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Mary J. Blige Biography
Review The Artist (26)
Source: http://www.mjblige.com/
Over the years and through the tears, Mary J. Blige has been more than just the finest and fullest practitioner of modern R&B. She is the woman who voices what we can only feel. Through her music, Mary acts as both sister confessor and conduit to real emotions and hard fought hurts.
Once again, as she has done in the past Mary has been looking into the mirror of her soul and putting into measured words the truths she has seen in her reflection. "I have learned something," Mary offers, her tone a wondrous blend of amazement and awareness. "I've learned that we've got to take responsibility for everything that comes out of our mouths.. so.. my focus is on claiming peace and prosperity, trust, patience and love.”
That love: of self of family, of a mate, of friends, of the spirit and of the power of the beat is soulfully evident on Mary J. Blige’s fifth studio triumph No More Drama. The album includes songs and production from such notables Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Missy Elliot, Chucky Thompson, Swizz Beatz, Rockwilder, The Neptunes, Dr. Dre, Ron Lawrence, Kenny Flav, Dame Grease and Mary. Special guests include Eve, Hakeem, Missy and Lenny Kravitz. No More Drama is a passionate and purposeful exploration of the heart, soul and body. Like her 1999 Grammy nominated, platinum plus smash Mary album, which drew upon Ms. Blige’s renewed confidence and reinvigorated spirituality, No More Drama is both affirmation and declaration of intent.
No More Drama is filled with slice of life truths and sizzling tracks that are both deeply personal and richly universal in scope. "This album is a continuation of a turnaround,” Mary explains, speaking to the changes and growth between then and now. “The Mary album was a clean up. It was about cleaning up around me because I still had debris left around me. And this album? It’s about solidifying and moving even further with the things I’ve learned and the strides I’ve made."
That knowledge is apparent on the potent title track. Written and produced by Jam and Lewis, who have collaborated with Mary since 1993’s Share My World “No More Drama” is a (wo) manifesto of determination, set to a gospel laced mid-tempo track. The song opens with the instrumental theme from the "Young and The Restless" and slowly Mary’s burnished voice makes its impact felt with lyrics like “no more pain, no more drama in my life." It is a resoundingly emphatic track, womanly and wise, and one that touched Mary to her core. ”Jimmy and Terry wrote it without me and when I heard it I was like.. do you have a private detective following me around? Because this song is so where I’m at. This song is demanding that you stay away from my life if you’re going to bring me drama."
Another song seemingly taken from Mary’s diary is “Never Been,” produced and penned by good friend Missy Elliot. Framed by a determined and stately vocal, “Never Been” is a song that touched Mary’s core and speaks to her faith. ”I didn’t have a relationship when I heard “Never Been” but I knew that love was going to come, and it didn’t have to come from a man. It came from 'The Man'.. and God gave me that self love, and from that I was able to draw to even more love.”
Love, on a more romantic level is the muse behind “Flying Away” which was co-written by Mary and her younger brother Bruce (who cowrote several songs on the album.) A soaring incandescent cut, “Flying Away” finds Mary in a lighter than air, amour mode, offering her mate support in the form of lines like “here’s your only chance, call me your sunshine on a rainy day..love is on the way.” “Flying Away” is about being on a trip in many ways because someone is treating me right and I’m treating him right and, well, that’s where I’m at.”
Another place Mary finds herself returning to on No More Drama is the dance floor. Case in point is the thumping rhythm fueled tracks "Family Affair" and “Dance With Me.” Offers Mary, “That’s me when I’m out at the club. I just wanted to be able to dance and have a song where everybody could leave their troubles behind and have a good time. A lot of people don’t know that I like to party and that I like to hang out, not the way I used to," Mary laughs, alluding to her wilder youth, “but I do like to get my dance on.”
