Make Sure They See My Face
2007 studio album by Kenna
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Make Sure They See My Face is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Kenna. It was released on October 16, 2007, via Interscope and Star Trak labels. The record includes two singles.
| Make Sure They See My Face | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 16, 2007 | |||
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| Kenna chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Make Sure They See My Face | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| musicOMH | [3] |
| Pitchfork Media | 6.4/10[4] |
| PopMatters | 8/10[5] |
| Rolling Stone | [6] |
| The Skinny | [7] |
| Slant Magazine |  [8] |
Recording
Recording for the album took place at: Virginia Beach (Hovercraft Studios, Mixstar Studio), Norfolk (Lopside Studios), Los Angeles (The Record Plant), Studio City (Ringside Studios), New York (Allido Studios), London (Whitfield Street Studios)
Background
The inspiration for the album came from Kenna's attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the title, inspired from a phone calls by Neptunes' Pharrell Williams asking Kenna; "are you going make sure they see your face?". Kenna's Kilimanjaro climb took him to 18,200 feet before he fell ill from taking a sulfur-based altitude medicine, one he was unaware he was allergic to.[9]
Upon the album's British release in May 2008, Kenna told noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul: "I actually went in to make an album that unifies all walks. As a person I've always been between worlds. I've always had to be someone who adapts, someone who's a chameleon of sorts. So vocally, musically spiritually, and in my life I've constantly tended to approach things with the idea of just bringing things together and not limiting myself whatsoever. So musically that's what this record is to me - a fusion of all worlds and a unifier."[10]
Singles
Accolades
The first single "Say Goodbye to Love" was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Alternative R&B Performance Category.[citation needed]
Track listing
All songs produced by The Neptunes and Kenna.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Daylight" |
| 4:26 |
| 2. | "Out of Control (State of Emotion)" |
| 4:02 |
| 3. | "Loose Wires / Blink Radio" |
| 4:40 |
| 4. | "Say Goodbye to Love" |
| 3:12 |
| 5. | "Sun Red Sky Blue" |
| 4:05 |
| 6. | "Baptized in Blacklight" |
| 4:08 |
| 7. | "Static" | Kenna | 4:50 |
| 8. | "Phantom Always" (featuring Justin Timberlake) |
| 4:38 |
| 9. | "Face the Gun / Good Luck" |
| 5:34 |
| 10. | "Better Wise Up" |
| 3:58 |
| 11. | "Be Still" | Kenna | 4:05 |
| 12. | "Wide Awake" |
| 4:17 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Down" |
| 3:10 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Big Lights" |
| 4:05 |
| 14. | "Rockaway Life" (featuring Justin Timberlake) |
| 3:57 |
Release history
| Country | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Canada[17] | October 16, 2007 | Universal Music Group |
| United States[18] | Interscope Records | |
| United Kingdom[19] | May 12, 2008 | Polydor Group |
Credits
- Kenna - lead vocals, production, executive producer, songwriting
- The Neptunes - production, instruments
- Chad Hugo - songwriting (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8–10, 12)
- Pharrell Williams - songwriting (tracks: 3, 4)
- Chester Kamen - additional guitar (tracks: 1, 8, 9, 11)
- Damon Crawford - drums (tracks: 2)
- Patrick Matera - guitar (tracks: 2)
- Kenna, Morningbreath - art direction, design
- Danny Betancourt - engineering
- Ali, Andrew Coleman, Anthony Kilhoffer, John Hanes, Richard Reitz, Scott Thomas, Scott Wilson, Tim Roberts - additional engineering
- Chris Gehringer - mastering
- Serban Ghenea - mixing
- Michael Muller - photography (tracks: 2)