Awaken (mixtape)
Awaken is the debut mixtape by American singer-songwriter Keke Palmer. It was officially released on March 18, 2011 for downloads on mixtape-downloading websites. The only single "The One You Call" was released digitally on January 8, 2011, and was sent to Urban radio the same day. A music video was also released for the song. It premiered on Palmer's official YouTube channel and iTunes.
Background
Palmer released Awaken as a teaser of her upcoming new music, expected to be released in 2012. Palmer hoped that the mixtape would boost interest in her upcoming music. Three tracks from the mixtape appeared on her debut album, So Uncool: "The Game Song", "Bottoms Up" and "Keep it Movin'", each was released in 2007.Promotion
Palmer sang her song "Top of the World" at the 2009 Macy's [Thanksgiving Day Parade] on the Build-a-Bear Workshop float. Many of the songs were also leaked by Palmer on her official YouTube channel before the release of the mixtape.Critical reception
The reviews for Awaken are mostly positive, many complimenting Palmer's vocals, but questioning its ability to chart.Peggy Oliver from The Urban Music Scene said "Palmer’s crystal voice is pleasing and soulful. As for the music on the Awaken Mixtape, the production is clean yet there are several auto tune spots and just so-so background vocals in certain places, which seem par for the course in today’s urban market. Thus, the question is not whether Palmer has very good vocal capabilities. It is a matter of whether her music at this point can stand toe to toe with the more prolific urban vocal talent hitting the charts today."
TerrellVanity.com also gave it a positive review saying that the tracks "SuperJerkin", "Keke’s Love", "Hard To Breathe", and "The One you Call" were their favorite tracks. They also said that they could see "Get Out My Head" being played on the radio.