The Signature LP
Encyclopedia
The Signature LP is Sway DaSafo's
second album, released on October 6, 2008. Most of the album was produced by Sway with his Dcypha Productions team; other producers included Louis Gibzen
, Guy Katsav
and Akon
.
. Sway released a free mixtape, titled The Signature Mixtape, to coincide with the album's release.
During the production of the album, Sway was affected by the deaths of close friends and family, to whom he dedicated the album to and mentioned in several tracks including "Pray 4 Kaya" which is dedicated Kaya Bousquet who died in early 2008.
The first single release from the album was "F Ur X", featuring $tush. The video for the song was released in May 2008. The music video features actors from Kidulthood
and Adulthood
and also includes Ashley Walters, Bashy and also Chipmunk. The second single was "Saturday Night Hustle
", featuring soul singer Lemar
. The third single was "Silver & Gold" featuring Akon
which peaked at 67. A video was made for the single which features a cameo appearance from the footballer El Hadj Diouf.
The Signature LP reached number 51 in the charts in the week after release.
"Fit 4 A King" was produced and written by Sway with additional production and drum programming by Raptor for DCypha. It featured the London Studio Orchestra who performed at the Angel Studios for the track. The track featured additional vocals from Kadija Kamara, Tijani Aminu, Paul Cellantas and Kevin Tuffy who were all recorded at Soho Recording Studios. These were mixed by Guy Katsav
at the Gaffe Studios. "Say It Twice" was written by Sway and produced by DJ Turkish at Soho Recording Studios. "Saturday Night Hustle
" involved the vocals of Lemar, who was recorded at Olympic Recording Studios, and Sewuese, who was recorded at Soho Recording Studios, as well as Sway, who was recorded at Apollo 440
's Apollo Control Studios by Ashley Krajewski. The track, produced by Shux, was an adaptation of "Saturday Love
" by Alexander O'Neal
and Cherrelle
. This was also mixed Guy Katsav
. "Silver & Gold" was produced by Sway, Akon
and Giorgio Tuinfort, and mixed by Mark Goodchild on Akon's tour bus. "F UR X" was produced by Sway and Youngster of DDSS Productions and mixed at The Gaffe Studios by DJ Turkish and Guy Katsav
. "Jason Waste" was produced by Sway and featured the vocals of Ellen King. It was recorded and mixed by Joe Fields and Ashley Krajewski at Soho Recording Studios and Apollo Control Studios, respectively. "Look After My Girl" was produced by both Sway and Emile with mixing done by Guy Katsav
and DJ Turkish at The Gaffe Studios. "Pray 4 Kaya" was produced by Sway along with Akon and Giorgio Tuinfort. The vocals were recorded at Soho Recording Studios whilst additional mixing and recording was done at Cruise Control Studios in Amsterdam
. "Walk Away" was produced by Sway and DCypha member Silverstone. All instruments were performed by Silverstone who also provided the additional vocals for the track along with Father Noah and Anis Halloway. "Upload" was produced by Terror Danjah, who produced "Download" off This Is My Demo, and Scratcha DVA. The track was mixed by Sway and Guy Katsav
at the Soho Recording Studios. "Stereo" was produced by both Sway and Chops at the Soho Recording Studios. "Letters To Heaven" was produced mainly by The Nextmen
with additional arrangement by Sway. The track features the vocals of Leo and Puffy, partly to whom the song is dedicated due to his death prior to the completion of the song. The instruments on the track were performed by The Nextmen and the London Studio Orchestra at the Angel Studios. "End Of The Road" was written by Sway with Marie Pelisser and Coco and produced by Louis Gibzen. It was mixed by Guy Katsav
at The Gaffe Studios. "Special Place" was produced by Sway with additional mixing by Guy Katsav
. The keys were performed by Jason Silver, bass guitar by Amadu Koroma, electric guitar by Adam Sosner, percussion by Juba, saxophone by Yolonda Brown and orchestra strings by the London Studio Orchestra. "Taxi" was a bonus track produced by Sway and Guy Katsav
at The Gaffe Studios. It features the vocals of Christina Taylor. "My Kind Of Girl" was produced by Sway and mixed by Guy Katsav
. Further work was done by Joe Fields and Kevin Tuffy at the Soho Recording Studios.
Sway DaSafo
Derek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:...
second album, released on October 6, 2008. Most of the album was produced by Sway with his Dcypha Productions team; other producers included Louis Gibzen
Louis Gibzen
Louis Gibzen , is a British Gold selling hip-hop/electro producer of Barbadian descent. He is vastly known as a promising upcoming producer throughout the U.K. He produced the record "Stay With Me" for Ironiks debut album....
, Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,...
and Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
.
