Common misspelling: Mary Jay Blige, Mary J. Bliege
Her new album Growing Pains will hit the stores December 18th.
Fans can now pre-order
the album
here. With the pre-order fans
will get Mary's first single "Just Fine" instantly and on December 18
they will receive the Digital Booklet along with a bonus track entitled
"Mirror" featuring Eve.
The following biography
is fromWikipedia.org
“The
Free Encyclopedia.”
Mary Jane Blige (born January 11, 1971) is
an six-time Grammy Award winning American R&B, soul, and hip hop soul
singer, songwriter, occasional rapper, record producer, and actress who
has sold over twenty one million records in the United State alone.
Around the world she has sold ten million since her career began in
1991. She is also widely known as the "Queen of Hip Hop Soul", and Mary
J. Blige earned over 23 Grammy Award nominations for her works.
****
Background information
Birth name Mary Jane Blige
Also known as Brook Lynn, Queen of Hip Hop Soul,
MJB
Born January 11, 1971 (1971-01-11) (age 36)
The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States
Genre(s) R&B, soul, hip hop soul
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, rapper, record
producer, actress
Instrument(s) Singing, rapping
Years active 1989–present
Label(s) Matriarch, Geffen, MCA, Uptown
Website www.mjblige.com
****
Background
Blige was born in The Bronx, New York City, to a
jazz musician father. When she was four, her father, Thomas, left the family,
leaving her mother Cora to raise two children by herself. They then moved to
neighboring Yonkers where they resided in Schlobaum Housing Projects, one of the
city's most dangerous housing projects. She sang lead in her church's choir, and
at seven she won a talent contest singing Aretha Franklin's "Respect." On the
February 1, 2006 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, she revealed that she was
sexually assaulted at age five by a family friend.
Music
career
In 1988, Blige recorded an impromptu cover of Anita
Baker's "Rapture" at a recording booth in a local shopping mall. Her mother's
boyfriend at the time later played the cassette for Jeff Redd, a recording
artist and A&R runner for Uptown Records. Redd then sent it to the president and
CEO of the label, Andre Harrell. Harrell met with Blige and, in 1989, she was
signed to the label; becoming the company's youngest and first female artist.
Upon signing to Uptown, Blige's early years there
were dormant, as the label continued to focus most of its attention on its more
established acts. During this time, Blige occasionally did session work as a
background singer for her label mates. In 1990, she was introduced as a
background singer for Redd, during a performance at the Apollo Theatre. The same
year she also sang the hook on "I'll Do 4 U" by rapper and label mate Father MC;
Blige also appeared in the concert-themed music video, in the role of a back-up
singer.
1992-1994: What's the 411?
Production for Blige's debut album began in 1991,
with Sean "Puffy" Combs (then, a fledgling A&R executive at Uptown) largely
overseeing the project. Also enlisted were some of the top R&B and hip-hop
producers of the time, among them were Tony Dofat, Mark Morales and Mark C.
Rooney, Dave "Jam" Hall, and DeVante Swing.
On July 28, 1992, Uptown Records released What's
the 411?. "You Remind Me", the album's lead-off single, peaked at number
twenty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and 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 also certified Gold.
More What's the 411? singles followed into 1993,
including: "Reminisce", a cover of Rufus's "Sweet Thing", and "Love No Limit."
By the end of the year, What's the 411? had sold two million copies. Blige,
meanwhile, was being christened as 'The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.' and released a
Hip-Hop single around 1993, You Don't Have to Worry (She later confessed that,
at the time, she believed the title to be nothing more than a marketing tool.)
The album's success spun off What's the 411? Remix, a remix album released in
December that was used to extend the life of the What's the 411? singles on the
radio into 1994, as Blige recorded her followup album.
1994-1995: My Life
On November 29, 1994, Uptown Records released
Blige's second album, My Life. Darker, moodier, and slightly less uptempo than
its predecessor—the set was again overseen by Combs (despite his having recently
left the label), who co-produced all but one of the albums tracks, and took over
as Blige's manager. Unlike What's the 411?, Blige co-write a large body of the
material, basing it on her personal life…hence the title. Although
overwhelmingly praised by both critics and fans, Blige also received some
criticism for the album being so sample-heavy.
