Syleena Johnson

Imagine this: you’re a Grammy-nominated singer, considered one of the best vocalists of your generation, who has scored major R&B hits and been invited to collaborate with the likes of Kanye West and R. Kelly, yet some folks consider you “underrated.” This has been the plight of Syleena Johnson, acclaimed as one of the finest R&B voices to have emerged during the past decade. Having fought the major label system to allow her true identity to shine forth, Syleena now steps forward with her most personal statement to date. Her boundary-stretching fifth album, entitled, appropriately enough, Chapter V: Underrated, released September 27, 2011 on Shanachie Entertainment. Easily her best all-around album since her second best-selling album, Underrated shows the full range of Syleena’s talent as it moves from the powerful soul-balladry of songs like “Little Things” to full-on club bangers like the first single, “A Boss.” The result is a rarity in the R&B world these days - a true album that flows through a diverse and satisfying complete listening experience. Every song but one was written or co-written by Syleena.

After her live acoustic album release performance of Chapter V: Underrated last year, Syleena was moved by her own music and decided to release the live performance as a mini-album titled Acoustic Soul Sessions, due September 25th. The mini-album includes five songs from Chapter V: Underrated, a remake of The Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” and “I Cut My Hair"; an introduction to the not yet completed Chapter 6. Syleena also adds television to her roster as a costar in the TV One hit docu-series R&B Divas airing Monday nights at 10/9c which also stars Faith Evans, Monifah, Nicci Gilbert and Keke Wyatt. Syleena’s passion for health, fitness, and nutrition has lead her to develop a fitness DVD called Mommy’s Got Soul. Syleena is set to close out 2012 proving will be on top in the upcoming year and remain on top thereafter.