Harlem Renaissance

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Harlem Renaissance
Studio album by Kenya
Released February 7, 2011
Recorded October 2010 – January 2011
Genre R&B, pop, hip-hop, dance
Label Saturdays Records
Producer Kenya (exec.)
Paulo Araujo, Bangladesh, Elice Claire, Danja, Diplo, DJ Double Garage, Ben Johnston, Twisted Disco
Kenya chronology
Harlem Renaissance
(2011)
Romanticism
(2014)

Harlem Renaissance is the debut studio album by American recording artist Kenya, following a multiplatinum debut album with award-winning girl group Tiger Tiger. Kenya signed a deal with Saturdays Records in late 2010 and released her first solo single "White Bitches (Pat My Weave)", featuring a guest verse from Loretta Lambert. Inspired by dubstep music, Kenya continued recording the album privately with dance producers DJ Double Garage and Twisted Disco. Further songwriting and production contributions came from Paulo Araujo, Elice Claire and Ben Johnston. In addition to Lambert and Elice Claire, Helena Rossi and Wolf Wolfe provided guest vocals.

Kenya released the album alongside the Twisted Disco-penned "Vodka Bomb", both of which topped charts. A third single from the album came in the form of Kenya's Tango Challenge release with Brett Clarkson. Kenya and Clarkson re-recorded album track "Brooklyn at Midnight" for their "Better Than Midnight" EP. Charting at number two, it was the highest-charting Tango Challenge release that year. Kenya released a fourth and final single from the album, "Who You Is?", which became another top ten. Another album track, "A Rush of Blood (On My Heels)", was written by Paulo Araujo specifically for Kenya and appears in the film The Hunger (which stars Araujo and Kenya).

Following the album's release, Kenya embarked on the Harlem Renaissance Tour, following opening stints for Araujo and Emily Henning. In August 2011, Kenya briefly reunited with Tiger Tiger to release a second studio album before joining forces with Loretta Lambert to form Birds of Prey. The "superduo" earned a number one album and three top-three hits, including a number one.

Track listing[edit | edit source]

Standard edition
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Vodka Bomb"  Twisted DiscoTwisted Disco  
2. "White Bitches (Pat My Weave)" (feat. Loretta Lambert)Kenya HarlemDiplo  
3. "Give It Up" (with Elice Claire & Helena Rossi)Elice Claire, Ben JohnstonClaire, Johnston  
4. "Brooklyn at Midnight" (with Brett Clarkson †)HarlemTwisted Disco  
5. "Code Red"  HarlemDJ Double Garage  
6. "Who You Is?"  HarlemBangladesh  
7. "Carousels"  ClaireClaire, Johnston  
8. "In Flames"  HarlemJohnston  
9. "A Rush of Blood (On My Heels)"  Paulo AraujoDanja  
10. "All the Lost Souls"  Claire, JohnstonClaire, Johnston  
11. "Our Last Kiss"  HarlemJohnston  

  • Note: Original tracklisting missing
  • †: Original album version features Wolf Wolfe