Contains an untitled hidden track following "Tonight Im' Gonna Let Go".
Personnel: Syleena Johnson (vocals); Busta Rhymes, Rampage, Sham, Spliff (rap vocals); Larry Gold (arranger, conductor); R. Kelly (arranger, background vocals); Bastiany, Ivan "Orthodox" Barias, JK (acoustic & electric guitars, bass); Donnie Lyle (guitar, bass); Frank Romano (guitar); Jamar Jones, Rodney East (keyboards); Ian Mereness (programming); Timmy Allen, Troy Corbin (background vocals).
Producers include: Hi-Tek, Bastiany, Carvin "Ransum" Haggins, Ivan "Orthodox" Barias, R. Kelly.
Japanese edition adds an extra song.
CD contains 1 bonus track.
Despite having her first album get lost amid all the attention lauded on debuts by Alicia Keys and India.Arie, Syleena Johnson made quite a mark with the contemporary soul stylings of CHAPTER 1: LOVE, PAIN & FORGIVENESS. Her follow-up CHAPTER 2: THE VOICE keeps the magic flowing as Johnson sings about going through the hellfire of a bad relationship and coming out on the other side as a bona fide survivor.
Songs like the mid-tempo groovefest "Now That I Got You" and optimistic "I Believe In Love" point to lessons learned by someone who's seen the good and bad aspects of love. Blessed with a strong and soulful timbre, Johnson has a range that allows her to go from the slow-rolling gritty funk of "I'm Gon' Cry" to the stripped-down, near-acoustic arrangements of the considerably airier "Guitars of the Heart (Happy)." While there are no cameos by unlikely guests like Buddy Guy this time around that point to Johnson's background as the offspring of famed soul singer Syl Johnson, longtime booster R. Kelly returns to lend his compositional and vocal skills to the defiant "Guess What."
Professional Reviews
Vibe (12/02, p.206) - 3.5 discs out of 5 - "...A distinctive sound, sometimes sweet, a little tart, and always strong..."
Mojo (Publisher) (2/03, p.88) - "...A coherent and engaging R&B album that explores love's vicissitudes with a confessional candour...Classy..."
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