Syleena Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Syleena Johnson
Johnson in 2020
Background information
Birth name	Syleena Thompson
Born	(1976-09-02) September 2, 1976 (age 48) Harvey, Illinois, U.S.
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter actress television presenter
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Shanachie E1 Aneelys Blackbyrd Jive
Associated acts	Kanye West Musiq Soulchild Syl Johnson

Syleena Johnson (born September 2, 1976) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her R&B and soul music. Syleena is also famous for her appearance on Kanye West's 2004 song "All Falls Down." This song reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

She signed with Jive Records and released three albums. These albums were Chapter 1: Love, Pain & Forgiveness (2001), Chapter 2: The Voice (2002), and Chapter 3: The Flesh (2005). All of them were well-received by music critics. She also worked with Kanye West again on his 2021 album Donda.

Early Life and Family

Syleena Johnson was born in Harvey, Illinois. Her father was Syl Johnson, a famous R&B and soul singer. Her mother, Brenda Thompson, was the first Black female police commissioner in Harvey, Illinois. Syleena has two older sisters named Syleecia and Sylette.

Her Music Journey

Syleena Johnson started her music career in 1995. Her album Chapter 2: The Voice was highly praised. Mojo magazine called it "a coherent and engaging R&B album." It was also voted No. 62 on a list of the best Soul Albums of the 2000s by Soultracks.com.

In 2004, Syleena was featured on Kanye West's hit song "All Falls Down." This song was from his first album, The College Dropout. A year later, she sang on the song "Life Goes On" from Cuban Link's album Chain Reaction.

Releasing More Albums

In 2005, Syleena released her album Chapter 3: The Flesh. Contact Music gave it a perfect 5/5 review. They called it "one of the albums of the year" for its quality.

Her album Chapter 4: Labor Pains came out on January 13, 2009. Music critics continued to praise her work. Steve Jones from USA Today said Syleena "continues to offer some of the decade's most stirring R&B."

In 2009, Syleena Johnson joined other artists like KRS-One and Twista on a song called "Self Destruction." This song was made to raise awareness about senseless violence.

TV Shows and New Music

From 2012 to 2014, Syleena Johnson starred in the TV One reality show R&B Divas: Atlanta. The show lasted for three seasons.

On September 23, 2013, Syleena teamed up with Musiq Soulchild to release a duet album called 9ine.

Education and Recent Work

In June 2015, Syleena Johnson achieved a big goal. She graduated from Drake University with a bachelor's degree in nutrition science. She earned her degree with summa cum laude honors, which means "with highest distinction." She was also inducted into the Alpha Beta Kappa honors society.

In August 2021, Syleena was featured on "Donda Chant." This was the opening track on Kanye West's tenth album, Donda.

Personal Life

Syleena Johnson has been married twice. In August 2000, she married Marcus Betts, a former college basketball player. He was her manager for her first two albums.

On July 1, 2007, she married Kiwane Garris. Kiwane is also a basketball player who has played for many teams around the world. They have two sons together: Kiwane Garris Jr., born on August 1, 2007, and Kingston, born on February 6, 2011.

Syleena Johnson is also a member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.

Discography

• 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

Syleena Johnson has received several awards and nominations for her music.