Thursday, September 30, 2010

History Class....Mary J. Blige's "My Life"...


The love for Mary J Blige May start at 2005's "Be Without You" for most of you, but over a hot cup of tea and iTunes, I came to realize more Mary Than I realized was on my play list. In the game for almost 22 years now Mary has continued to revamp R&B/Hip Hop music 20x's over which certifies that the name given "The Queen Of Hip Hop Soul" Is well deserved.

"What's the 411" from the "what's the 411 album"


Signing to Uptown records in 1989 Mary Began her career singing background for many of Uptown's artists just to get her feet wet. But when given the chance Mrs. Blige blew it out the water with her 1992 hit "Whats The 411" and "You Remind Me", the album's first single, peaked at number one on the R&B singles chart that summer. The second single, "Real Love", was released in the fall. It too topped the R&B singles chart, and became Blige's first top ten Hot 100 single, peaking at number seven. Both singles were certified gold for their sales volume.

But with backing by Sean P.Diddy Combs....On a cold Day in November the album that would ultimately be one of her deepest most heartfelt albums "My Life" was served up on a platter to show who Mrs. Blige was deep inside.

"Be Happy" "My Life"



With beats that a rapper could easily flow on, the surprise was that Mary had very soulful vocals that made the beat just as prominent"Be Happy", the album's single, peaked at number 29 and number six on the Hot 100 and R&B singles chart, respectively. Other My Life singles include "You Bring Me Joy" and "I Love You". "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" and "My Life" received heavy radio play, despite never being officially released as singles apart from the UK, where "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" became Blige's second top 20 hit from the album there. My Life was eventually certified triple platinum. That summer she dueted with rapper Method Man on his song, "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" (which sampled Marvin Gaye's "You're All I Need to Get By", and for which she won a Grammy award.) Later in the year, she recorded the Babyface-penned and produced "Not Gon' Cry", for the soundtrack to motion picture Waiting to Exhale. The platinum-selling single rose to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in early 1996, and became her biggest commercial hit at the time.

Method Man Ft Mary J. Blige


Mary is most definitely the Blueprint for most R&B/Hip Hop female artists that arrive now. But what this album shows is that real life experiences make artists have a foundation to grow on and not something that is just handed to them.From the outing of that album Blige has sold over 50 million albums and 15 million singles. So the question remains: Is It better to actually ask an artist what they feel as opposed to just being told to sing? Feeling is the basis of all music people.... you gotta Feel Mary...

More songs From The "My Life Album: "All Night Long"

59 comments:

  1. I never followed Mary's career but these songs make me want to get up and party!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I use to love Mary back here

    ReplyDelete
  3. She is not like this anymore

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great write up Ms.A!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great Write Up Ms.A

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great Write Up Ms.A!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Really great write up Ms.A I love Mary

    ReplyDelete
  8. AMAZING WRITE UP MS.A!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love you Ms.A because I love Mary

    ReplyDelete
  10. She is the Queen of R&B but she needs to retire now

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ms.A you are amazing I love this write up I had save this page to my archives excellent

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great write up Ms.A

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ms.A this is perfection Go Ms.A!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ms.A any artist should feel good if you do a write up on them

    ReplyDelete
  15. She has been one of my favorite artist of all time I love her great write up Ms.A

    ReplyDelete
  16. She and Diddy killed this album

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ms.A killed this write up!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Mary right here was so good it hurts

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love this write up Ms.A!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ms.A this is a great write up

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great write up Ms.A!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ms.A this is great I love it

    ReplyDelete
  23. This CD so amazing I love it and this is a classic hands down

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great write up to a great artist Ms.A I loved it

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ms.A you made my day by doing this write up on me it means alot to me and I think that its beautiful Im going to print it out and get it framed.Thank you Ms.A and SAU

    ReplyDelete
  26. You are a legend Mary I love you and I love that CD

    ReplyDelete
  27. Ms.A you got Mary on here OMG!

    ReplyDelete
  28. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love you Mary! OMG she came on here great write up Ms.A

    ReplyDelete
  30. Its Mary....... I love SAU!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great write up Ms.A!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Another win for Ms.A and SAU!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Ms.AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

    ReplyDelete
  34. This is why I love SAU

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great write up Ms.A this is your best one I think

    ReplyDelete
  36. Mary this CD changed my life

    ReplyDelete
  37. Mary this CD changed my life

    ReplyDelete
  38. SAU Baby great write up Ms.A!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I love you Ms.A this is so cool

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love you Mary your the best

    ReplyDelete
  41. Mary you and Diddy killed this CD this is classic

    ReplyDelete
  42. WOW Mary came on here I was not expecting that at all I love her

    ReplyDelete
  43. I cant believe she came

    ReplyDelete
  44. Awwww your so welcome Mrs. Blige! thank you for stopping by today :)

    ReplyDelete