Syleena Johnson’s ‘Black Balloon’ Debuts on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay Chart

Syleena Johnson has achieved her first entry on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay Chart in a decade. 

Her single “Black Balloon,” featuring her late father, Syl Johnson, debuts at No. 30 on this week’s chart. The resilient anthem is Syleena’s seventh entry on the Adult R&B Airplay chart and Syl’s first.

Johnson’s last appearance on this chart was in 2014 with “My Love,” from her album Chapter 6: Couples Therapy. The soulful track spent 19 weeks on the chart, peaking at No. 21.

Her personal best was with her 2002 single “Guess What,” which spent four weeks at No. 1. 

At R&B radio, monitored by Mediabase, “Black Balloon” rises from No. 33 to No. 31 this week. “Guess What” was also her highest-charting song, dominating the airwaves for 12 weeks. 

“Black Balloon” is the second single from Johnson’s upcoming album, Legacy. The album will include the lead single “Monsters in the Closet,” a deeply personal song that explores mental health.

“I felt like it was time for ‘Monsters in the Closet’ because we are suffering a mental health crisis in this world right before our eyes,” Johnson explained to Rated R&B. “As creatives and artists/entertainers, we can no longer be excused from activism through our art. We have to be bold with our lyrics to help to promote healing.”

Johnson released a remix of “Monsters in the Closet” featuring actor and poet Omari Hardwick. 

Legacy is dedicated to Johnson’s father, Syl, the soul singer known for his Billboard-charting singles like “Different Strokes” and “Is It Because I’m Black.”

The latter song is the title track to Syl’s 1969 album. The eight-track project also includes “Black Balloons,” which is sampled in Syleena’s “Black Balloon.”

Legacy is the follow-up to Johnson’s 2020 album, Woman.

In other news, Johnson recently announced that she is a member of the R&B supergroup The Chi with Carl Thomas and Dave Hollister. 

Stream Syleena Johnson and Syl Johnson’s “Black Balloon” below.