"Be Happy", the album's first single, peaked at
number twenty-nine and number six on the Hot 100 and R&B singles chart
respectively. In early 1995, it was followed up with a cover of Rose Royce's
1976 hit "I'm Going Down." Other My Life singles included: "You Bring Me Joy"
and "I Love You." Album tracks "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" and "My Life" also
received heavy radio play, despite their never being officially released as
single. My Life was eventually certified triple platinum. In spite of its
success and her growing fame, Blige later admitted that she was simultaneously
dealing with long time bouts of drug addiction, alcoholism, and depression, as
well as an abusive relationship with then-boyfriend K-Ci Hailey of Jodeci. It
was around this time that Death Row Records CEO, Suge Knight approached Blige
and signed her to Suge Management as a part time manager and consultant.[1]
Also in 1995, Blige involved herself in several
outside projects; recording a cover of Aretha Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel
Like) A Natural Woman" for the soundtrack to the FOX series New York Undercover,
and "Everyday It Rains" (co-written by R&B singer Faith Evans) for the
soundtrack to the hip-hop biopic, The Show. 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.") Later in the year,
she also 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. Blige
won her first Grammy Award – 'Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group' for her
collaboration with Method Man.
1997-1998: Share My World
On April 22, 1997, MCA Records (parent company to
Uptown Records, which was in the process of being dismantled) released Blige's
third album, Share My World. By now, she and Combs had dissolved their working
relationship. In his place were a group of big name producers, including: Jimmy
Jam and Terry Lewis, Chucky Thompson, R. Kelly, Babyface, and most significantly
Rodney Jerkins, who helmed a significant portion of the album.
Share My World debuted at number one on the
Billboard 200 albums chart and spawned four hit singles: "Love Is All We Need"
(featuring Nas), "I Can Love You" (featuring Lil' Kim), "Everything", and "Seven
Days." The album became Blige's most commercially successfully; certified
quadruple platinum in the United States and selling over five million worldwide.
In early 1998, Blige won an American Music Award for "Favorite Soul/R&B Album."
That summer she embarked on the Share My World Tour, which resulted in a
Gold-certified live album released later that year, simply titled The Tour. The
album spawned one single, "Misty Blue."
1999-2000: Mary
On August 17, 1999, Blige's fourth album, titled
Mary was released. A departure from her more familiar hip-hop-oriented sound;
this set featured a more earthy, whimsical, and adult contemporary-tinged
collection of songs, reminiscent to 1970s and early 1980s soul. Also featured on
the album were high-profile guests, including: Aretha Franklin (who duetted with
her on "Don't Waste Your Time"), Elton John (who played keys on "Deep Inside"
(which featured a sample of his '70s-era hit "Bennie and the Jets"), Eric
Clapton (who played guitar on "Give Me You"), and Lauryn Hill (who wrote,
produced, and sang background on "All That I Can Say.") Blige also recorded a
cover of Stevie Wonder's 1976 hit "As" with George Michael, which is featured on
the UK release of Mary, and also on the Australian release of his greatest hits
album Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael.
On December 14, 1999, the album was re-released as
a double-disc set. The second disc was enhanced with the music videos for the
singles "All That I Can Say" and "Deep Inside", and also included two bonus
tracks: "Sincerity" (featuring Nas and DMX) and "Confrontation" (a collaboration
with hip-hop duo Funkmaster Flex & Big Kap originally from their 1999 album The
Tunnel). The Mary album was critically praised, becoming her most nominated
release to date, and was certified double platinum (moving almost two million in
sales.) It, however, wasn't as commercially successful as Blige's prior
releases, as all of the singles: "All That I Can Say", "Deep Inside", "Your
Child", and "Give Me You" performed modestly on radio and on the charts. In the
meantime, MCA used the album to expand Blige's demographic into nightclub
market, as club-friendly dance remixes of the Mary singles were released. In
lieu of this, the club remix of "Your Child" peaked at number-one hit on the
Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart in October 2000.
In 2001, a Japan-only compilation, Ballads, was
released—featuring what was considered the best of Blige's ballad material,
including a cover of Stevie Wonder's Overjoyed, her previous recordings of
Aretha Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and Dorothy Moore's
"Misty Blue." [citation needed]
2001-2002: No More Drama
On August 28, 2001, MCA released Blige's fifth
studio album, No More Drama. The album's first single, "Family Affair" (produced
by Dr. Dre) became her first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, where
it remained for six consecutive weeks. It was followed by the top twenty Jimmy
Jam and Terry Lewis-produced title track (originally recorded for the Mary
album), which sampled "Nadia's Theme", the piano-driven theme song to the
daytime drama The Young and the Restless.
Though the album sold nearly two million copies in
the U.S., MCA was underwhelmed by its sales, and subsequently repackaged and
re-released the album on January 29, 2002. The No More Drama re-release featured
a new album cover, deleted three of the songs from the original track listing,
while adding two brand-new songs—one of which was the third single and top
twenty Hot 100 hit "Rainy Dayz", (featuring Ja Rule), plus two remixes; one of
the title track, serviced by Puff Daddy. The album sold another million-plus
units in the U.S. and five million worldwide. Blige won a Grammy for 'Best
Female R&B Vocal Performance' for the song "He Think I Don't Know."
