# Syleena Johnson

Syleena Johnson (née Thompson; born September 2, 1976) is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter and actress. She is best known for her guest appearance on Kanye West's 2004 single "All Falls Down," which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. She signed with Jive Records to release three albums: Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness (2001), Chapter 2: The Voice (2002), and Chapter 3: The Flesh (2005), each were met with critical acclaim and modest commercial reception. She returned to work with West for his tenth album Donda (2021), where she performed on its spoken word song "Donda Chant".

## Early life

Johnson, born on September 2, 1976, is the daughter of R&B Hi Records singer Syl Johnson (1936–2022) and Brenda Thompson, who was the first black female police commissioner of Harvey, Illinois. Johnson has two older sisters, Syleecia and Sylette.

## Music career

In 1998, Johnson released her demo album Love Hangover, and her debut studio album Chapter 1: Love, Pain, and Forgiveness in 2001. Her debut single from the album, "I Am Your Woman", co-written by American former singer-songwriter R. Kelly, received airplay on adult contemporary and urban radios, resulting in a number 38 charting on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, number 4 charting on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs chart, and a number 43 charting on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. (See: "I Am Your Woman" Charts
Chapter 2: The Voice was voted No. 62 in a list of the best Soul Albums of the 2000s on Soultracks.com. Mojo, in its February 2003 issue, gave Chapter 2: The Voice a glowing review – "...A coherent and engaging R&B album that explores love's vicissitudes with a confessional candour...Classy..."
In 2004, Johnson was featured as a vocalist on Kanye West's single "All Falls Down", from his debut album The College Dropout after West was unable to use the original sample recorded by Lauryn Hill during her 2002 MTV unplugged performance. A year later, she guest appeared on Cuban Link's album Chain Reaction, featuring on the track "Life Goes On".

### 2005–2008: Chapter 3: The Flesh

In 2005, Johnson released Chapter 3: The Flesh. Contact Music gave the album a 5/5 review, stating: "Third album for Jive from probably the most under-rated artist in the world is just what you expect from an artist of this quality... Quite simply for sheer quality this is one of the albums of the year."

### 2008–2009: I Am Your Woman: The Best of Syleena Johnson and Chapter 4: Labor Pains

Chapter 4: Labor Pains was released on January 13, 2009.
In 2009, Johnson appeared on a single with KRS-One, Twista and Crucial Conflict titled "Self Destruction". According to Grant Parks and Coalmine Music, artists lent their lyrics for a cause they believe in with the statement "The time is now as we approach the holidays and a new year; it will give us all something to think about and reflect on loved ones that lost their life to senseless violent acts."
Steve Jones of USA Today gave Chapter 4: Labor Pains 3.5/4 stating "Despite critical acclaim for her ongoing personal chronicles that began with 2001's Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness, the soulful Chicago native never found a mainstream niche. Unfairly, she's best known for Kanye West's "All Falls Down". Here, with her gorgeous voice and evocative storytelling, she continues to offer some of the decade's most stirring R&B."

### 2012–2014: R&B Divas: Atlanta, 9ine and Chapter 6: Couples Therapy

Johnson starred in TV One reality series R&B Divas: Atlanta from 2012 to 2014; lasting three seasons. As of 2012, she was managed by DYG Management. On September 23, 2013, Johnson and Musiq Soulchild released a duet album titled 9ine.

### 2015–present: Graduation, Rebirth of Soul and Woman

In June 2015, Johnson graduated from Drake University, where she received her bachelor's degree in nutrition science, summa cum laude, 21 years after she enrolled. She was also inducted into the Alpha Beta Kappa honors society for her academic achievements.
Johnson was featured on "Donda Chant", the opening track to Kanye West's tenth album Donda, released in August 2021.

## Personal life

In August 2000, Johnson married former Illinois State University college basketball player Marcus Betts. Betts graduated in December 2000 and became her manager for her first two albums.
On July 1, 2007, she married Kiwane Garris. Garris, a fellow Chicagoan, is a worldwide journeyman basketball player, having played for various NBA and EuroLeague teams. On August 1, 2007, after forty-eight hours of labor, their son Kiwane Garris Jr. was born. On February 6, 2011, she gave birth to their second son Kingston.
Johnson is a member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority.

## Discography

Demo albums
* Love Hangover (1998)

### Studio albums

* Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness (2001)
* Chapter 2: The Voice (2002)
* Chapter 3: The Flesh (2005)
* Chapter 4: Labor Pains (2009)
* Chapter 5: Underrated (2011)
* Chapter 6: Couples Therapy (2014)
* Rebirth of Soul (2017)
* Woman (2020)
* Legacy (2024)

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award |
| 2001 | Billboard Music Video Award nomination for Best Adult Contemporary New Artist Clip of the Year ("I Am Your Woman"). |
| 2004 | BET Award nomination for Viewers Choice Award for "All Falls Down" (shared nomination with Kanye West). |
| 2004 | Vibe Award nomination for Reelest Video for "All Falls Down" (shared nomination with Kanye West). |
| 2004 | MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Breakthrough Video for "All Falls Down" (shared nomination with Kanye West). |
| 2004 | MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Male Video for "All Falls Down" (shared nomination with Kanye West). |
| 2004 | MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best New Artist for "All Falls Down" (shared nomination with Kanye West). |
| 2004 | MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Hip-Hop Video for "All Falls Down" (shared nomination with Kanye West). |
| 2005 | Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "All Falls Down" |
| 2005 | Chicago Music Award win for Best Female Vocalist |
| 2005 | Truth Award win for Top Single for "Hypnotic" |
| 2014 | Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Album (R&B Divas) |
| 2022 | Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year (Donda) |