Chapter 4: Labor Pains

Chapter 4: Labor Pains
Studio album by Syleena Johnson
Released	December 23, 2008 (2008-12-23)
Length	62:22
Label	Aneelys
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
"It Is True" Released: June 24, 2008

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. 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.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

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."

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(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" Taylor	4:49
5.	"Is It Because I'm Black"	Syl Johnson James L. Jones Glenn Watts	Nate Q	4:57
6.	"Be Me"	Syleena Johnson Taylor	Toxic Donald Alford	4:26
7.	"Interlude: Redstorm's Domestic Lesson"	Syleena Johnson Redstorm	Redstorm	2:15
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	Toxic	4:15
11.	"It Is True"	Syleena Johnson Taylor Curtis Mayfield	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	Toxic	3:16
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

• "Freedom" contains a sample of "Talkin Bout Freedom" as performed by Syl Johnson.
• "Is It Because I'm Black" contains a sample of the same-titled song as performed by Syl Johnson.
• "It Is True" contains elements of "Sparkle" as performed by Aretha Franklin.

Personnel

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

• 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)	42

Release history

Chapter 4: Labor Pains release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref(s)
United States	December 23, 2008	Digital download	Aneelys
	January 13, 2009	CD

External links

• Chapter 4: Labor Pains at AllMusic