Chapter 4: Labor Pains

Chapter 4: Labor Pains is the fifth studio album by American singer Syleena Johnson. It was released digitally on December 23, 2008, and physically on January 13, 2009, on Johnson's own label, Aneelys Entertainment, after her departure from longtime record company Jive Records. Distribution was handled by Universal Music Group and Federal Distribution. Upon its release, Chapter 4 entered the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at number forty-two.[1] Chapter 4's lead single was "It Is True", which was made available on iTunes on June 24, 2008, and impacted radio on July 1.[2]

Chapter 4: Labor Pains
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 23, 2008 (2008-12-23)
Length62:22
LabelAneelys
Producer
  • Donald Alford
  • Steven Dukes
  • Darren "Limitless" Henson
  • DeMone Hobbs
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Nate Q
  • Jason Orr
  • Keith Pelzer
  • Redstorm
  • Toxic
Syleena Johnson chronology
Chapter 3: The Flesh
(2005)
Chapter 4: Labor Pains
(2008)
Chapter 5: Underrated
(2011)
Singles from Chapter 4: Labor Pains
  1. "It Is True"
    Released: June 24, 2008

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]

AllMusic editor James Steiner found that Chapter 4: Labor Pains was "Johnson's first attempt to grapple with the towering legacy of her father, Syl Johnson. While Syleena's previous albums featured smartly produced, forward-looking R&B, the retro flourishes of Chapter 4's "Shoo Fly," with its slow burning wah wah guitar, and Syleena's incredible interpretation of her father's gut-wrenching signature hit "Is It Because I'm Black," mark a fascinating and rewarding change of direction for this talented singer."[3]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • K. Garris
  • DeMone Hobbs
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Jason Orr
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Hobbs
  • Orr
1:35
2."Labor Pains"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Hobbs
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Orr
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Hobbs
  • Orr
4:11
3."Where's the Love" (featuring Teefa)
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Lateefa Harland
  • Hobbs
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Orr
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Hobbs
  • Orr
4:10
4."Freedom"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Byron Bowies
  • William Keyes
  • Syleecia Thompson
Frederick "Toxic" Taylor4:49
5."Is It Because I'm Black"
Nate Q4:57
6."Be Me"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Taylor
  • Toxic
  • Donald Alford
4:26
7."Interlude: Redstorm's Domestic Lesson"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Redstorm
Redstorm2:15
8."You Let Me Down"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Taylor
  • Toxic
  • Steven Dukes
4:09
9."Shoo Fly"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Hobbs
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Orr
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Hobbs
  • Orr
4:19
10."Maury Povich" (featuring Cold Hard)
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Corey Johnson
  • Taylor
Toxic4:15
11."It Is True"
  • Toxic
  • Anthony Burg[a]
3:45
12."Your Love"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Hobbs
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Orr
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Hobbs
  • Orr
4:15
13."My First"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Hobbs
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Orr
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Hobbs
  • Orr
3:53
14."Personal Trainer"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Darren "Limitless" Henson
  • Keith Pelzer
  • Henson
  • Pelzer
3:50
15."Go Home"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Taylor
  • Toxic
  • Dukes
4:14
16."Go"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Taylor
Toxic3:16
17."Outro"
  • Syleena Johnson
  • Garris
  • Hobbs
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Orr
  • C.J. Johnson
  • Hobbs
  • Orr
1:04
Total length:62:22

Notes

  • ^[a] denotes additional producer

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Chapter 4: Labor Pains.[4]

  • flytedesign – art direction
  • Syleena Johnson – A&R
  • Steven Ledell – photography
  • Slavic Livins – engineer, mixing, recording
  • Herb Powers – mastering
  • Chris Steinmetz – mixing
  • Frederick "Toxic" Taylor – engineer, recording
  • Syleecia Thompson – A&R

Charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[1] 42

Release history

Chapter 4: Labor Pains release history
Region Date Format Label Ref(s)
United States December 23, 2008 Digital download Aneelys [5]
January 13, 2009 CD [6]

References

  1. "Syleena Johnson Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  2. "Amazon.com: It Is True: MP3 Downloads: Syleena Johnson". Amazon. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
  3. "Chapter 4: Labor Pains". AllMusic. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  4. Chapter 4: Labor Pains (CD liner). Syleena Johnson. Aneelys Entertainment. 2008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. "Amazon.com: Chapter 4: Labor Pains: MP3 Downloads: Syleena Johnson". Amazon. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
  6. "Amazon.com: Chapter 4: Labor Pains: Syleena Johnson: Music". Amazon. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
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