Mary gets her dance on and allows her fans to join her party on several cuts that feature collaborations with some of the shining lights in hip hop, including The Neptunes, Rockwilder (who kicks in with the insistent “Keep It Moving”) Grammy winner Dr. Dre, (the butt shaking “Family Affair”) and Swizz Beatz who goes for his with the hard core life lesson “Where I’ve Been.” Written by Mary and boasting a guest rap from Eve, “Where I’ve Been” is brutally honest and ruggedly real; a tale of redemption and salvation with a club savvy and uplifting attitude. "I wanted to let my fans know that Mary, despite of the adversity, is gonna be happy.”
Happy but also attuned to others. Mary's charity work is as much a part of her healing process and her journey as the music she creates. She is seen in anti-drug public service announcements, has worked with various education groups and has helped raise monies for people with AIDS. In the spring of this year Mary received the Rolling Stone Do Something Award for her humanitarian work and she was recently honored with a lifetime service award by 100 Black Men. She also received Rock The Vote's highest honor, the Patrick Lippert Award. Mary continues as the spokeswoman for MAC’s Viva Glam III with all proceeds from the lipstick earmarked to AIDS education and research and her tireless work for People with Aids included an appearance at the United Nation’s AIDS Awareness Day fundraiser.
Along with her music and her altruistic outreach, Mary is embarking upon an acting career, She recently did a guest spot on Lifetime’s series "Strong Medicine." “I had fun doing that,” Mary smiles adding that she also sang No More Drama’s “PMS” (produced by Chucky Thompson) on the show. Along with plans to do more acting, Mary is readying the launch of her label and firming up her roster of artists.
Few would have imagined back in 1992, with the explosive debut of What’s the 411, that this young girl from the projects of Yonkers, NY would in less than ten years time become both a multi faceted talent and a template for contemporary R&B. That she would release one live album, four studio albums, see them go to the top of the charts, earn numerous industry awards and be able to bring her idiosyncratic brand of soul to audiences worldwide and cut across race and genre boundaries in the process. On TV, on radio, on CD, in the clubs, the streets, and the bedroom, the honest and humane songs of Mary J. have blossomed into modern classics, and she, in return, reigns as the undisputed Queen of Hip Hop Soul. She was crowned that back in 1992 and throughout the course of her career, from the brilliant My Life through the powerful Share My World, to the triumphant Mary to No More Drama’s blend of prayer and partying, Mary has reclaimed her rights to that crown again and
again.
Ask Mary what she wants No More Drama to convey and she thinks for a bit. “I’d like people to be entertained but I’d like them to hear what I’m saying, too. But if it doesn’t grab you right away, cool. Just dance to it. Just feel it until you are ready to hear what I have to say .. and then what ever happens will happen."
Thanks to TazLilLady@yahoo.com for submitting the biography. |
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Review about Mary J. Blige
cherell taylor | Reviewer: Anonymous | 3/24/09
Mary inspires me, I love her music and will always love her music. You share my same passion and I can't imagine myself going through the things you do. So remember I'm your biggest fan and I hope you continue with your very successful career.
ooh and my favorite song of yours is be without you and as I am
THE REAL MARY | Reviewer: TOMIKA DUBOSE | 2/28/09
Mary were do I start you are my inspiritrational. I've listened to your music and I know that the person that is making the songs is real and thats what I like about you. You are yourself and and straight forward thats the type of person that I have become I tell those that know me to take me as I am I don't hide nothing I am me and I want to thank you for bringing that out of me. I admire all of your songs the best one of all is No More Drama because through my times I have had relationships that were broken hearted and now the relationship that I am in now I am basing it off my past relationship and this person just wants to love me for me so I played your song my song Stay Down and I let down my guard and said that I willing to love another shot thats all that I can do. I think that you are a real queen and I wish you nothing but blessings and my you continue to bring out those hottest songs and I am attending the Womens Inpowerment in Raleigh NC and I can't wait to meet you I have never seen you in person and I want to meet the insprirtrationl God has but on earth for me. Thanks so much!!
