108-604: The Share My World Tour was the first headlining concert tour by American recording artist Mary J. Blige . It was launched in support of her multi-platinum third studio album Share My World (1997), and also contained material from her first and second studio albums What's the 411? (1992) and My Life (1994). The eight-month tour began on September 2, 1997, in the United States and continued through May 3, 1998. Concerts were held in North America and Europe. This set list
216-535: A Pentecostal church. She and her family later moved back to New York and resided in the Schlobohm Housing Projects, located in Yonkers . The family subsisted on her mother's earnings as a nurse after her father left the family in the mid-1970s. Her father was a Vietnam War veteran who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism . At age five, she was molested by a family friend; as
324-505: A Soul Train Award. She 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 . Blige completed a season sweep of
432-611: A Woman , was released on April 28, 2017. It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, number two on the Top R&;B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and topped the R&;B Albums chart. On July 12, 2018, Blige released the single "Only Love" on Republic Records , following her exit from Capitol Records . On April 16, 2019, Blige announced that she is co-headlining a North American summer tour with Nas titled The Royalty Tour. On May 8, Blige released
540-469: A Wrap which featured Mary’s remix of the track. In October 2023, Blige released a deluxe version of A Mary Christmas , which included four additional tracks. On October 27, 2023, Blige released the single "Still Believe In Love", which features rapper Vado . In 1998, Blige made her acting debut on the sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show , playing the apparently southern Ola Mae, a preacher's daughter who wanted to sing more than gospel music . Her father
648-469: A bomber mission a black fighter pilot saved his life. Jamie grows close to Laura but his alcoholism worsens and he drunkenly crashes his truck. Henry leaves on a trip and tells Jamie to depart from the farm before he returns. Ronsel receives a letter and photo from the German woman with whom he had been romantically involved and learns that they had a child together and she wants him to come to Europe. The photo
756-584: 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 released in a limited edition double pack 12" vinyl for DJ-friendly play in nightclubs. 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 for this set. Due to
864-526: A different, shorter form on The Breakthrough ) was released as the lead single from the collection. 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 In 2006, Blige recorded a duet with rapper Ludacris, " Runaway Love ", which is the third single on his fifth album, Release Therapy . It reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 and
972-495: A hip-hop storyteller. What's the 411? , therefore, functions as an African American woman-centered storytelling space created largely by black men." 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 then, she and Combs had dissolved their working relationship. In his place were the Trackmasters , who executive-produced
1080-477: A lewd act. In January 2001, Blige performed as a special guest in the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show . On August 28, 2001, MCA released Blige's fifth studio album, No More Drama . The first single in the album, " Family Affair " (produced by Dr. Dre ) became her first and only number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for six consecutive weeks. It was followed by two further hit singles,
1188-480: A mere decade. Blige went on the Growing Pains European Tour , her first tour there in two years. A tour of Australia and New Zealand was scheduled for June but was postponed due to "weariness from an overwhelming tour schedule" and then eventually canceled entirely. On August 7, 2008, it was revealed Blige faced a US$ 2 million federal suit claiming Neff-U wrote the music for the song " Work That ", but
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#17330846062461296-605: A new show, The 411 , on Apple Music . On its debut episode, she interviewed Hillary Clinton . A trailer was released online with Blige singing a cover of Bruce Springsteen 's " American Skin " to a bewildered Clinton. The exchange received mixed and negative reaction on social media. Two weeks later, a studio version, this time featuring a verse from American rapper Kendrick Lamar was released online. In October 2016, following her highly publicized divorce from Kendu Issacs, Blige released two songs: " Thick of It " and " U + Me (Love Lesson) ". Her thirteenth studio album, Strength of
1404-629: A rainstorm and struggle to lower their deceased father's coffin into it. When the Jacksons, a black tenant farmer family pass by in a wagon, Henry asks the father, Hap Jackson, for help. Henry seems uncomfortable asking and Hap hesitates to reply. A few years prior, Henry is conned out of renting a home and is forced to live near sharecroppers on a farm outside the town of Marietta, Mississippi and moves there with his wife Laura, their daughters, and his virulently racist father, Pappy. The Jackson family, led by tenant farmer Hap and his wife Florence, work
