Waking at Dawn

Waking at Dawn is the debut commercial mixtape by Canadian recording artist Roy Woods. It was released on July 1, 2016, by OVO Sound and Warner Bros. Records.[1] The album serves as a follow-up to his debut EP Exis (2015). It was preceded by two singles; "Gwan Big Up Urself" and "How I Feel".

Waking at Dawn
Mixtape by Roy Woods
Released	July 1, 2016
Recorded	2016
Genre	Hip hop PBR&B
Length	35:56
Label	OVO Sound Warner Bros.
Producer	Akeel DZL FrancisGotHeat Krs. L.A. Chase Murda Beatz Omari Jabari Prezident Jeff Saintfall Sunny Diamonds
Roy Woods chronology
Exis (2015) Waking at Dawn (2016) Nocturnal (2016)
Singles from Waking at Dawn
"Gwan Big Up Urself" Released: June 4, 2016 "How I Feel" Released: June 4, 2016

Background

On March 11, 2016, Roy Woods announced the mixtape's title via Twitter.[2] The release date and cover art was revealed on June 29, 2016.[3]

Singles

The mixtape's lead single and second single, "Gwan Big Up Urself" and "How I Feel" was released on June 4, 2016.[4][5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
HotNewHipHop	(74/100) [6]
Now	[7]
Exclaim!	6/10[8]

Waking at Dawn was met with generally positive reviews. The album received a 74 out of 100 by HotNewHipHop. Writing for Exclaim!, Themistoklis Alexis praised the album's "flashes of maturity" but criticized Woods' "failure to emote fully on phonics."[8]

Track listing

Credits were adapted from Tidal.[9]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Sonic Boom"	Denzel Spencer Francis Nguyen-Tran Jeffrey Offe Sunny Khokar	FrancisGotHeat Prezident Jeff Sunny Diamonds	3:04
2.	"You Love It"	Spencer Antonio Mendes Khokar	L.A. Chase Sunny Diamonds	3:06
3.	"Gwan Big Up Urself"	Spencer Christopher Allen Nguyen-Tran Khokar	Krs. FrancisGotHeat Sunny Diamonds	3:20
4.	"How I Feel"	Spencer Lobban Holmes Khokhar	DZL ALO	3:43
5.	"Down Girl"	Spencer Offe Khokar	Prezident Jeff Sunny Diamonds	2:49
6.	"Switch"	Spencer Nguyen-Tran Shane Lindstrom Khokar	FrancisGotHeat Murda Beatz Sunny Diamonds	3:21
7.	"Got Me"	Spencer Holmes Akeel Henry Khokar	DZL Akeel	3:38
8.	"Why"	Spencer Lindstrom	Murda Beatz	4:22
9.	"Menace"	Spencer Omari Jabari Rashad Hussein Khokar	Jabari akaRashad Sunny Diamonds	4:53
10.	"She Knows About Me"	Spencer Nguyen-Tran Khokar	FrancisGotHeat Sunny Diamonds	3:40
Total length:				35:56

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[9]

Performers Roy Woods – primary artist Technical Sunny Diamonds – recording engineer (all tracks), mixing engineer (all tracks) Chris Athens – mastering engineer (all tracks)

Production FrancisGotHeat – producer (tracks 1, 3, 6, 10) Prezident Jeff – producer (tracks 1, 5) Sunny Diamonds – producer (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 9, 10) L.A. Chase – producer (track 2) Krs. – producer (track 3) DZL – producer (tracks 4, 7) ALO – producer (track 4) Murda Beatz – producer (tracks 6, 8) Akeel – producer (track 7) Omari Jabari – producer (track 9) Saintfall – producer (track 9)

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[10]	30
US Billboard 200[11]	127
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[12]	11

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Worldwide	July 1, 2016	Digital download	OVO Sound Warner Bros.	[13]

References

1. "Here's Roy Wood$' New Album 'Waking At Dawn'". Complex. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
2. Gavin, Sean (March 11, 2016). "Roy Woods Announces New Project "Waking At Dawn" Coming Soon". The Daily Dose. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
3. Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (June 29, 2016). "Roy Wood$ Shares Waking At Dawn Release Date And Cover Art". The Fader. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
4. "New Music: Roy Woods – 'Gwan Big Up Urself'". Rap-Up. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
5. "Roy Woods – How I Feel". WhatTheHYPE. June 7, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
6. Jenkins, Craig (July 7, 2016). "Roy Woods Waking at Dawn Review News". Retrieved July 7, 2016.
7. https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/roy-woods-waking-at-dawn/
8. Alexis, Themistoklis (July 1, 2016). "Roy Woods - Waking at Dawn". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
9. "Waking At Dawn / Roy Woods". Tidal. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
10. "Roy Woods Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
11. "Roy Woods Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
12. "Roy Woods Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
13. All citations concerning the release history of Waking at Dawn:
    • "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. Australia: Apple Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
    • "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. Canada: Apple Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
    • "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. New Zealand: Apple Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
    • "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. United Kingdom: Apple Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
    • "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. United States: Apple Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

External links

• Waking at Dawn at Discogs