Free I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For
{{Infobox album
| name = Free I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For
| type = Mixtape
| artist = Illuminati Hotties
| cover = Free I.H.- This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For.jpg
| alt = A grayscale photo of a person with the title of the album and Illuminati Hotties written in the background
| released = {{Start date|2020|7|17}}
| length =
| label = Self released
| producer = Sarah Tudzin
| prev_title = Kiss Yr Frenemies
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title = Let Me Do One More
| next_year = 2021
}}
Free I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For is a mixtape by American indie rock band Illuminati Hotties. It was self released on July 17, 2020.{{Cite web|last=Sentz|first=Tim|date=2020-07-20|title=Album Review: illuminati hotties – Free I.H: This Is Not The One You've Been Waiting For {{!}} Beats Per Minute|url=https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-illuminati-hotties-free-i-h-this-is-not-the-one-youve-been-waiting-for/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=beatsperminute.com|language=en-US}} The mixtape comes after accusations to the band's former label, Tiny Engines, of violations of contractual agreements by their artists. The band bought out its contract with Tiny Engines with a cash settlement and royalties to the label on a future project. This situation inspired the creation of the mixtape, which was released to fulfill a contractual agreement with Tiny Engines.
Background
The mixtape comes after the band's debut album, Kiss Yr Frenemies, which was released in 2018.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-10|title=Illuminati Hotties Announce New Mixtape \'Free I.H.\': Read Our Interview & Hear The Scathing Lead Single|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2090686/illuminati-hotties-free-ih-mixtape-tiny-engines/music/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Stereogum|language=en}} Stevie Knipe of Adult Mom accused Tiny Engines, the band's former label, of a breach of contract due to the delayed payment of $8,000 in royalties.{{Cite magazine|last=Payne|first=Chris|date=2020-01-30|title=How the Plight of Beleaguered Label Tiny Engines Could Bring New Solutions to Indie Rock|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/tiny-engines-adult-mom-interview-indie-labels/|access-date=2022-01-17|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}} Other artists signed to the label also alleged that similar situations occurred. The co-founder of the record label, Chuck Daley, admitted to the delay of payments in an interview with Billboard.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-24|title=Illuminati Hotties – 'Free I.H.: This is Not The One You've Been Waiting For' review: red-hot sonic riposte to industry bullshit|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/illuminati-hotties-free-i-h-this-is-not-the-one-youve-been-waiting-for-red-hot-sonic-riposte-to-industry-bullshit-2713844|access-date=2022-01-17|website=NME|language=en-GB}}
Following the controversy, Illuminati Hotties decided to settle its contract in cash and royalties in a future project, inspiring the content and creation of this mixtape, which also fulfilled a contractual agreement with Tiny Engines.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-11|title=Illuminati Hotties: the label-fighting LA punk on her wild new album|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/11/illuminati-hotties-the-label-fighting-la-punk-on-her-wild-new-album|access-date=2022-01-27|website=The Guardian|language=en}} The album was largely written after beginning production of the album Let Me Do One More, which was released in 2021.{{Cite web |title=Illuminati Hotties: FREE I.H.: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/illuminati-hotties-free-ih-this-is-not-the-one-youve-been-waiting-for/ |access-date=2022-01-17 |website=Pitchfork |language=en}}{{Cite magazine|last1=Vozick-Levinson|first1=Simon|last2=Vozick-Levinson|first2=Simon|date=2020-07-29|title=Song You Need to Know: Illuminati Hotties, 'Freequent Letdown'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/illuminati-hotties-freequent-letdown-1033861/|access-date=2022-01-19|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}
The title of the mixtape's lead single, "Will I Get Cancelled If I Write a Song Called, 'If You Were a Man, You’d Be So Cancelled'", was taken from text messages between band leader Sarah Tudzin and Sadie Dupuis, who suggested its use.
Reception
{{Music ratings
| title =Free I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For
| subtitle =
| ADM =
| rev1 = Beats Per Minute
| rev2 =Exclaim!
| rev3 = The Line of Best Fit
| rev4 = NME
| rev5 = No Ripcord
| rev6 = Pitchfork
| rev7 = Under the Radar
| rev7score = {{Rating|7.5|10}}{{Cite web|last=Moody|first=Mark|title=Free I.H: This Is Not The One You've Been Waiting For|url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/illuminati_hotties_free_i.h_this_is_not_the_one_youve_been_waiting_for|access-date=2022-01-17|website=www.undertheradarmag.com|language=en}}
| noprose =
}}
On the review aggregator website Metacritic, Free I.H has a score of 82 out of 100 based on 7 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Ian Cohen of Stereogum called it "one of 2020’s most brash, defiant, and flat-out righteous projects", and Francesca Rose of Exclaim! wrote that Free I.H "shows how making music can be cathartic for an artist" while giving the album an 8/10. Juan Edgardo Rodriguez of No Ripcord also gave the album an 8/10, calling the mood of the album "rowdy and playful". Arielle Gordon of Pitchfork gave the album a 7.6/10, claiming that while it is shorter than the band's previous release, Kiss Yr Frenemies, it "packs in more stylistic variation and studio maneuvers".
Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = will i get cancelled if i write a song called, "if you were a man you'd be so cancelled"
| length7 = 4:14
| length12 = 2:13
| title12 = reasons 2 live
| length11 = 1:34
| title11 = superiority complex (big noise)
| length10 = 0:49
| title10 = K - HOT AM 818
| length9 = 2:03
| title9 = b yr own b
| length8 = 1:26
| title8 = free4all
| title7 = content//bedtime
| length1 = 1:14
| length6 = 2:08
| title6 = free dumb
| length5 = 1:23
| title5 = WATTBL
| length4 = 2:12
| title4 = melatonezone
| length3 = 1:57
| title3 = freequent letdown
| length2 = 2:03
| title2 = free ppls
| total_length = 23:16
}}