Free Yourself (Fantasia album)

Free Yourself is the debut studio album by American singer Fantasia. It was released on November 23, 2004, by J Records and 19 Recordings.

After winning the third season of American Idol in May 2004, Fantasia signed a joint deal with J Records and 19 Entertainment. She subsequently began recording Free Yourself, working with a variety of songwriters and producers, including Louis Biancaniello, Craig Brockman, Bryan-Michael Cox, Clive Davis, Jermaine Dupri, Missy Elliott, Sean Garrett, Jazze Pha, Darkchild, Harold Lilly, Ric Rude, Soulshock & Karlin, The Underdogs, Sam Watters and Nigel Wright. Fantasia's debut single "I Believe", released in June 2004, debuted atop the US Billboard Hot 100, and was later included on Free Yourself.

Upon release, Free Yourself earned largely mixed reviews from music critics, most of whom praised Fantasia's vocal performance but criticized the record's production. A commercial success, the album debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 240,000 units; it had sold 1.8 million copies in the US by 2010. Despite critical polarity, the album was nominated for three Grammy Awards in 2006. Free Yourself produced five singles; the lead single "Truth Is" peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100, while the title track reached number 41.