Even Closer

Even Closer was the second album and the first nationally distributed album by singer-songwriter Goapele, which was essentially an expanded version of her début, Closer. Originally released through Hieroglyphics Imperium, it was picked up by Columbia/SME Records, which signed her to a recording contract through her family-owned label, Skyblaze Recordings, and picked up this album for international distribution. More tracks were added to the Columbia Records pressing, which replaced the earlier version. However, it was distributed by Relativity Entertainment Distribution instead of through Sony Music Distribution, denoted by the WK prefix instead of the customary CK prefix, by its UPC, and by the legal copy on the back cover. There were guest appearances by guitarist Errol Cooney, the band Soulive, and hip-hop emcees and fellow Hieroglyphics members Casual, Pep Love, and Zion I. The album garnered positive reviews in the US music press and paved the way for an album of all-new material.