There’s Something About Mary: A Tribute to Mary J. Blige

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Mary J. Blige is a singer, songwriter, actress, and entrepreneur. Growing up in the housing projects of Yonkers, New York, Mary shot to superstardom shortly after signing to Uptown Records in the late 80s. For anyone even tangentially interested in the R&B genre, she is a household name. Indisputably, her legacy is cemented by an unmatched ability to articulate hurt or pain in her records. From addiction, heartache, and healing, she has taken difficult topics and turned them into solid gold hits. IndustryMe writers Rochelle and Kloe delve into why she meant so much to them.

This R&B icon was a trendsetter, as her music set the tone for what the genre in the 90s would become. She was beloved by the hip hop community in a way no R&B singer had been before. Her affiliation with Bad Boy Records (signees including Biggie, Mase, The LOX) was hugely influential on her career. Even for a rapper of today, getting a verse from Mary is a big deal.

She taught us there’s strength in vulnerability, and that you can make some of your greatest art when you’re in a place of pain. This artist doesn’t sing at you, she sings with and for women everywhere. Furthermore, Mary played a vital role in giving Black women, in particular, a voice. What solidifies her GOAT status is her ability to turn her lemons into lemonade. This is a blueprint that many have followed since – Beyoncé being a notable one.

Her Influence

M.J.B made it cool for R&B singers to not just be sweetness and light. From the jump she exuded a street smart attitude and edgy demeanour. Her childhood struggles of inner-city living surrounded by hustlers, gospel music, and the relentlessness of life in the projects, shaped her art. Mary brought a fresh sound to the radio waves. She defined what is now known as ‘hip-hop soul’, and the subsequent hip-hop/R&B crossovers that we love so much today can be traced back to her.

In todays R&B landscape, I look at SZA and H.E.R. and can clearly see her influence. She laid down an emotional blueprint of how to make richly emotive records. Moreover, Mary’s longevity should not be glossed over. This lady has three decades of popularity to boast about. How many R&B artists of today can we confidently say will be relevant in thirty years time?

In addition to her musical abilities, she is also an actress and a critically acclaimed one at that. Plus, she has always been a tastemaker in the world of fashion. From her streetwear to red carpet show-stoppers – this person’s influence was more than just on wax.

I still have dreams of that Gucci black latex moment at the 1995 Billboard Music Awards. Or, the trench dress combo of 1995 in her trademark monochrome is also a phenomenon. We’re talking skinny brows, dark-lined lips, shimmery eyeshadows, and fur trimmed everything. Mary is a maximalist and we love her for it. No wonder designers have been fighting amongst themselves to dress her and still do.

It simply cannot be understated how much she has influenced her fans’ lives. She told Stylist: “The most touching [thing] is when they say my music saved their lives. It’s humbling. They literally tell me stories about almost committing suicide and then my song came on [the radio],“.

Her Best Work

Why do people go to heartbreak records to feel something? Hurt and pain is something we all go through and sometimes we need someone else to articulate it better than we can. Often, this can only be achieved through music, and Mary is living testament to that. In 1992, she dropped her debut ‘What’s the 411?‘ amidst an era of baggy jeans and boom-bap rap. Blending hip-hop and soul, it opened up a fresh sound.

This project also has one of the best album intros of all time, a skit featuring all the A-listers of music at the time leaving a message on her answering machine. This was marketing genius from Mary, showing from the jump that she’s in high demand and respected.

For both of us, our favourite album is ‘My Life‘, her sophomore effort in 1994. This ushered in her emotional struggles and a confessional vulnerability in a way she hadn’t done before. This version of the singer feels the most timeless. The consistency yet variety you get on this album is commendable. For example, fan fave, ‘Be Happy‘, is a song you can dance to at the club or cry to alone in your car.

Tracks like ‘Mary Jane (All Night Long)’ have a groove that makes it impossible not to move. The song has a playful, carefree energy that’s fun and easy to sink into, which is part of why the album still feels personal even after all these years. Every time we both revisit 90s R&B, this is the record that hits with emotional depth and relatable storytelling. It’s one of those LPs to go back to when something real and heartfelt is needed.

What is most impressive about Mary is her ability to keep reinventing herself. Furthermore, some of her biggest commercial hits derived from later albums like ‘No More Drama‘. For example, ‘I Can Love You‘ featuring Lil’ Kim is still played everywhere today from ‘Share My World‘.