Much love and respect.......
your look alike | Reviewer: Charleston's Finest | 1/25/09
Hey Mary,
Hope this finds you in great health & spirit. Just to let you know, I don't care how many people tell you this but I am your greatest fan ever. Almost every where I go through jobs, college, shopping,people always say "girl you look like Mary" or they either whisper the same thing. I didn't always see it. But, I hear it so much it has grown on me. One day my son was about two at the time, He picked up a magazine & saw your picture. He looked over at me and said Mommy,Mommy look my mommy!! I said no baby, it's not Mommy Lol!! Mary I just want to give you your credit you are a beautiful indivdual inside & out. And for all the people that see a part of you inside of me I Am Truly Greatfull & Blessed. Not everyone in life gets to be compared to a superstar. It's an amazing feeling. I love Music & I LOVE to sing. Everything you drope is hot!!Mary YOU inspire me to the fullest to be all that I can be as a women that got caught up in that pain struggle. Keep pushing, Keep speaking, Keep motivating, Keep the inspiration flowing. See you at the top of the charts 1day!!!! 1 Luv
Biggest Fan | Reviewer: Shadaria Williams | 11/20/08
Dear Mary J. Blige, I have loved you ever since the age of four years old. You are my favorite singer. Girl your style and music is all that in a bag of Doritos! Lol. I had a dream that I met you last night at a concert face to face, and I explained to you how I was your biggest fan. I started crying and then you started crying also, in the dream. You are an inspiration to me and I want to thank you. Sometimes I like to think that you wrote most of your songs just for me. We have so much in common its seems. I don't know what I would do if I ever did meet you in person. My favorite song of yours is Just Fine. I listen to it almost everyday. Right now I feel this is the closest way of reaching you. I hope to meet you in person one day. In the mean time keep up the good work, keep singing those songs for me, keep God first, and know that you will always a friend and a Biggest fan in me! Love you homegirl. Sincerely, your #1 fan Shay.
Like A BIG SISTER 2 a lil blind g" | Reviewer: Platinum B, the first blind rapper | 8/4/08
Hay this is Platinum B, the first upcoming blind rapper. All the artists I look up 2 like u, Biggie, Tupac & many others r like my older siblings,. I mostly have older brothers, Pac, biggie, 50 Cent & more. Mary j,. Bliege is like my older sister. She is an older sister 2 a lil blind girl. I luv music and I want 2 be a rapper. I write my own songs in braille and then I print them out. I get put down a lot and Mary showed me 2 keep going cause I will make it,. Mary, keep the great work up 4 ya lil blind sista.
you inspire me to sing | Reviewer: Sharoya Terry | 1/16/08
since i was 4 i've loved yur music. Until this day,you inspire me to live out my dreams and work my way through my stress and pain. i just bought your new cd and i love it!! im a young and talented girl like you said "work what you got" ill do that and stay blessed!
The Best | Reviewer: Nazia180 | 1/2/08
Mary I know exactly how you feel I mean I've been through some trials and tribulations and no matter how much I pray, my problems just seem to get worse. I know I can make it out of this hole because you did it and you ARE an inspiration and I really truly look up to you. Peace, Keep your head up!
Hello | Reviewer: Aniya | 12/26/07
I wanted to know is ( No One )a song that you made...If it is not can you please give me a list of the arist people name and the song....thank you and have a very blessed day..
I just like u | Reviewer: B.Brooks | 12/22/07
Mary even though I am only just a kid I have been though so much.But every time i grab one of your cds and just lay there and listen I tell myself "I GONNA BE JUST LIKE MARY" because if you can go though so much pain and still came out fighting, I can to cuz I ain't givening up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My from a far friend | Reviewer: serita j. hunter | 11/29/07
I live you so much it aint funny. To me it's like you are that special someone that forever touches my heart and soul. You always guided me along the way. You never fail. Every time you drop an album it's like you here my silent prayer because your album reflects my life.
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Review the Artist Mary J. Blige
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