Lover's first since 1988's Fi ...

'' (1994) *

Esham Esham Attica Smith (born September 20, 1973), known mononymously as Esham, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. Emerging as one of the first ever hip hop artists from Detroit, Esham released his debut studio album, '' Boomin' Words fr ...

- "Lowlafalana" from '' Bruce Wayne: Gothom City 1987'' (1997) *

Too $hort Todd Anthony Shaw (born April 28, 1966), better known by his stage name Too Short (stylized as Too $hort), is an American rapper. A pioneer of West Coast hip-hop, Shaw was among the first acts to receive recognition in the genre during the late ...

- "I Need a Freak" from '' In tha Beginning...There Was Rap'' (1997) *

Insane Clown Posse Insane Clown Posse, often abbreviated as ICP, is an American hip hop duo. Formed in Detroit in 1989, ICP's best-known lineup consists of rappers Violent J (Joseph Bruce) and Shaggy 2 Dope (originally 2 Dope; Joseph Utsler). Insan ...

- "Cherry Pie (I Need a Freak)" from ''

Bizzar ''Bizzar'' is the seventh studio album by the American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. Released on October 31, 2000, by Island Records (in association with Psychopathic Records), it is the second half of the ''Bizzar Bizaar'' double album, rel ...

'' (2000) * Electocute - "I Need a Freak" from ''A Tribute to Your Taste'' (2003) *

Tyga Micheal Ray StevensonMicheal Ray Stevenson

- "Freak" (2020) * Lamps - "Freak" (2020) *

The Subs The Subs is a Belgian electro band founded by Jeroen "Papillon" De Pessemier and Wiebe "Tonic" Loccufier. History Early days Following early success with underground club hits like "You Make Me Spill," "Fuck That Shit," and "Substracktion," the ...

- "Freak" (2023) * Jonathan Hay, and Monyear produced "I Need a Freak" for Drag Jazz from the album 'Drag At the Jazz Club' (2024)http://www.dragjazz.com

References

External links

Sexual Harassment page at Discogs

Lyrics of this song
at MusixMatch {{authority control 1983 songs Electro songs Sampling controversies Too Short songs Music licensing