{"id":16335,"date":"2025-09-10T10:37:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T14:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/femimagazine.com\/?p=16335"},"modified":"2025-09-10T10:41:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T14:41:53","slug":"jack-freeman-the-heart-of-houston-rb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/femimagazine.com\/?p=16335","title":{"rendered":"Jack Freeman: The Heart of Houston R&B"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Houston native Jack Freeman<\/a><\/strong> is not just making waves in R&B, he is carving out a lane that feels deeply personal, soulful, and rooted in both his city and his story. With his third studio album Nina<\/strong> <\/a>released under Illustrate New Ideas, the creative content company he co-founded with Grammy Award-winning producer Bryan-Michael Cox<\/a><\/strong>, Freeman is proving he belongs in the conversation of artists shaping the sound of modern R&B.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Credit: Fred Agho<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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The project is personal, reflective, and filled with the kind of songwriting that feels like it came straight from late-night studio conversations. When asked about the inspiration behind Nina and the deluxe version scheduled for release on September 17th, Freeman shared, \u201cNina is a collection of my experiences with love stories coupled with the perspectives from some co-writers including Adonis, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Felly. The song often lies in the conversations that we tend to have in the studio. We just take our experiences and make them rhyme and flow.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Credit: Cory Dixon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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The journey of Nina is as much about artistry as it is about partnership. Freeman\u2019s collaboration with Bryan-Michael Cox is one of those rare bonds in music that feels destined. \u201cBryan came into my life when I wasn\u2019t sure where else to take my career. One of the biggest things he\u2019s done to date is simply believe in me when it seemed like no one else in the industry did. He continues to do that to this day, which allows me to go into the studio and create the type of music that feels good, opposed to trying to reinvent the wheel. For as long as he\u2019ll have me around, Bryan is going to be my Jam and Lewis. My Quincy Jones, if you will.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Pre-Save the Album Here<\/a>!<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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This faith in his artistry is now paying off in full-circle moments. Freeman recently announced that he will join Jagged Edge on their \u201cAn Evening With Jagged Edge 2025 Tour,\u201d<\/strong> a celebration of the 25th anniversary of their classic J.E. Heartbreak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Freeman, the opportunity carries a weight that goes beyond the stage. \u201cJoining Jagged Edge on tour meant the world to me. Having a group of guys believe in you enough to share their fanbase for a few minutes a night and let you rock is all that you can really ask sometimes. I\u2019m forever indebted to Brian, Brandon, Kyle, and Wingo for the support they\u2019ve extended in this past year alone. They made sure I had everything I needed on the road and made sure I was presented in the best light possible, literally and figuratively.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while Nina set the stage, Freeman\u2019s single \u201cMVP<\/strong>\u201d took things even further, evolving into a movement with multiple remixes. Collaborations with DJ Candlestick, Big K.R.I.T, and Bun B brought new life to the track. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, for starters, I\u2019ve known DJ Candlestick before I started making music. So, that was a no-brainer. I\u2019ve also known Bun B for a very long time. If you know Bun, you know that anytime you see him, his incredible wife is not too far. Bun is so comfortable in his skin and is probably the most happily married rapper I\u2019ve ever met. That needed to be represented in a song like \u2018MVP.\u2019 We reached out to Cory Mo for a remix and had a few more names on the short list of who we wanted to feature. Once I heard the beat, I knew KRIT would be the guy. I\u2019ve known KRIT since, probably, his first show here in the Houston area and I personally believe it was a long time coming. He\u2019s one of the most talented lyricists in this game, but y\u2019all knew that already.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Credit: Cory Dixon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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For Freeman, Houston is more than a backdrop. It is the energy that runs through his music. \u201cHouston is such a special city. The way we embrace our own culture and ride with it whether anyone else likes it or not is incredible. Admittedly, we are, and have always been, a more independent, hip-hop heavy culture. So, it was hard to find an abundance of R&B artists that I could look for guidance. Instead, I took what I learned from my rap friends, tweaked it and created something for myself that really didn\u2019t exist. Fortunately, it caught the eye of a fellow Houstonian, B Cox. We understand each other well because we know Houston\u2019s cultural landscape. Hopefully our different perspectives and shared experiences ooze out of the records.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is clear his artistry has matured, both in craft and perspective. \u201cFirst and foremost, I\u2019m so much better now as an artist, vocally. My pen and ear have also evolved. Songs like \u2018Nobody\u2019 and \u201850 First Dates\u2019 are moments in time where I knew I was really good at this. I have a lot more of those moments now. I can get the point across a lot easier. Because I\u2019ve lived more life, matured and have gotten older, the work naturally progresses. The album following Nina is going to be a doozy.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As R&B continues to evolve, Freeman stands firm in his authenticity. \u201cHonestly, it\u2019s about what feels good for me. I don\u2019t spend a lot of my time trying to catch up with the trends. I hear what\u2019s going on, I hear what isn\u2019t being done and I continue to feel genuine and authentic. Love is a human emotion. So, my job as an artist is to keep writing about it and to keep digging for the sound that resonates. It\u2019s all I know how to do! If that means we dip into other genres like Amapiano, Afrobeats, Funk or Jazz, then so be it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack Freeman<\/strong> is more than an artist. He is a storyteller, a student of life, and a reflection of Houston\u2019s spirit. With Nina Deluxe<\/a><\/strong> arriving September 17th<\/strong>, fans can expect even more from an artist who is just getting started but already leaving an undeniable mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Follow Jack Freeman on Instagram: @iamjackfreeman<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Listen to the \u201cMVP\u201d remixes HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Featured Image Credit: Cory Dixon<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Houston\u2019s own Jack Freeman is shaping the future of R&B with his latest project Nina and the upcoming deluxe release. From teaming up with Bryan-Michael Cox to joining Jagged Edge on tour, Jack is proving why his voice and vision are undeniable.
\nFollow his journey: @iamjackfreeman<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":16332,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3722],"tags":[3724,2000,3723,2495],"class_list":["post-16335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","category-music-culture","tag-bryan-michael-cox","tag-houston-texas","tag-jack-freeman","tag-music-releases"],"aioseo_notices":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nJack Freeman: The Heart of Houston R&B - FEMI MAGAZINE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/femimagazine.com\/?p=16335\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Jack Freeman: The Heart of Houston R&B - FEMI MAGAZINE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Houston\u2019s own Jack Freeman is shaping the future of R&B with his latest project Nina and the upcoming deluxe release. 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