On July 22, 2002, MCA released Dance for Me, a
collection of club remixes of some of her past top hits including the Junior
Vasquez remix of "Your Child", and the Thunderpuss mix of "No More Drama." This
album was also released in a limited edition double pack 12" vinyl for
DJ-friendly play in nightclubs.
2003-2004: Love & Life
On August 26, 2003, Blige's sixth album Love & Life
was released on Geffen Records (which had absorbed MCA Records.) Blige heavily
collaborated with her one-time producer Sean Combs (now calling himself "Diddy")
for this set. Due to the history between them on What's the 411? and My Life,
which is generally regarded as their best work, and Blige having just come off
of a successful fifth album, expectations were high for the reunion effort.
Despite the album debuting at number one on the
Billboard 200, Love & Life's lead-off single, the Diddy-produced "Love @ 1st
Sight" (which featured a cameo by Method Man), just barely cracked the top ten
on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while altogether missing the top twenty on the Hot
100. The two following singles, "Ooh!" and "Not Today" (featuring Eve) fared
worse. Although the album was certified platinum, it became Blige's
lowest-selling and biggest commercial disappointment to date. Critics and fans
alike largely panned the disc, citing a lack of consistency and noticeable ploys
to recapture the early Blige/Combs glory. Blige and Combs reportedly struggled
and clashed during the making of this album, and again parted ways upon the
completion of it.
2005-2006: The Breakthrough
On December 20, 2005, Geffen Records released
Blige's seventh studio album, The Breakthrough. The album debuted at number one
on both the Billboard 200 Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Selling
727,000 copies in its first week, it became the biggest first-week sales for an
R&B solo female artist in SoundScan history,[2] the fifth largest first-week
sales for a female artist, and the fourth largest debut of 2005.
For the album, Blige collaborated with Rodney
Jerkins, will.i.am, Bryan Michael Cox, 9th Wonder, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis,
Raphael Saadiq, Cool and Dre, and Dre & Vidal. The lead-off single "Be Without
You" peaked at number three on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, while peaking
at number one on the R&B charts for a record-setting fifteen consecutive weeks.
It would remain on Billboard's Hip-Hop/R&B chart for over 16 months. The album's
second single Enough Cryin', peaked at number thirty-two on the Billboard Hot
100, and rose to number two on the R&B chart. The album also included a duet
with U2 on the cover of their 1992 hit, "One", which was released as a single in
the UK, and gave Blige her biggest hit to date in the country, peaking at number
two on the UK Singles Chart. On December 31, 2006, "One" was announced by BBC
Radio 1 to be the thirty-fifth highest-selling single of 2006 in the UK.[3] The
latest single from The Breakthrough is "Take Me as I Am", which samples Lonnie
Liston Smith's "A Garden of Peace." It peaked at number three on the Hot
R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Blige appeared on the remix to Busta Rhymes's "Touch It" in
2006, where she performed under an alter ego, named "Brook Lynn." The character
is also featured on "Enough Cryin" and "Gonna Breakthrough" on the The
Breakthrough.
Since its release, The Breakthrough has sold over
three million copies in the U.S and over seven million copies worldwide,
becoming one of the five best-selling albums of 2006. The success of The
Breakthrough won Blige nine Billboard Music Awards, two American Music Awards,
two BET Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, and a Soul Train Award. She also
received eight Grammy Award nominations at the 2007 Grammy Awards, the most of
any artist that year. "Be Without You" was nominated for both "Record of the
Year" and "Song of the Year." Blige won three: "Best Female R&B Vocal
Performance", "Best R&B Song" (both for "Be Without You"), and "Best R&B Album"
for The Breakthrough. "One", and "Be Without You" in addition to the other
singles released helped Mary sell a combined 11 million singles worldwide in
addition to the seven million albums sold worldwide. Bringing her total for The
Breakthrough at the current time from singles and album sales to a combined
eighteen million records.
On December 12, 2006, a compilation called
Reflections - A Retrospective was released, containing many of Blige's greatest
hits. The album also featured four new songs were including: "We Ride (I See the
Future)" and "Reflections (I Remember)." The album peaked at number nine in the
U.S, selling over 170,000 copies in its first week, while reaching number forty
in the UK. The album has, thus far, sold more than 675,000 copies.
