The album features collaborations with ("Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)") and Beyoncé ("Put It in a Love Song"), alongside hits like "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart". Produced by Keys, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers , and Jeff Bhasker at The Oven Studios, the album is described as having an intimate yet strong, mid-tempo feel.

The Element of Freedom is, at its core, an album about grief, loneliness, and the courage to love again. It was her first album to heavily feature Europop and synth-driven soundscapes, thanks to collaborators like Jeff Bhasker (Kanye West, Fun.) and long-time partner Kerry "Krucial" Brothers.

: A massive R&B success, this track—partially written by Drake —topped the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for 12 consecutive weeks.