Mary J. Blige was born Mary Jane Blige on January 11th, 1971.
Over the years Mary J. Blige 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, Mary has been looking into the mirror of her soul and putting into words the truths she has seen in her reflection.
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 Mary album, which drew upon Ms. Blige’s No More Drama is filled life truths and Hot tracks that are both deeply personal and richly universal in scope.
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 set to a gospel laced mid-tempo track. The song opens with the instrumental theme from the "Young and The Restles.
Another song seemingly taken from Mary’s diary is “Never Been,” produced and penned by good friend Missy Elliot.
Love, on a more romantic level is the Song “Flying Away” which was co-written by Mary and her younger brother Bruce (who cowrote several songs on the album.)
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.”
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 IV with all proceeds from these lipsticks earmarked to direct service organizations benefiting men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, and her work for People with AIDS included an appearance at the United Nations 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." 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.
Bio written by: DeonaLove112 |
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