UPDATE: “Free Uzi” has been pulled from streaming services, with TMZ reporting that it faced copyright issues for its use of the “Gangway” beat. However, the “Gangway” producer DJ L Beats claimed on Instagram that he has no problem with Uzi using the beat. The song’s music video remains available on YouTube, where it was uploaded by video director CreativityQas.
See below for original story.
In the midst of ongoing drama with his Generation Now label and a purported retirement, Lil Uzi Vert is back today with his new song, “Free Uzi.” The song uses the same beat as G Herbo’s 2012 song “Gangway,” and dropped via SoundCloud and TIDAL.
Although Atlantic Records told The FADER that the song is “a leaked record. not official,” Uzi promoted the song on his Instagram and released a full music video:
Uzi doesn’t directly address his label issues, although he may allude to his retirement on the third verse:
I can’t trust none of these niggas, might turn on me
I’m still a millionaire, this shit not hurtin' me
But it’s hurtin' you
He also seems to reveal that he once owed three million dollars to the IRS:
Had to get my business together (Yup)
I had three million in taxes (I did)
I got it all off on this level (Yup)
They said it’s three million that’s missin'
I ain’t say nothin', I stayed level
Elsewhere in the song, he offers an eyebrow-raising reference to former San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick:
“She was suckin' my dick right on her knees
Her mama bust her, she said, "Girl, what is happenin'?”
She said, “Baby, you know your dad a pastor”
She said, “Mama, I’m just doin' the Kaepernick”
The Philly rapper has been in the midst of a “retirement” from music and has said that Generation Now is stopping him from releasing his sophomore album, Eternal Atake. Last week, NAV said Generation Now refused to clear Uzi’s verse for his new album, a claim that DJ Drama refuted in a statement to Genius. Drama and Don Cannon have since said that Uzi is free to release Eternal Atake anytime he wants. Roc Nation swooped in this week to sign Uzi to a management deal, which would explain why the song dropped on TIDAL (co-owned by JAY-Z) but not Spotify or Apple Music.
Listen to the song above and read all the lyrics to Lil Uzi Vert’s “Free Uzi” on Genius now.
