{{Short description|2022 single by Eem Triplin}} {{Infobox song | name = Awkward Freestyle | cover = Eem Triplin - Awkward Freestyle.jpg | type = single | artist = Eem Triplin | released = March 31, 2022 | recorded = | genre = * Hip-hop * sample drill | length = 2:07 | label = | writer = Naeem Triplin | producer = Eem Triplin | prev_title = Mr Clean | prev_year = 2022 | next_title = Louie V | next_year = 2022 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|qLQl5IX_G80|"Awkward Freestyle"}}}} }} "'''Awkward Freestyle'''" is a single by American rapper Eem Triplin, released on March 31, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Awkward Freestyle - Single |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/awkward-freestyle-single/1617048195 |website=Apple Music |access-date=July 10, 2025}}</ref> It contains a sample of "Awkward" by Tyler, the Creator and went viral on the video-sharing app TikTok, becoming his breakout song,
==Background== Eem Triplin experimented with sampling "Awkward" by Tyler, the Creator years before the release of "Awkward Freestyle".<ref name="Fader">{{cite web |title=FOREVER.CLASSIC: Eem Triplin's effortless cool |url=https://www.thefader.com/2023/05/10/foreverclassic-eem-triplins-effortless-cool |website=The Fader |access-date=July 10, 2025 |date=May 10, 2023}}</ref> The song is about a breakup,<ref name="XXL">{{cite web |last1=Seabrook III |first1=Robby |title=The Break Presents – Eem Triplin |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/eem-triplin-interview-the-break/ |website=XXL |access-date=July 10, 2025 |date=December 27, 2022}}</ref><ref name="BET">{{cite web |last1=Meara |first1=Paul |title=#OnTheVerge: Eem Triplin Sounds Like Himself Which Is Like No One Else |url=https://www.bet.com/article/2usv64/eem-triplin-ontheverge-interview-pennsylvania |website=BET |access-date=July 10, 2025 |date=July 12, 2023}}</ref> with Triplin using a fast-paced flow over "syrupy, slow-paced samples"<ref name="XXL" /> and rapping in a melancholic, bitter tone.<ref name="Fader" /><ref name="XXL" /><ref name="BET" /> In the following several weeks, the song achieved popularity on TikTok and garnered over two million streams on Spotify.<ref name="Complex">{{cite web |last1=Gardner |first1=Alex |last2=Moore |first2=Jacob |last3=Adorney |first3=Sabine |last4=LoPilato |first4=Caitlin |last5=Hill |first5=Shamus |title=Best New Artists |url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/a/alex-gardner/best-new-artists-june-2022 |website=Complex |access-date=July 10, 2025 |date=June 29, 2022}}</ref> It eventually attracted the attention of Tyler, the Creator himself, who endorsed the song.<ref name="BET" /><ref name="Complex" />
==Critical reception== ''The Fader'' wrote of the song, "It's become an underground hit through TikTok, planting Eem on Rolling Loud bills and even receiving a blessing from Tyler himself. And for good reason: On the track, Eem effortlessly threads the needle between the chilly fuzz of sample drill and the warm snaps of L.A. street rap, creating something entirely his own. The real sauce, though, is Eem's soft pitched-up and layered vocals, a cool, bedroom pop-esque mutation of X and Kodak that imbues every word with soul."<ref name="Fader" />
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Eem Triplin|title=Awkward Freestyle|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=July 10, 2025}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:2022 singles Category:2022 songs Category:Eem Triplin songs Category:Songs written by Eem Triplin Category:TikTok trends