2007-present: Growing Pains
Blige was featured with Aretha Franklin on the
soundtrack to motion picture Bobby. They duet on the lead track Never Gonna
Break My Faith, the song was nominated for a Golden Globe, which was lost to
Prince for "Happy Feet."
Blige was featured on Ludacris' inspirational song
and music video "Runaway Love" bringing awareness to the phenomenon of girls who
run away from home because of some form of abuse by men. The song reached the
top five on both the Hot 100 and the Hip-Hop/R&B chart.
On December 7, 2006, Blige became the artist with
the most Grammy Award nominations for the year, eight, winning three for "Best
Female R&B Vocal Performance" and "Best R&B Song" for "Be Without You" and "Best
R&B Album" for The Breakthrough. On February 11, 2007, Blige completed a season
sweep of the "big three" major music awards, having won the American Music Award
in November 2006, the Billboard Music Awards in December 2006, and the Grammy
Awards in February 2007.
Blige's new album, titled Growing Pains, is due for
release on December 11, 2007 with lead-single "Just Fine," #20 on the Billboard
Hot R&B chart after only four weeks. [4]
Blige was featured on 50 Cent's new album Curtis.
[Update: MJB appeared on the Dec. 8, 2007 cover of
Billboard magazine]
Personal life
Blige had a very public and tumultuous six-year
affair with Jodeci frontman Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey, which ended in 1997. Following
the run of their union, despite having been linked with singer Case and
producer/singer Malik Pendleton, she has kept many of her relationships private.
Unfortunately, she had a very bad dependency to drugs & alcohol that nearly
destroyed her life as well as career.
In 2000, Blige began a relationship with record
industry executive Martin Kendu Isaacs (known simply as "Kendu"), who is now her
manager. Blige has also credited Isaacs for helping her to kick her drug &
alcohol addiction. The two were married on December 7, 2003 in a small private
ceremony at Blige's home attended by fifty guests (none of whom were
celebrities[5]).
Acting
career
In 1998, Blige made her acting debut on The Jamie
Foxx Show playing a character named Ola Mae; a preacher's daughter who wanted to
sing more than gospel music.
In 2001, Blige starred opposite rapper Q-Tip in the
independent film Prison Song. The same year, Blige made a cameo on the Lifetime
network series, Strong Medicine; playing Simone Fellows, lead singer of a band
who was sick, but would't seek treatment.
In 2000, Blige had her own superhero web cartoon in
junction with Stan Lee. Blige also used the cartoon to open her 2000 tour.
In 2004, Blige starred in an off-Broadway play, The
Exonerated. The play chronicled the experiences of real death row inmates. Blige
portrayed Sunny Jacobs, a woman who spent twenty years in prison for a crime she
did not commit.
In late 2005, it was reported that Blige had landed
the starring role in the upcoming MTV Films biopic on Nina Simone. There is no
word yet as to when the film will start shooting.
In February 2007, Blige guest-starred on Ghost
Whisperer, in the episode "Mean Ghost", as Jackie Boyd; a cheerleading coach
grieving for the death of her brother and dealing with a dead cheerleader
harming her team. The episode features many of Blige's songs.
In August 2007, Blige guest-starred on Entourage,
playing herself as a client of Ari Gold's agency.
In October 2007, Blige guest-starred on "America's
Next Top Model", as creative director for a photoshoot done by Matthew Rolston.
Philanthropy
Blige was a spokesperson for the M·A·C AIDS Fund.
She did two ads, one with Lil' Kim in 2000 and the other with Elton John and
Shirley Manson in 2002.
Business interests
She is a spokesperson and investor for Carol's
Daughter beauty products. She also has her own record label called Matriarch
Records, which is distributed through Geffen.
Discography
1992: What's the 411?
1994: My Life
1997: Share My World
1999: Mary
2001: No More Drama
2003: Love & Life
2005: The Breakthrough
2006: Reflections - A Retrospective
2007: Growing Pains
Headlining tours
Year Title Format
1997 Share My World Tour CD:The Tour
2000 The Mary Show -
2002 No More Drama Tour -
2004 Love & Life Tour DVD:Live from Los Angeles
2006 -The Breakthrough Experience
****
Awards
and nominations
Main article: Mary J. Blige's achievements and
awards
Videography
Main article: Mary J. Blige's videography
References
1.^ Official Death Row Records/Suge Management
roster poster 1995. Retrieved on 2006-02-03.
2.^ Mary J. Blige is able to mix integrity,
popularity. San Jose Mercury News (September 6, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
3.^ The Official UK Singles Chart of the year:
2006. BBC Radio 1. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
The
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from an article on
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MARY J. BLIGE DISCOGRAPHY: ALBUMS, SINGLES, COMPILATIONS, BOXED SETS, ETC.