One of my favourite movies of all time is ‘Waiting to Exhale‘, of which M.J.B wrote ‘Not Gon’ Cry’ for the soundtrack. It added the Mary magic for an already iconic release and turned that record into a classic. In addition, she made cover records her own. Somewhat embarrassingly I only just discovered ‘I’m Goin Down‘ is a cover of Rose Royce. Likewise, her cover of ‘Sweet Thing‘ by Rufus and Chaka Khan is a supreme listening experience. As for the deeper cuts, that’s hard for us to agree on. Kloe’s favourites include ‘Mary’s Joint‘ from the ‘My Life‘ album, and ‘Everything‘ for its uplifting message.

For Rochelle, ‘Mary’s Joint’ has that cool confidence, seamlessly blending her soulful vocals with a laid back vibe. Another standout is ‘Reminisce’. She does something different with the end of a romance, showing that letting go can be a kind of strength. The singer talks about reliving the love she shared with her partner, but instead of being sad, she’s happy she got to experience it. ‘You Remind Me’ really stands out too. It’s about recognising patterns in love and the ups and downs that come with them. Mary’s voice makes it feel so real, like she’s speaking straight to you.

Put plainly, her discography is unbreakable. Not everyone gets to have over 30 nominations and nine Grammy wins. Her latest nomination is as recent as 2023 for ‘Good Morning Gorgeous’. I do worry that younger people hear records like this and appreciate them, but compare her to the self empowerment anthems of current stars like Lizzo or Jazmine Sullivan. It’s so easy to forget that she’s the originator. 

Her Collaborations

One thing about Mary – she’s loyal to a T. Her authenticity attracted rappers, and love for the genre shone through. A lifelong appreciation of true artistry means she has kept her ear to the streets, and can pair up with today’s talent from Dave East, KAYTRANADA, or Vado. This being said, she still employs old pals like Jadakiss and Darkchild in her recent records. Her timeless quality allows this artist to bridge the gap between the old-school and new-school. It must be inspiring for current R&B megastars to see the likes of Mary and Mariah, proving greatness doesn’t have an age limit.

You hear it less and less these days, but the notion that there isn’t a place for women in hip-hop can be disproven by this artist, despite her being a singer. Many purists think the genre should be left alone, with rap and R&B completely separated. Despite these claims, I truly believe we can’t be without the mixture. Artists like Mary brought communities and worlds together. Her work truly was the sound of the streets that everyone loved.

Another point of friendly disagreement between Rochelle and Kloe is the best collaboration. For Kloe, it’s ‘I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By‘ with Method Man. A bit of soothing soul with a Wu Tang edge? Yes please. Their chemistry is electric, delivering a swoon worthy track. Meth even claimed Ms. Blige is responsible for his solo career from that record.

‘Rainy Dayz’ with Ja Rule is one of those collabs that just sticks with Rochelle because it’s both real and smooth. Mary’s voice carries that mix of grit and soul, and Ja’s verse fits in without ever feeling forced. It’s like they’re telling a story together. The song is about going through tough times but still finding a way to keep going, but there’s also this strength underneath the sadness. The music video really adds to that feeling too. It’s the kind of collab that doesn’t just sound good but feels lived in. She brings vibes for every emotion whether it’s heartbreak, joy, struggle, or celebration.

Rap GOAT Nas also cooked up a has a classic with her. ‘Love Is All We Need‘ is a must listen. Furthermore, one of the best debuts of music history, Jay Z’s ‘Reasonable Doubt‘ is notable. Who features on the first song on the first record Hov ever released? Mary of course.

Her Message

The most admirable quality about this icon is that never shied away from addressing her trauma in her songs. She has become an embodiment of self love and healing. Around the world, women look at Mary and think, ‘If she made it through, so can I.’. Because of this, her relationship with her fans is extra special. It takes on a whole other meaning. She is a guiding light for so many. For instance, many fans have tattoos of her, and have built entire online communities from mutual appreciation of her storytelling. 

Self care has become a central theme of her work, and she shows you can be strong without hardening your heart. Her message is also all about resilience, showing that no matter what life throws at you, strength and self-worth will get you through.

Closing Thoughts

In conclusion, both of us agree that what makes Mary unique is that she isn’t the polished pop diva. Whilst a polished pop diva is great, someone a bit more relatable and with a bit of swagger is a breath of fresh air. In the hip-hop ‘golden era’, Mary felt relatable for all women, but Black women in particular. Despite us both growing up in the 2000s era thereby missing her initial success, we agree this artist has been a kind of fairy godmother in our lives. 

The generational influence is crystal clear. If you love Summer Walker’s lay-it-all-bare on the record approach you have Mary to thank. If you appreciate Ari Lennox’s imperfect-but-trying way of telling her life stories, or even Brent Faiyaz’s ability to display raw emotion over hip-hop worthy beats – this singer opened the door.

Mary J. Blige is on Instagram, X, and TikTok. Listen to the best of her discography below or get tickets to her upcoming documentary film here. You can read more opinion pieces here and buy her music.

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