1512-576: A rebuke to Pappy's wickedness, Hap recites from the Book of Job , verses 14:2–12. Jamie approaches the Jacksons' wagon and gives the German woman's letter to Florence, asking her to give it to Ronsel. Much later, Jamie moves to the city. Ronsel returns to Europe and reunites with his German lover and their son. Development on the film was announced on March 21, 2016, with Dee Rees engaged as director and Carey Mulligan , Garrett Hedlund , Jason Clarke and Jason Mitchell cast in roles. On May 25, Mary J. Blige
1620-505: A teenager she endured years of sexual harassment from her peers. She would eventually turn to alcohol, drugs and promiscuous sex to try to numb the pain. Blige dropped out of high school in her junior year. Influenced by the music of Aretha Franklin , Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight , she began pursuing a musical career. Blige spent a short time in a Yonkers band named Pride with band drummer Eddie D'Aprile. In early 1988, she recorded an impromptu cover of Anita Baker 's " Caught Up in
1728-529: Is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and entrepreneur. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul " and " Queen of R&B ", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards , a Primetime Emmy Award , four American Music Awards , twelve NAACP Image Awards , and twelve Billboard Music Awards , including the Billboard Icon Award . She has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards , including one for her supporting role in
1836-639: Is from the Los Angeles show on April 11, 1998. It does not represent the setlist of the entire tour. Notes A live album entitled The Tour was released on July 28, 1998 by MCA Records , which reached No. 7 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums and No. 21 on Billboard 200 charts. The album was recorded during Blige's Share My World Tour at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, California. Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige ( / b l aɪ ʒ / BLYZHE ; born January 11, 1971)
1944-399: Is of her and their bi-racial child. Ronsel shares this with Jamie while driving together when their truck passes Pappy, and Ronsel is forced to duck down to hide. Pappy confronts Jamie about him socializing with Ronsel and scolds him for his drunken behavior and sneers at Laura, claiming she has romantic feelings for Jamie. Later, Ronsel realizes that he lost the photograph, which Pappy finds in
2052-642: The Billboard Hot 100 number-one single " Family Affair ". Blige has also made a successful transition to both the television and movie screen, with supporting roles in films such as Prison Song (2001), Rock of Ages (2012), Betty and Coretta (2013), Black Nativity (2013), her Oscar and Golden Globe -nominated breakthrough performance as Florence Jackson in Mudbound (2017), Trolls World Tour (2020), Body Cam (2020), The Violent Heart (2021) and co-starring as jazz singer Dinah Washington in
2160-532: The Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart in October 2000. In 2001, a Japan-only compilation, Ballads , was released. The album featured covers of Stevie Wonder 's "Overjoyed", and previous recordings of Aretha Franklin 's " (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman " and Dorothy Moore 's " Misty Blue ". In 1999, George Michael and Mary J. Blige covered the song 'As' written by Stevie Wonder, and worldwide outside of
2268-590: The Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3.5 out of 4 stars, praising the cast and direction. Writing for Rolling Stone , Peter Travers also gave the film 3.5 out of 4 stars, praising Blige's performance and Rees' direction, saying: "The director and her cinematographer Rachel Morrison do wonders with the elements that batter the people of every race and social class in the Delta. But it's the storm raging inside these characters that rivets our attention and makes Mudbound
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#17330846062462376-479: The 2017 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2017, and was released on Netflix and in limited release on November 17, 2017, to positive reviews. At the 75th Golden Globe Awards it received nominations for Best Supporting Actress (Blige) and Best Original Song ("Mighty River"). At the 90th Academy Awards , the film earned four nominations: Best Supporting Actress for Blige; Best Original Song for Blige, Raphael Saadiq and Taura Stinson (Blige became
2484-432: The 46th Grammy Awards . Geffen Records released Blige's seventh studio album, The Breakthrough on December 20, 2005. For the album, Blige collaborated with J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Rodney Jerkins, will.i.am , Bryan-Michael Cox , 9th Wonder , Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Raphael Saadiq , Cool and Dre , and Dre & Vidal. The cover art was photographed by Markus Klinko & Indrani . It debuted at number one on both
2592-705: The Aretha Franklin biopic Respect (2021). In 2019, Blige starred as Cha-Cha on the first season of the Netflix television series The Umbrella Academy . She starred as Monet Tejada in the spin-off of the highly-rated TV show drama Power in Power Book II: Ghost . She received a Legends Award at the World Music Awards in 2006 , and the Voice of Music Award from ASCAP in 2007. Billboard ranked Blige as