Background
Plans for Sway's second album were made from the outset of his career. It was originally planned to be called This Is My Album, continuing with the This Is My... series which Sway had used for the titles of his first mixtapes and debut album. It was originally scheduled to be released on May 5, 2008 but was pushed back to October 6, 2008 to accommodate "Silver and Gold" featuring AkonAkon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
. Sway released a free mixtape, titled The Signature Mixtape, to coincide with the album's release.
During the production of the album, Sway was affected by the deaths of close friends and family, to whom he dedicated the album to and mentioned in several tracks including "Pray 4 Kaya" which is dedicated Kaya Bousquet who died in early 2008.
The first single release from the album was "F Ur X", featuring $tush. The video for the song was released in May 2008. The music video features actors from Kidulthood
Kidulthood
Kidulthood is a 2006 British drama film about the life of several teenagers in Ladbroke Grove and Latimer Road area of inner west London. It was directed by Menhaj Huda and written by Noel Clarke, who also stars in the film and directed the sequel, Adulthood...
and Adulthood
Adulthood (film)
Adulthood is a 2008 British drama film. It was directed and written by Noel Clarke, who also stars as the protagonist, Sam Peel...
and also includes Ashley Walters, Bashy and also Chipmunk. The second single was "Saturday Night Hustle
Saturday Night Hustle
"Saturday Night Hustle" is the second single released from Sway's second album The Signature LP. It features R&B singer Lemar.The song was produced by Al Shux, who has worked with Sway before. The single was released on September 15, 2008...
", featuring soul singer Lemar
Lemar
Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia...
. The third single was "Silver & Gold" featuring Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
which peaked at 67. A video was made for the single which features a cameo appearance from the footballer El Hadj Diouf.
The Signature LP reached number 51 in the charts in the week after release.
Production
Production of tracks for the album commenced in 2006 upon the release of This Is My Demo. Like his debut album, many of the tracks were produced by Sway himself as part of his DCypha Productions group. Sway was the executive producer with the co-executive producers being DJ Turkish, Bommer, Cheifer, Stowne and Daniel Goldberg. It was mastered by Naweed at Whitfield Mastering London. The album cover art and booklet was designed by Barrie Bee using photography from Alex Lake."Fit 4 A King" was produced and written by Sway with additional production and drum programming by Raptor for DCypha. It featured the London Studio Orchestra who performed at the Angel Studios for the track. The track featured additional vocals from Kadija Kamara, Tijani Aminu, Paul Cellantas and Kevin Tuffy who were all recorded at Soho Recording Studios. These were mixed by Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,...
at the Gaffe Studios. "Say It Twice" was written by Sway and produced by DJ Turkish at Soho Recording Studios. "Saturday Night Hustle
Saturday Night Hustle
"Saturday Night Hustle" is the second single released from Sway's second album The Signature LP. It features R&B singer Lemar.The song was produced by Al Shux, who has worked with Sway before. The single was released on September 15, 2008...
" involved the vocals of Lemar, who was recorded at Olympic Recording Studios, and Sewuese, who was recorded at Soho Recording Studios, as well as Sway, who was recorded at Apollo 440
Apollo 440
Apollo 440 are an English band formed in Liverpool in 1990. Apollo 440 have written, recorded and produced four albums, collaborated with and produced other artists, remixed as Apollo 440 and as ambient cinematic alter-ego Stealth Sonic Orchestra, and created music for film, television,...
's Apollo Control Studios by Ashley Krajewski. The track, produced by Shux, was an adaptation of "Saturday Love
Saturday Love
"Saturday Love" was a top ten US R&B hit, and a top ten UK hit song duetted by American R&B singers Cherrelle and Alexander O'Neal; released in 1985...
" by Alexander O'Neal
Alexander O'Neal
Alexander O'Neal is an American R&B singer. He is best-known for the songs "If You Were Here Tonight" and "Fake", and the duets with Cherrelle, "Saturday Love" and "Never Knew Love Like This".-Biography:...
and Cherrelle
Cherrelle
Cheryl Anne Norton, better known by her stage name, Cherrelle , is an American R&B singer who gained fame in the 1980s...
. This was also mixed Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,...
. "Silver & Gold" was produced by Sway, Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
and Giorgio Tuinfort, and mixed by Mark Goodchild on Akon's tour bus. "F UR X" was produced by Sway and Youngster of DDSS Productions and mixed at The Gaffe Studios by DJ Turkish and Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,...
