Dave Free
Updated: 12/10/2025, 10:22:26 AM Wikipedia source
David Isaac Friley (born November 13, 1986), known professionally as Dave Free, is an American filmmaker and record producer. Born and raised in Inglewood, California, he is best known as the manager and creative partner of fellow California native Kendrick Lamar. During his tenure as co-president of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), Free directed music videos and short films with Lamar under the name the Little Homies. Following his departure from TDE in 2019, he co-founded the creative company pgLang with Lamar. Free's accolades include two Grammy Awards and three MTV Video Music Awards.
Infobox
Born
David Isaac Friley (1986-11-13) November 13, 1986 (age 39)Inglewood, California, U.S.
Occupations
mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li Filmmaker record producer record executive DJ
Years active
2004–present
Organization
pgLang
Known for
Manager of Kendrick Lamar
Also known as
Miyatola Dee.Jay.Dave
Genres
West Coast hip hop alternative R&B
Labels
Top Dawg (former)
Member of
The Little Homies
Formerly of
Digi Phonics
Tables
· Accolades
2017
Best Direction
Role(s)
"Humble"
Notes
Won
Video of the Year
Role(s)
Won
2022
Best Direction
Role(s)
"Family Ties"
Notes
Nominated
2023
Won
Role(s)
Nominated
"Count Me Out"
Role(s)
Nominated
2024
"Count Me Out"
Role(s)
Nominated
2025
Role(s)
Nominated
| Organization | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
| BET Awards | 2023 | Video Director of the Year | Free and Kendrick Lamar | Nominated | |
| BET Hip Hop Awards | 2022 | Won | |||
| 2023 | Won | ||||
| Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity | 2023 | Film Craft Lion for Direction | We Cry Together – A Short Film | Grand Prix | |
| Grammy Awards | 2016 | Best Music Video | "Alright" | Nominated | |
| 2018 | "Humble" | Won | |||
| 2023 | "The Heart Part 5" | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | "Count Me Out" | Nominated | |||
| Best Music Film | Live From Paris, The Big Steppers Tour | Nominated | |||
| 2025 | Best Music Video | "Not Like Us" | Won | ||
| MTV Video Music Awards | 2015 | Best Direction | "Alright" | Won | |
| Video of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| 2017 | Best Direction | "Humble" | Won | ||
| Video of the Year | Won | ||||
| 2022 | Best Direction | "Family Ties" | Nominated | ||
| 2023 | "Count Me Out" | Nominated | |||
| Variety Hitmakers | 2022 | Creativity and Impact Award | Himself | Won |
References
- Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.
- California Birth Indexhttps://web.archive.org/web/20230126030353/https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/david_isaac_friley_born_1986_17348486
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/27/magazine/kendrick-lamar-dave-free.html
- MTVhttps://web.archive.org/web/20150825002636/http://www.mtv.com/news/2246258/kendrick-lamar-dave-free-little-homies/
- DJBoothhttps://djbooth.net/features/2016-04-07-the-little-homies-video-breakdown
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/27/magazine/kendrick-lamar-dave-free.html
- Pitchforkhttps://pitchfork.com/news/dave-free-no-longer-co-president-of-top-dawg-entertainment-report/
- Forbeshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2016/01/04/meet-dave-free-kendrick-lamars-30-under-30-manager/
- UPROXXhttps://uproxx.com/music/dave-free-leaves-top-dawg-entertainment/
- HipHopDXhttps://hiphopdx.com/interviews/id.1641/title.kendrick-lamar-the-west-coast-got-somethin-to-say
- NPRhttps://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2014/07/23/334492009/a-rational-conversation-the-sound-of-tdes-success
- Complexhttps://www.complex.com/music/2012/11/25-new-producers-to-watch-out-for/
- BEThttps://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/nti147/10-young-producers-on-the-rise/5ykijb
- XXL Maghttps://www.xxlmag.com/tde-sidebar-kendrick-coverage/
- Complexhttps://www.complex.com/tag/kendrick-lamar
- DJBoothhttps://djbooth.net/features/2016-04-07-the-little-homies-video-breakdown
- MTVhttps://web.archive.org/web/20220810143433/https://www.mtv.com/news/mpcmpj/kendrick-lamar-dave-free-little-homies
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2018/music/news/2018-grammys-winners-list-music-awards-1202676802/
- XXL Maghttps://www.xxlmag.com/kendrick-lamar-humble-wins-best-hip-hop-2017-mtv-video-music-awards/
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/top-dawg-entertainment-dave-free-split-894781/
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kendrick-lamar-pglang-company-announcement-9328964/
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kendrick-lamar-dave-free-pglang-962892/
- i-Dhttps://i-d.co/article/kendrick-lamar-pglang-dave-free-calvin-klein-collaboration/
- VIBE.comhttps://www.vibe.com/gallery/pglang-converse-sold-out-collaboration-1234661029/
- Complexhttps://www.complex.com/music/kendrick-lamar-ray-dalio-pglang-financial-literacy-video
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2022/01/kendrick-lamar-dave-free-matt-stone-trey-parker-to-produce-paramount-comedy-1234912409/
- Hypebeasthttps://hypebeast.com/2025/7/kendrick-lamar-pglang-global-creative-agency-project-3-info
- Pause magazinehttps://pausemag.co.uk/2025/07/kendrick-lamar-launches-project-3-creative-agency/
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2023/06/2023-bet-awards-winners-list-1235424387/
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2022-bet-hip-hop-awards-full-winners-list-kendrick-lamar-1235150410/
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2023-bet-hip-hop-awards-nominations-full-list-cardi-b-21-savage-1235407999/
- Ad Agehttps://adage.com/article/special-report-cannes-lions/cannes-lions-2023-kendrick-lamars-short-film-we-cry-together-wins-film-craft-grand-prix/2500636
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2016/music/awards/grammy-awards-2016-grammys-winners-list-1201706586/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/28/arts/music/grammy-winners.html
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/grammys-2023-winners-list-1235312839/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/10/arts/music/grammys-nominee-list-2024.html
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kendrick-lamar-drake-diss-not-like-us-earning-grammy-nominations-1235158447/
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/vmas-2015-taylor-swift-and-her-buddy-kendrick-lamar-cleanup-at-awards-full-list-of-winners-10479316.html
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/aug/28/mtv-vmas-kendrick-lamar-wins-big-in-politically-charged-ceremony
- EW.comhttps://ew.com/mtv-video-music-awards/mtv-vmas-2022-winners-list/
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/taylor-swift-2023-mtv-video-music-award-nominations/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/video/dave-free-creativity-impact-award-variety-hitmakers-2022/
- "Credits – Dave Free"https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dave-free-mn0002749961