Waking at Dawn

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

Waking at Dawn is the debut studio album by Canadian recording artist Roy Woods.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] It was released on July 1, 2016, by OVO Sound and Warner Bros. Records.^[6] 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".

Background

On March 11, 2016, Roy Woods announced the album's title via Twitter.^[7] The release date and cover art was revealed on June 29, 2016.^[8]

Singles

The album's lead single and second single, "Gwan Big Up Urself" and "How I Feel" was released on June 4, 2016.^[9]^[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
HotNewHipHop	(74/100) ^[11]
Now	^[12]
Exclaim!	6/10^[13]

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."^[13]

Track listing

Credits were adapted from Tidal.^[14]

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.^[14]

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 Henry – producer (track 7)
Omari Jabari – producer (track 9)
Saintfall – producer (track 9)

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)^[15]	30
US Billboard 200^[16]	127
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[17]	11

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Worldwide	July 1, 2016	Digital download	OVO Sound Warner Bros.	^[18]

References

^ Balfour, Jay. "Roy Wood$: Waking at Dawn Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
^ Kellman, Andy. "Roy Woods - Waking at Dawn Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
^ Hernandez, Victoria (2 July 2016). "OVO's Roy Woods Drops Debut Album, "Waking At Dawn"". HipHopDX. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
^ Simmons, Ted (July 2016). "Roy Woods Releases 'Waking At Dawn' Album". XXL. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
^ Glaysher, Scott (5 January 2017). "Roy Woods delivers more mood music with Nocturnal". NowToronto. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
^ "Here's Roy Wood$' New Album 'Waking At Dawn'". Complex. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
^ Gavin, Sean (March 11, 2016). "Roy Woods Announces New Project "Waking At Dawn" Coming Soon". The Daily Dose. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
^ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (June 29, 2016). "Roy Wood$ Shares Waking At Dawn Release Date And Cover Art". The Fader. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
^ "New Music: Roy Woods – 'Gwan Big Up Urself'". Rap-Up. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
^ "Roy Woods – How I Feel". WhatTheHYPE. June 7, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
^ Jenkins, Craig (July 7, 2016). "Roy Woods Waking at Dawn Review News". HNHH. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
^ "Roy Woods". 6 July 2016.
^ ^a ^b Alexis, Themistoklis (July 1, 2016). "Roy Woods - Waking at Dawn". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Waking At Dawn / Roy Woods". Tidal. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
^ "Roy Woods Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
^ "Roy Woods Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
^ "Roy Woods Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
^
All citations concerning the release history of Waking at Dawn:
- "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. Australia: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. Canada: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. New Zealand: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. United Kingdom: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. United States: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

External links

Waking at Dawn at Discogs

[1] Balfour, Jay. "Roy Wood$: Waking at Dawn Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 June 2023.

[2] Kellman, Andy. "Roy Woods - Waking at Dawn Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 June 2023.

[3] Hernandez, Victoria (2 July 2016). "OVO's Roy Woods Drops Debut Album, "Waking At Dawn"". HipHopDX. Retrieved 24 June 2023.

[4] Simmons, Ted (July 2016). "Roy Woods Releases 'Waking At Dawn' Album". XXL. Retrieved 24 June 2023.

[5] Glaysher, Scott (5 January 2017). "Roy Woods delivers more mood music with Nocturnal". NowToronto. Retrieved 24 June 2023.

[6] "Here's Roy Wood$' New Album 'Waking At Dawn'". Complex. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

[7] Gavin, Sean (March 11, 2016). "Roy Woods Announces New Project "Waking At Dawn" Coming Soon". The Daily Dose. Retrieved November 23, 2017.

[8] Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (June 29, 2016). "Roy Wood$ Shares Waking At Dawn Release Date And Cover Art". The Fader. Retrieved November 23, 2017.

[9] "New Music: Roy Woods – 'Gwan Big Up Urself'". Rap-Up. Retrieved June 4, 2016.

[10] "Roy Woods – How I Feel". WhatTheHYPE. June 7, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2017.

[11] Jenkins, Craig (July 7, 2016). "Roy Woods Waking at Dawn Review News". HNHH. Retrieved July 7, 2016.

[12] "Roy Woods". 6 July 2016.

[exclaim-13] Alexis, Themistoklis (July 1, 2016). "Roy Woods - Waking at Dawn". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 5, 2016.

[Tidal-14] "Waking At Dawn / Roy Woods". Tidal. Retrieved June 2, 2017.

[ac_BillboardCanada_Roy_Woods-15] "Roy Woods Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2016.

[ac_Billboard200_Roy_Woods-16] "Roy Woods Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2016.

[ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_Roy_Woods-17] "Roy Woods Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2016.

[18] All citations concerning the release history of Waking at Dawn:
"Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. Australia: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

"Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. Canada: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

"Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. New Zealand: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

"Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. United Kingdom: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

"Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. United States: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

[19] "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. Australia: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

[20] "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. Canada: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

[21] "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. New Zealand: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

[22] "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. United Kingdom: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

[23] "Waking at Dawn by Roy Woods on iTunes". iTunes Store. United States: Apple Inc. July 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.

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v t e Roy Woods
Studio albums	Say Less (2017)
Mixtapes	Waking at Dawn (2016)
EPs	Exis (2015) Nocturnal (2016)
Singles	"Juliet & Romeo"