2700-469: The Billboard 200 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, the fifth largest first-week sales for a female artist, and the fourth largest debut of 2005. The lead-off single, " Be Without You ", peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, while peaking at number one on
2808-561: The Billboard 200 and at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 332,000 units in its first week of release. It became her fifth album not to take the top spot in the United States. Blige recorded " Stronger ", as the lead single from the soundtrack to the basketball documentary " More than a Game " in August 2009. The second single from Stronger with Each Tear , " I Am ", was released in December 2009 and reached number fifty-five on
2916-789: The Billboard Hot ;100 and at number three on the Hot R&;B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "Just Fine" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance , and Blige won Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for the Chaka Khan duet " Disrespectful " (featured on Khan's album Funk This ) which Blige wrote. Growing Pains was not released in the UK until February 2008, where it became Blige's fifth top ten and third-highest-charting album. " Just Fine " returned Blige to
3024-502: The UK Albums Chart . It was certified three times Platinum by the RIAA . According to Entertainment Weekly ' s Dave DiMartino, with the record's commercial success and Blige's "powerful, soulful voice and hip-hop attitude", she "solidly connected with an audience that has never seen a woman do new jack swing but loves it just the same". According to Dave McAleer , Blige became
3132-616: The What's the 411? singles on the radio into 1994, as Blige recorded her follow-up album. Following the success of her debut album and a remixed version in 1993, Blige went into the recording studio in the winter of 1993 to record her second album, My Life . The album was a breakthrough for Blige, who at this point was in a clinical depression , battling both drugs and alcohol – as well as being in an abusive relationship with K-Ci Hailey . On November 29, 1994, Uptown/ MCA released My Life to positive reviews. The album peaked at number seven on
3240-519: The "big three" major music awards, having won two American Music Awards in November 2006 and nine Billboard Music Awards in December 2006. In December 2006, a compilation called Reflections (A Retrospective) was released. It contained many of Blige's greatest hits and four new songs, including the worldwide lead single " We Ride (I See the Future) ". In the UK, however, " MJB da MVP " (which appeared in
3348-710: The 25th greatest singer of all-time. In 2024, Blige was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . Mary Jane Blige was born on January 11, 1971, at Fordham Hospital in the Bronx , New York City, to nurse Cora and jazz musician Thomas Blige. She has an older sister, LaTonya Blige-DaCosta, a younger half-brother, Bruce Miller, and a younger half-sister, Jonquell, both from a relationship Blige's mother had with another man after divorcing her first husband. Blige spent her early childhood in Richmond Hill, Georgia , where she sang in
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3456-739: The 411? , which is credited for introducing the mix of R&B and hip hop into mainstream pop culture. Its 1993 remix album became the first album by a singer to have a rapper on every song, popularizing rap as a featuring act. Both What's the 411? and her 1994 album My Life are featured on the Rolling Stone ' s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, and the latter on Time magazine's All-Time 100 Albums. Throughout her career, Blige went on to release 14 studio albums, including four Billboard 200 number-one albums. Her biggest hits include " Real Love ", " You Remind Me ", " I'm Goin' Down ", " Not Gon' Cry ", " Be Without You ", " Just Fine " and
3564-568: The American dream vs. the American reality," so Morrison turned to books by Farm Security Administration photographers for reference points regarding color and composition, in particular Dorothea Lange , Arthur Rothstein , Ben Shahn and Walker Evans . Another primary source for her was a Gordon Parks essay in Life magazine in the 1950s called "A Segregation Story" – regarding color that "felt period , but it didn't feel washed-out". Morrison's term for
3672-721: The Essence Festival, on July 9, 2014, it was announced Blige would move to London to experiment with a new sound for her new album. Blige spent a month in London recording her album in RAK Studios with a host of young British acts, including Disclosure, Naughty Boy , Emeli Sandé and Sam Smith. Ten new songs, co-written and recorded by the singer, were released on November 24, 2014, on an album titled The London Sessions . That same month, she announced that she left Geffen and Interscope and signed with Capitol Records. In August 2016, Blige
3780-615: The European-only single " Dance for Me " featuring Common with samples from " The Bed's Too Big Without You " by The Police , and the 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
3888-485: The Film) , released June 17 on Epic Records , would introduce new songs by Mary J. Blige, including the single "Suitcase". Blige recorded a collection of music from and inspired by the film. In the United States, Think Like a Man Too debuted at number 30 on the Billboard 200 , with 8,688 copies sold in its first week, becoming the lowest sales debut of any of her studio albums. On Billboard ' s R&B/Hip-Hop chart,
