Mary J. Blige (born January 11, 1971) is a decade-spanning American R&B, hip-hop and neo-soul singer-songwriter and actress, hailing from The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Under the influence of R&B/soul legends Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, and Chaka Khan among others, Blige earned her first taste of recognition after singing Anita Baker’s “Caught Up in the Rapture” into a karaoke machine at the mall. A recording of the performance was then given by Blige’s stepfather to Andre Harrell, the CEO of Uptown Records, who signed the young Blige to sing backup for a host of acts including Father MC. In 1991 however, Sean Combs, better known as Diddy, showed Blige the ropes and began working on her debut album. “What the 411?” was released in July 1998, and introduced a whole new wave of gritty and unrefined R&B with a strong connection to hip hop. The album went on to sell over three million copies, aided by the No. 1 R&B chart singles “Real Love” and “You Remind Me”.
Combs was once again at the reigns of Blige’s second album “My Life” released in November 1994. Largely written by the singer herself this time, “My Life” debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The success of her first two albums led to Blige collaborating with the likes of Faith Evans, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, and Jay-Z.
Documenting her tumultuous and unsustainable previous lifestyle, Blige’s third full-length “Share My World” shot to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 1997. The album was the singer’s highest-selling album to date, aided by the five hit singles “Love Is All We Need” featuring Nas, “I Can Love You” featuring Lil’ Kim, “Everything”, “Missing You”, and “Seven Days”. In a move away from hip-hop towards the adult contemporary scene, the album “Mary” released in 1999, was an acclaimed album that later earned success for its club-friendly dance remixes.
The new millennium brought the albums “No More Drama” in 2001, “Love & Life” in 2003, the Grammy Award winning “The Breakthrough” in 2005, and the compilation “Reflections” in 2006. Dubbed the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul”, Blige’s subsequent album “Growing Pains” marked the third successive album which topped both the Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Album charts. Shortly after Blige contributed to 50 Cent’s 2007 album “Curtis” and toured as a part of Jay-Z’s Heart of the City tour.
“Stronger with Each Tear” appeared in December 2009, with guest contributions from Drake, Trey Songz and will.i.am, followed by “My Life II… The Journey Continues (Act 1) in 2011. After issuing the Christmas album “A Mary Christmas” in 2013, and contributing to the soundtrack to the comedy film “Think Like a Man Too”, Blige enlisted the help of Disclosure, Sam Smith, and Emeil Sandé for the album “The London Sessions” released in 2014.
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