If you are interested in
writing album reviews, CLICK HERE.
Year
1992
1994
1997
1999
2001
Album Title
What's the 411?
My Life
Share My World
Mary
No More Drama
Tracks
"Leave A Message"
"Reminisce"
"Real Love"
"You Remind Me"
"Intro Talk"
"Sweet Thing"
"Love No Limit"
"I Don't Want To Do Anything"
"Slow Down"
"My Love"
"Changes I've Been Going Through"
"What's the 411?"
"Intro"
"Mary Jane (All Night Long)"
"You Bring Me Joy"
"Marvin Interlude"
"I'm The Only Woman"
"K. Murray Interlude"
"My Life"
"You Gotta Believe"
"I Never Wanna Live Without You"
"I'm Going Down"
"My Life Interlude"
"Be With You"
"Mary's Joint"
"Don't Go"
"I Love You"
"No One Else"
"Be Happy"
"(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" [International Bonus Track]
1. Intro
2. I Can Love You
3. Love Is All We Need
4. Round And Round
5. Share My World
6. Share My World
7. Seven Days
8. It's On
9. Thank You Lord
10. Missing You
11. Everything
12. Keep Your Head
13. Can't Get You Off My Mind
14. Get To Know You Better
15. Searching
16. Our Love
17. Not Gon' Cry
"All That I Can Say" (featuring Lauryn Hill)
"Sexy" (featuring Jadakiss)
"Deep Inside" (featuring Elton John)
"Beautiful One"
"I'm In Love"
"Time"
"Memories"
"Don't Waste Your Time" (Duet with Aretha Franklin)
"Not Lookin'" (Duet with K-Ci Hailey)
"Your Child"
"No Happy Holidays"
"The Love I Never Had"
"Give Me You" (featuring Eric Clapton)
"Let No Man Put Asunder"
"Love"
"Family Affair"
"Steal Away" (featuring Pharrell
Williams)
"Crazy Games"
"PMS"
"No More Drama"
"Keep It Moving"
"Destiny"
"Where I've Been" (featuring Eve)
"Beautiful Day"
"Dance For Me"
"Flying Away"
"Never Been"
"2U"
"In The Meantime"
"Forever No More [Poem]"
"Testimony"
"Checkin' For Me" (Bonus Track on UK version.)
Year
2003
2005
2006
2007
Album Title
Love & Life
The Breakthrough
Reflections - A Retrospective
Growing Pains
Tracks
"Love & Life Intro" (featuring Jay-Z &
P. Diddy)
"Don't Go"
"When We"
"Not Today" (featuring Eve)
"Finally Made It (Interlude)"
"Ooh!"
"Let Me Be The 1" (featuring 50 Cent)
"Love @ 1st Sight" (featuring Method Man)
"Willing & Waiting"
"Free (Interlude)"
"Friends"
"Press On"
"Feel Like Makin' Love"
"It's A Wrap"
"Message In Our Music (Interlude)"
"All My Love"
"Special Part Of Me"
"Ultimate Relationship (A.M.)"
"Didn't Mean" [International Bonus Track]
"Whenever I Say Your Name (Duet with Sting) [International Bonus Track]
"Happy Endings" [Japan Bonus Track]
"If I Don't Love You This Way" [Japan Bonus Track]
"No One Will Do"
"Enough Cryin" (featuring Brook Lynn)
"About You" (featuring will.i.am)
"Be Without You"
"Gonna Breakthrough" (featuring Brook)
"Good Woman Down"
"Take Me As I Am"
"Baggage"
"Can't Hide From Luv" (featuring Jay-Z)
"MJB Da MVP" (featuring 50 Cent)
"Can't Get Enough"
"Ain't Really Love"
"I Found My Everything" (featuring Raphael Saadiq)
"Father In You"
"Alone" (featuring Dave Young)
"One" (with U2)
Track
"Reflections (I Remember)"
"We Ride (I See the Future)"
"You Know"
"King & Queen" (duet with John Legend)
"No More Drama"
"Family Affair"
"Real Love"
"No One Will Do"
"Be Without You"
"I'm Going Down"
"911" (Wyclef Jean featuring Mary J. Blige)
"Not Gon' Cry"
"My Life '06"
"Be Happy"
"I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" (Razor Sharp Mix)
(Method Man featuring Mary J. Blige)
"As"* (duet with George Michael)
"One"* (duet with U2)
"MJB Da MVP"*
Coming
MARY J. BLIGE ON
VIDEO, A FILMOGRAPHY
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writing movie reviews,
CLICK HERE.
