Syleena Johnson (born September 2, 1976 in Harvey, Illinois) is an R&B and … Read Full Bio ↴Syleena Johnson (born September 2, 1976 in Harvey, Illinois) is an R&B and Soul singer-songwriter and actress.

R&B's best kept secret is finally out. Another chapter in Syleena Johnson's book has been written. This time, it is more than recording an album. After amicably leaving an eight-year record deal with Jive Records in 2006, Syleena has launched her own label, Aneelys Records (Syleena spelled backwards). This opportunity comes by way of a label deal with Federal/Universal Music Group.

Syleena previously worked with countless artists and producers such as R. Kelly, Bob Power, Kay Gee, Busta Rhymes, Cam' Ron, Common, Jermaine Dupri, and Twista. Kanye West blessed her with his production on "Bulls-Eye (Suddenly)," from Chapter 3: The Flesh. Syleena proved to be Kayne's saving grace as she provided last minute vocals on the hit, "All Falls Down," which led to a Grammy nomination for both artists.

Artists often fall by the wayside and are rarely heard after leaving a major record label. But, Syleena didn't allow her split with Jive Records to rip out any pages from her next chapter. She simply took matters into her own hands and decided to go the independent route. With her label, Syleena will finally see the benefits of all her hard work, whether it be working on a personal project or signing other acts. She will finally have the creative control and power to see things through and plan out her career as she sees fit.

With this control, Syleena will give birth to her newest release, Chapter 4: Labor Pains, due January 13, 2009. Along with running her own label and being an artist, Syleena has also become a wife and mother within the past year. "My husband is an excellent man, I couldn't ask for a better one and my son is my best work yet," Syleena says. Naturally, this experience lent a hand in Syleena writing Chapter 4: Labor Pains, as she describes the pain of having a baby as the worst pain in life, but rewarding in the end. Syleena shadows her life on the principle that you reap what you sow "Nothing good comes easy. All the struggle, strife, work and pain we go through, that's the price you have to pay to reap the benefits in the end," Syleena expresses.

As always, Syleena speaks on behalf of a woman's struggles. But, she leads off on a lighter note with her first single from, Chapter 4: Labor Pains, "It Is True." She sings a heavenly love ballad about new found, true love with her husband and the product of that love. "It is everything I felt about my husband when we first met, and now the love of my son follows suit," Syleena swoons. There's no denying that Syleena is passionately in love as she angelically sings "over and over again, in my dreams and in my head, I'm imagining you all in my future, us continuing through 'til we get older, and I swear that I've never met, a boy like you, a true soldier, my knight in shining armor, you saved me boy, you bring me joy and that's how I know it's true."

The buzz continues and the drama unfolds in Chapter 4: Labor Pains, as Syleena displays her songwriting and storytelling skills in "Shoo Fly," an alternative tale of baby mama drama. The story comes from the point of view of a woman with a man who has a baby mama and what that woman goes through when the baby mama wants him back all the while using the child as leverage. In the chorus Syleena sings, "so shoo fly he's mine, for the last time, don't make me say it no more, damn girl to move on, be gone, so long, get gone." This is a different angle giving the woman's perspective on baby mama drama. Other notable tracks on Chapter 4: Labor Pains are "Labor Pains," the title track which is dedicated to women and sisterhood, "My First," a grown and sexy song about a man who is the first to actually give good love and affection, and "Personal Trainer," a song about the mental stimulus of physical attraction.

While dealing with real issues, Syleena never strays away from God in her music. This signature approach is what makes her unique as she shows how God applies to every aspect of life. She tells the passionate, hard truth with a voice and spirit which has been anointed by God and speaks directly to the mind and spirit of women. "I always come from a spiritual view as a Christian woman in the real world, the here and now, the issues we as women have to deal with," Syleena testifies.

Chapter 1: Love, Pain, & Forgiveness, was the beginning of how God established a relationship and peace within Syleena. He then gave her the Garden of Eden in Chapter 2: The Voice. But she disobeyed Him and ate the forbidden fruit in Chapter 3: The Flesh. Now Syleena must pay the price, which is Chapter 4: Labor Pains. Biblically, labor pains are a woman's curse, but Syleena takes it all as a blessing. "At the end, I want people to feel uplifted and motivated, that's my goal. Not to just motivate people, but myself in the process," Syleena professes. Be prepared for the experience of Chapter 4: Labor Pains.

Despite releasing four albums, Syleena is more than a singer. She caught the acting bug and showed off her multi-dimensional talent by playing a significant role in Eric Jerome Dickey's Cheater's-The Stage Play in 2005. She also added modeling to her many talents as she modeled for Ashley Stewart after signing with Wilhelmina modeling agency as a plus-size model.

Johnson released her new album, "Chapter 5: Underrated" on September 27, 2011, which features Toxic (the producer behind Keyshia Cole & Monica's "Trust", as well as much of Twista's work number) and a number of other high-profile producers and artists. The albums' lead single titled "A Boss" was released on June 21, 2011.

