Raw Sylk is the debut studio album by American rapper Sylk-E. Fyne. It was released on March 24, 1998, through RCA Records, with Gerald 'Big Yam' Baillergeau and Victor 'Vino' Merritt producing the entire album.
The album is best remembered for its lead single "Romeo and Juliet", a duet with William "Chill" Warner. The song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Hot Rap Singles and reached gold status two months after its release.
The album, however, did not match "Romeo and Juliet's" success, only making it to 121 on the Billboard 200 and 47 on the R&B charts. The album's failure eventually led to RCA dropping Sylk-E. Fyne from the label.
Critical reception
The Knoxville News Sentinel concluded that "Johnson proves herself a wretchedly dull rapper on her debut, with numbing rhythm loops as the only instrumental support to speak of."
Track listing
Samples "Romeo And Juliet" "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) by Diana Ross "You Don't Have to Cry" by Rene & Angela "Grand Jury (Coming Through)" "I'll Be Good" by Rene & Angela "Material Girl" "More Bounce to the Ounce" by Zapp "I Ain't Down With The System" "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)" by The Delfonics "Sylk-E.'s Romeo And Juliet (LA Groove)" "Sun Is Here" by Sun
Personnel Gerald Baillergeau - producer, executive producer Mike Concepcion - executive producer Tony Dawsey - mastering Kevin Evans - executive producer, A&R La'Mar Lorraine Johnson - main artist, vocals Freddie Lee - associate executive producer Dorothy Low - photography Victor Merritt - associate executive producer, producer, mixing Craig Nobles - associate executive producer Todd Anthony Shaw - featured artist, vocals William Warner Jr. - featured artist, vocals Jerome Woods - featured artist, vocals
Charts Chart (1998)PeakpositionBillboard 200121Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums47Billboard Top Heatseekers2
References