3996-547: The Hot 100. The third international single from the album, " Each Tear ", was remixed with different featured artists from different countries, then being released in February 2010. The single failed to chart anywhere except in the UK where it reached number one-hundred-eighty-three and in Italy where it reached number one. The album's third U.S. single, " We Got Hood Love " featuring Trey Songz ,
4104-456: The Klan. As Jamie is restrained, he is told to choose Ronsel's punishment for his crime — to lose his eyes, tongue or testicles; or death. Through the pain, Jamie whispers "tongue" and Ronsel's tongue is cut out. Ronsel is left bound and wounded for his family to find. Fed up, later that night, Jamie wakes Pappy who had previously belittled Jamie's war experience because he had not looked into the eyes of
4212-484: The Ku Klux Klan, Boyd utilized a mixture of outfits, with "the poorer men with the feed bag-looking hoods with the eyes cut out and tied with a string and others with the full Klan regalia. I don't think it would have been as powerful a scene if I would have had them all dress in white robes. It's somehow more real and intimate; this wasn't a parade or a burning-cross meeting for show but pure intimate violence and I think
4320-590: The Lincoln Memorial ". Blige also performed her hit 2007 single, " Just Fine ", with a new intro at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball after Barack Obama was sworn in on January 20, 2009. Blige appeared as a marquee performer on the annual Christmas in Washington television special. Blige's ninth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear , was released on December 21, 2009, debuting at number two on
4428-466: The McAllan family when their two young daughters fall ill with whooping cough ; and then Laura offers Florence work to help care for her daughters permanently. When the Jacksons' mule has to be euthanized, Henry offers to rent out his mule but exacts half of the Jacksons' crop in payment. Leaving the Jacksons nearly no choice but to accept, the proposed arrangement would diminish them from tenant farmers to
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4536-546: The R&B chart for a record-setting fifteen consecutive weeks; it remained on the chart for over sixteen months. "Be Without You" found success in the UK (peaking in the lower end of the top forty) it became Blige's longest charting single on the UK Singles Chart . It is her second-longest charting single to date. The album produced three more singles including two more top-five R&B hits—" Enough Cryin' ", which features Blige's alter ego Brook-Lynn (as whom she appeared on
4644-514: The R&B chart. Blige was featured with Aretha Franklin and the Harlem Boys Choir on the soundtrack to the 2006 motion picture Bobby , on the lead track "Never Gonna Break My Faith" written by Bryan Adams . The song was nominated for a Golden Globe and won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards . Blige's eighth studio album, Growing Pains ,
4752-600: The Rapture " at a recording booth in the Galleria Mall in White Plains, New York . 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 sent it to the president and CEO of the label, Andre Harrell . Harrell met with Blige, and in 1989 at the age of 18, she was signed to the label as a backup vocalist for artists such as Father MC , becoming
4860-560: The Roots, performing it at the Hope for Haiti Now telethon. Blige also performed on BET's SOS Help For Haiti, singing "Gonna Make It" with Jazmine Sullivan and "One." At the 2010 Grammy Awards , Blige performed " Bridge over Troubled Water " with Andrea Bocelli . She also took part in February 2010's We Are the World 25 for Haiti , singing the solo originally sung by Tina Turner in the original 1985 We Are
4968-528: The UK singles chart top 20 after her previous two singles failed to chart highly. Subsequent singles from Growing Pains include " Work That ", which accompanied Blige in an iTunes commercial, and " Stay Down ". Blige was featured on 50 Cent 's 2007 album, Curtis , in the song "All of Me". In March 2008, she toured with Jay-Z on the Heart of the City Tour . Together, they released a song called "You're Welcome". In
5076-660: The US Billboard 200 and number one of the Top R&;B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for selling 481,000 copies in its first week and remaining atop the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for an unprecedented eight weeks. It ultimately spent 46 weeks on the Billboard 200 and 84 weeks on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 2002, My Life was ranked number 57 on Blender ' s list of the 100 greatest American albums of all time. The following year, Rolling Stone placed it at number 279 on their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time , and in 2006,
5184-456: The US top 20 hit, " Touch Me, Tease Me ", which also featured then up-and-coming rapper Foxy Brown . What's the 411? highlights the featuring of woman centered narratives although in this album her narratives were regularly policed and told through male emcees. Nonetheless, it marked the start of a transition towards black women centered narratives that focused on the daily experiences and troubles of
