Fridayy Reflects on “GOD DID,” Performing with Jay-Z and his Debut Album

A lot can happen in a year. Just ask Fridayy, who in a matter of months went from relatively unknown to one of the most recognizable voices in hip-hop. The singer, songwriter and producer produced, co-wrote and laid vocals on several well-known songs in the last 12 months.

Fridayy can be heard on the hook for "Forever"— the highest charting song from Lil Baby’s It's Only Me. The Philly native also received writing credits on a couple of songs from Chris Brown’s Breezy album, including the Lil Durk and Capella Grey-assisted opening track, “Till The Wheels Fall Off.”

And then there was “GOD DID,” the title track from DJ Khaled's 10th studio album. The star-studded posse-cut featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, John Legend, Jay-Z and Fridayy was easily one of 2022’s most talked about songs.

And it wasn’t just the talk of Black Twitter (or X) and Ari Melber. The song also caught the attention of the Grammy committee, who nominated it for three Awards including in the highly coveted Song Of The Year category, as well in the Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song categories.

If you wanted a clear indicator of just how dope Fridayy is, peep this. The multifaceted artist not only bodied his delivery of the “GOD DID” hook, he also wrote it and produced the song. Khaled liked Fridayy’s original demo— which he made last summer while in his bedroom in Philly— of the song so much that he at one point was going to title it “Fridayy’s Interlude.”

Fridayy has been living and breathing music for much of his life. Growing up in Philly, he immersed himself in music in every way possible. Eventually teaching himself how to sing, produce and play several instruments, such as piano, guitar, drums, bass and trumpet.

The self-taught singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist began further refining his raw talent as an active member of his church’s choir. Influenced by his gospel roots, as well as modern R&B renaissance men PartyNextDoor and The Weeknd, he continued to perfect his craft and sound, releasing his first official songs in the early 2010s.

“I make songs about life,” explains the Def Jam artist. “I make songs that are gonna make you feel something.”

At the heart of Fridayy’s music is real shit. While many artists might distance themselves from digging deep emotionally, he leans into embracing the emotional journey life has curated for him. “Everything I write about — it starts from something I’m going through, but I also write it in a way everybody can relate to it,” he says.

Fridayy further stepped from behind the scenes late last year, releasing his debut EP, Lost In Melody. The seven-track featuring the single "Don't Give Up On Me" showcased more than just his artistic vision.

“Lost In Melody is really the introduction of who I am,” he promises. “Like all those songs is just really the intro. But this album is just— it’s that times two.”

The album Fridayy is referring to is his debut, which is set to arrive next week. According to him, if you rocked with Lost In Melody, you’re definitely going to rock with the 14-track album featuring Bryon Messia, Fireboy DML and Chris Brown.

Fridayy had a variety of influences in mind while putting his self-titled project together. He tapped into everything from the sounds of R&B, hip-hop and Afrobeats to the storytelling of classic albums to his own life for inspo.

As the old adage (& the Janet Jackson song) goes, time flies when you’re having fun. So it makes sense that when asked to describe the last 12 months in 3 words Fridayy responds with fast.

It was only a few months ago that he joined the ranks of icons like Paul McCarthy and Kanye West by being one of the few artists to ever perform with Hov at a Grammys.

Prior to closing out the 65th Annual Grammy Awards with an electrifying and unforgettable “GOD DID” performance, Fridayy fought off pre-game jitters. “I was scared as shit bro,” he admits. “Like damn, I could be the one to mess up a Jay-Z performance.”

“I was scared as shit until the day of,” he adds. “I was singing like the whole week. I focused like the whole week, singing, singing, singing “GOD DID” every morning. And then I remember backstage Khaled ran up on me and played the instrumental in my ear. He ran up with his people and I just started singing. That was before we hit the stage. I don't know why he did that, but when I did that, everybody was like, alright, he ready.”

One thing about Fridayy, he’s going to deliver a memorable performance. Just watch his recent XXL Freshman freestyle. The 2023 Freshman Class member made his presence felt and voice heard with the assistance of a choir. “I knew they was going to pick me, by how I impacted hip-hop this past year. it was a blessing, bro,” the Philly native humbly admits.

In any sport, it’s a big deal for a rookie to earn the respect of a vet. So you know it says a lot that Fridayy has impressed several of the greatest of all time. He’s gathered critical acclaim and commercial success for penning songs for and collaborating with legends. With a track record like his, Fridayy is easily one of the more recognizable and promising voices in all of hip-hop and r&b.