. "Jason Waste" was produced by Sway and featured the vocals of Ellen King. It was recorded and mixed by Joe Fields and Ashley Krajewski at Soho Recording Studios and Apollo Control Studios, respectively. "Look After My Girl" was produced by both Sway and Emile with mixing done by Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,...
and DJ Turkish at The Gaffe Studios. "Pray 4 Kaya" was produced by Sway along with Akon and Giorgio Tuinfort. The vocals were recorded at Soho Recording Studios whilst additional mixing and recording was done at Cruise Control Studios in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. "Walk Away" was produced by Sway and DCypha member Silverstone. All instruments were performed by Silverstone who also provided the additional vocals for the track along with Father Noah and Anis Halloway. "Upload" was produced by Terror Danjah, who produced "Download" off This Is My Demo, and Scratcha DVA. The track was mixed by Sway and Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,...
at the Soho Recording Studios. "Stereo" was produced by both Sway and Chops at the Soho Recording Studios. "Letters To Heaven" was produced mainly by The Nextmen
The Nextmen
The Nextmen are a UK production/songwriting group consisting of Dom Search and Brad Baloo . Often incorporating hip hop drum sets and electronic basslines into their sound, they have worked with many artists from the UK, US and Jamaica...
with additional arrangement by Sway. The track features the vocals of Leo and Puffy, partly to whom the song is dedicated due to his death prior to the completion of the song. The instruments on the track were performed by The Nextmen and the London Studio Orchestra at the Angel Studios. "End Of The Road" was written by Sway with Marie Pelisser and Coco and produced by Louis Gibzen. It was mixed by Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,...
at The Gaffe Studios. "Special Place" was produced by Sway with additional mixing by Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,...
. The keys were performed by Jason Silver, bass guitar by Amadu Koroma, electric guitar by Adam Sosner, percussion by Juba, saxophone by Yolonda Brown and orchestra strings by the London Studio Orchestra. "Taxi" was a bonus track produced by Sway and Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,...
at The Gaffe Studios. It features the vocals of Christina Taylor. "My Kind Of Girl" was produced by Sway and mixed by Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav
Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,...
. Further work was done by Joe Fields and Kevin Tuffy at the Soho Recording Studios.
Track listing
| # | Title | Length | Producer(s) | Guest Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Fit 4 A King" | 5:08 | Sway Sway DaSafo Derek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:... |
|
| 2 | "Say It Twice" | 4:03 | Turkish | |
| 3 | "Saturday Night Hustle Saturday Night Hustle "Saturday Night Hustle" is the second single released from Sway's second album The Signature LP. It features R&B singer Lemar.The song was produced by Al Shux, who has worked with Sway before. The single was released on September 15, 2008... " |
3:18 | Al Shux Al Shux Alexander William Shuckburgh is a music producer and songwriter known for producing the song "Empire State of Mind". He is also credited as Alexander Shuckburgh, Al Shuckburgh, Al Shux, or Shux.... |
Lemar Lemar Lemar Obika , professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English recording artist. Obika has had a run of chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia... & Slickx |
| 4 | "Silver & Gold" | 4:10 | Akon Akon Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first... ; co-produced by Giorgio Tuinfort |
Akon Akon Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first... |
| 5 | "F UR X" | 3:15 | Youngster | $tush |
| 6 | "Jason Waste" | 3:35 | Sway Sway DaSafo Derek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:... |
Ellen King |
| 7 | "Look After My Girl" | 4:14 | Emile | Darren B |
| 8 | "Pray 4 Kaya" | 4:30 | Giorgio Tuinfort; co-produced by Akon Akon Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first... |
|
| 9 | "Walk Away" | 4:32 | Silverstone | Father Noah |
| 10 | "Upload" | 4:45 | Terror Danjah & Scratcha DVA | |
| 11 | "Stereo" | 4:00 | CHOPS CHOPS Chops is the stage name of Scott Jung, an Asian American hip hop producer, rapper and former member of the Asian American Hip-Hop group the Mountain Brothers. Jung grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has Chinese ancestry... ; co-produced by Sway Sway DaSafo Derek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:... |
|
| 12 | "Letters To Heaven" | 6:13 | The Nextman | Leo |
| 13 | "End Of The Road" | 4:45 | Sway Sway DaSafo Derek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:... & Guy Katsav Guy Katsav Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,... |
I Blame Coco |
| 14 | "Special Place" | 4:59 | Sway Sway DaSafo Derek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:... |
Loick Essien |
| 15 | "Taxi" | 3:05 | Guy Katsav Guy Katsav Guy Katsav is a music producer, mix engineer and remixer based in London. His selected credits include mixing a no. 1 album by The View and a Mercury award nominated album of 2011 Brit award winner - Laura Marling. He has engineered for engineered for David Guetta, Groove Armada, The Streets,... |
|
| 16 | "My Kind Of Girl" | 4:28 | Sway Sway DaSafo Derek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:... |
2face Idibia 2face Idibia Innocent Ugah Idibia , best known by his stage name 2Face Idibia, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, actor and record producer. He was a member of the defunct R&B/hip hop group Plantashun Boyz. 2Face is currently one of the most popular artistes on the African music scene.- Early life :2Face Idibia... |