Slowly
Syleena Johnson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When he first walked through the door
I had this feeling that I never felt before
He was the finest thing I've ever seen
He had me trippin just cause he smiled at me
And he kissed me softly on my cheek
Said to me, "You smell good enough to eat"
Girl I swear my heart must've skipped a beat
He's got me feeling like I did when I was seventeen

(But I couldn't wait) For him to put his hands all over me
(So I'm getting warm and I'm waiting) For him to make love to me, (slowly)

[Chorus:]
Then slowly, he undressed me
Then slowly, he laid me down
Pulled my panties down
Then slowly, he went down on me
Then slowly, we made love

Ohh, been an hour
Since his love had been in me
Couldn't believe he felt this good inside of me
It was everything I dreamed that it would be
And like a virgin, I was tight
But he loosened me
Then slowly, he began to speak
"You're so good, baby"
That's what he said to me
Girl, I'm telling you that this one is the truth
Put it on me like a real man is s'pose to

(And I couldn't wait)To feel him come inside of me.......
(Cause he wasn't selfish, he was patient)
Ohhh, oohh
Girl, he made love to me
But slowly

[Chorus]

Oooh (We made love)
To the steady rhythm of my heart beats
(We made love)
To the tears came down my face
(We made love)
Til it rained sunshine and the fall leaves turned to snow
(We made love)
He took my body through the four seasons
(We made love)
Til our spirits locked and wouldn't let go
(We made love)
Til our bodies couldn't come no more
(We made love)
Til the full moon became the sunlight's glow
He filled my cup
Til it over flowed, ooooooohhh ooooh oooh

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

In Syleena Johnson's song "Slowly," the singer describes falling for a man from the moment she saw him walk through the door. He was the finest thing she had ever seen, and just his smile made her trip. The man kissed her softly on her cheek, and complimented her scent. Johnson confesses that he had her feeling like she did when she was just a teenager. She couldn't wait for the man to put his hands all over her and make love to her slowly. The entire song is a sensual ode to her lover, and the way he took his time to please her in bed.

The chorus repeats the word "slowly," emphasizing the singer's desire for her lover to take his time and make every moment count. She talks about how he undressed her slowly, laid her down, pulled her panties down, and went down on her slowly. Then, they made love slowly. She describes the experience as everything she had ever dreamed of, and says that he made love to her like a real man is supposed to. The bridge describes the intimacy shared between the two lovers, from the steady rhythm of their heartbeat to the tears that came down her face. The song finishes with Johnson saying that her man filled her cup until it overflowed.

Line by Line Meaning

When he first walked through the door
The moment he entered my life, I felt something new.

I had this feeling that I never felt before
I experienced an emotion that was completely new to me.

He was the finest thing I've ever seen
He was the most attractive man I have ever laid my eyes upon.

He had me trippin just cause he smiled at me
I became overwhelmed with feelings just because he smiled at me.

And he kissed me softly on my cheek
He gave me a gentle peck on my cheek.

Said to me, "You smell good enough to eat"
He complimented my scent by saying that I smelled delicious.

Girl I swear my heart must've skipped a beat
I felt a sudden jolt in my chest when he kissed me.

He's got me feeling like I did when I was seventeen
He made me feel young and full of life, the same way I felt when I was 17.

(But I couldn't wait) For him to put his hands all over me
I was anticipating his touch and could hardly wait for him to caress me.

(So I'm getting warm and I'm waiting) For him to make love to me, (slowly)
I was preparing myself for him to make love to me, and I wanted him to take his time doing so.

Then slowly, he undressed me
He took his time removing my clothes.

Then slowly, he laid me down
He gently positioned me onto the bed.

Pulled my panties down
He removed my underwear.

Then slowly, he went down on me
He provided oral sex to me slowly.

Then slowly, we made love
We engaged in sexual intercourse slowly.

Ohh, been an hour
An hour had passed since we started making love.

Since his love had been in me
Since we started engaging in sexual intercourse.

Couldn't believe he felt this good inside of me
I was astonished by how good it felt to have him inside me.

It was everything I dreamed that it would be
My sexual experience with him exceeded my expectations.

And like a virgin, I was tight
I felt tight, as if I had never engaged in sexual activity before.

But he loosened me
He helped me relax and made me feel more comfortable.

Then slowly, he began to speak
He started to talk to me slowly.

"You're so good, baby"
He expressed that I was doing well and pleasing him during our sexual activity.

That's what he said to me
His exact words to me were that I was doing well.

Girl, I'm telling you that this one is the truth
I'm telling you that he was being honest with me.

Put it on me like a real man is s'pose to
He engaged in sexual activity with me like a real man should.

(And I couldn't wait)To feel him come inside of me.......
I was eagerly awaiting his climax and for him to ejaculate inside me.

(Cause he wasn't selfish, he was patient)
He was mindful and patient with me and our sexual activity.

Ohhh, oohh
An expression of pleasure and satisfaction.

Girl, he made love to me
He engaged in sexual activity with me in a loving way.

But slowly
He took his time throughout our sexual activity.

Oooh (We made love)
An expression of pleasure associated with our sexual activity.

To the steady rhythm of my heart beats
Our sexual activity was synchronized with the rhythm of my heartbeats.