The song was originally posted as an Akon demo with only Akon performing the song. In July, a leaked recording of Akon's duet with Michael Jackson titled ' Hold My Hand' was released to the Internet and at first showings of the song was supposedly taken out by Akon's music label. Although there are some vulgarities on Freedom, it does not carry the Parental Advisory warning, making it Akon's first album not to do so. Originally the album was to be called Acquitted, but was later confirmed to be Freedom by Akon's label, Universal Music. Production on the album began in May 2008 and ended in late of the same year.