5292-589: The US. On February 28, 2012, Blige performed " Star Spangled Banner " at the 2012 NBA All-Star Game . Blige appeared as guest mentor on American Idol on March 7, 2012, and performed "Why" on the results show the following night. On September 23, 2012, Blige was a performer at the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Las Vegas . Blige was featured on the song " Now or Never " from Kendrick Lamar 's album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City , released on October 22, 2012. In early 2013, reports surfaced that Blige
5400-401: The US. What's the 411? has since been viewed by critics as one of the 1990s' most important records. Blige's combination of vocals over a hip hop beat proved influential in contemporary R&B . With the album, she was dubbed the reigning " Queen of Hip Hop Soul " 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
5508-572: The United Kingdom, debuting at number 33 on the UK Albums Chart and at number four on the UK R&;B Chart . It reached the top 100 in other countries. Blige was honored at the 2009 BET Honors Ceremony and was paid tribute by Anita Baker and Monica . On November 4, 2009, Blige sang The Star-Spangled Banner at Yankee Stadium before the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies played
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#17330846062465616-475: The United States, it was the second single from George Michael's greatest hits album Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael . It became a top ten UK pop hit, reaching number four on the chart. It was not released on the U.S. version of the greatest hits collection or as a single in the U.S. Michael cited Blige's record company president for pulling the track in America after Michael's arrest for committing
5724-613: The World version. At the 41st NAACP Image Awards on February 26, Blige won Outstanding Female Artist and Outstanding Album for Stronger with Each Tear . On November 18, 2010, Billboard revealed Mary J. Blige as the most successful female R&B/hip hop artist on the Top 50 R&B/Hip Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years list. She came in at number 2 overall. In January 2011, Hot 97 premiered Blige's teaser track " Someone to Love Me (Naked) " featuring vocals by Lil Wayne . In July 2011, Blige released
5832-498: The black experience through the lens of women rather than necessarily singing about black trauma. Treva B. Lindsey, in her piece "If You Look in My Life: Love, Hip-Hop Soul, and Contemporary African-American Womanhood", highlights the regulating by men saying, "Although the lyrics on What's the 411? establish an African American woman-centered discourse, male artists' words of adoration and longing first introduce listeners to Blige as
5940-469: The cartoon as part of her performance while on her 2000 Mary Show Tour. In 2004, Blige starred in an Off-Broadway play, The Exonerated , which chronicled the experiences of death row inmates. Blige portrayed Sunny Jacobs, a woman who spent 20 years in prison for a crime she did not commit. In late 2005, it was reported that Blige landed the starring role in the upcoming MTV Films biopic on American singer/pianist and civil rights activist, Nina Simone . By
6048-503: The company's youngest and first female artist. After being signed to Uptown, Blige began working with record producer Sean Combs , also known as Puff Daddy. He became the executive producer and produced a majority of her first album. The title What's the 411? was an indication by Blige of being the "real deal". What's the 411? established Blige as a dynamic storyteller whose performances of love narrative drew upon both her musical influences and her lived experiences as an icon of
6156-688: The farm's cotton field and dream of owning their own land one day. As World War II begins, Jamie and the Jacksons' eldest son, Ronsel, join the United States Army Air Corps and U.S. Army , respectively. Both men experience severe war trauma in the European theater as Jamie flies B-25 bombers and Ronsel commands tanks . Ronsel also falls in love with a white German woman. Meanwhile, in Mississippi both families continue to live in poverty and support each other out of necessity. Florence also helps
6264-435: The film Mudbound (2017) and another for its original song " Mighty River ", becoming the first person nominated for acting and songwriting in the same year. Her career began in 1988 when she was signed to Uptown Records by its founder Andre Harrell . During this time, Blige performed background vocal work for other artists on the label such as Father MC and Jeff Redd . In 1992, Blige released her debut album, What's
6372-439: The film has an approval rating of 97% based on 199 reviews, with an average rating of 8.20/10. The site's critical consensus reads, " Mudbound offers a well-acted, finely detailed snapshot of American history whose scenes of rural class struggle resonate far beyond their period setting." On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 85 out of 100, based on 44 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Richard Roeper of
6480-461: The first person to ever be nominated for both acting and songwriting in the same year); Best Adapted Screenplay for Rees and Virgil Williams (Rees became the first African-American woman to ever be nominated) and Best Cinematography , which made Rachel Morrison the first woman nominated in the category. In the Mississippi Delta , white brothers Henry and Jamie McAllan dig a grave during
6588-540: The first week. Love & Life received mixed reviews from music critics. AllMusic gave it 4 stars and said the album "beamed with joy" and Rolling Stone gave it three stars, saying "You may not always love Blige's music, but you will feel her". The album was eventually certified Platinum by the RIAA for shipping over 1,000,000 copies in the US. The album was nominated for the Best Contemporary R&;B Album at
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#17330846062466696-474: The future while acknowledging the past. "From me to you, My Life II... Our journey together continues in this life", the singer explained. "It's a gift to be able to relate and identify with my fans at all times. This album is a reflection of the times and lives of people all around me." The album features production by Kanye West and the Underdogs . The second single " Mr. Wrong " featuring Canadian rapper Drake
6804-401: The goal they tried to achieve is "subjective naturalism," which she describes as first of all, real, and then potentially dramatized with light at main plot points – but remaining real throughout. Through that reality, the focus was on the elements in the picture and not the period itself: "The period wasn't a character in this film. The mud was a character, the weather was a character, the house
6912-414: The hip-hop-generation. The music was described as "revelatory on a frequent basis". Blige was noted for having a "tough girl persona and streetwise lyrics". On July 28, 1992, Uptown / MCA Records released What's the 411? , to positive reviews from critics. What's the 411? peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It also peaked at number 53 on
7020-522: 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 and becoming Blige's fourth consecutive UK top ten album, Love & Life ' s lead-off single, the Diddy-produced " Love @ 1st Sight ", which featured Method Man, barely cracked
7128-538: The inaugural Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit, a three-day festival in Atlanta, in partnership with Live Nation Urban. In May 2022, Blige was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME . In September 2022, she was awarded the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for Super Bowl LVI halftime show . In February 2023, Mariah Carey released an EP of her song It's
7236-415: The last game (game 6) of the World Series . Blige performed two songs from her ninth album as well as her previous hits, "No More Drama" and "Be Without You" along with the song "Color", which was featured on the Precious soundtrack. Blige appeared as a guest judge on the ninth season of American Idol on January 13, 2010. On January 23, Blige released a track titled " Hard Times Come Again No More " with
7344-458: The lower economic and social status of sharecroppers . Hap, who serves as the preacher for the local black community, falls while helping to build a church, breaking his leg and rendering him unable to work his fields. Laura sneaks money from her husband's safe so Hap can be properly treated by a doctor, much to Henry's disapproval and causing their passionless marriage to worsen. Hap recovers and prevents his family from further social decline. When
7452-507: The mixture added texture to the event." Following its 2017 Sundance Film Festival premiere, Mudbound had distribution offers from A24 , Annapurna Pictures and Entertainment Studios . On January 29, 2017, Netflix acquired distribution rights to the film for $ 12.5 million in the largest deal made at Sundance that year. The film premiered on the streaming platform, as well as began a one-week theatrical release in New York City and Los Angeles, on November 17, 2017. On Rotten Tomatoes ,
7560-482: The most successful female R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the past 25 years. In 2017, Billboard magazine named her 2006 song " Be Without You " as the most successful R&B/Hip-Hop song of all time, as it spent an unparalleled 15 weeks atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and over 75 weeks on the chart. VH1 ranked Blige as the 80th greatest artist of all time in 2011 and ninth in "The 100 Greatest Women in Music" list in 2012. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked her as
7668-409: The most successful new female R&B artist of 1992 in the United States. What's the 411? earned her two Soul Train Music Awards in 1993: Best New R&B Artist and Best R&B Album, Female. It was also voted the year's 30th best album in the Pazz & Jop —an annual poll of American critics nationwide, published by The Village Voice . By August 2010, the album had sold 3,318,000 copies in
7776-427: The national anthem before Game 1 of the 2013 World Series . On February 5, 2014, a remix of Disclosure 's " F for You " featuring guest vocals from Mary was released. In May 2014 Blige was featured on Mariah Carey’s song It's a Wrap as part of Carey’s deluxe edition of her 2014 album Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse . It was announced May 30, 2014, that Think Like a Man Too (Music from and Inspired by
7884-401: The people he killed during the war. Jamie looks Pappy in the eye and smothers him with a pillow. Laura lies to Henry that Pappy died in his sleep. The following day, the Jacksons appear to be leaving with their meager belongings in the wagon when they pass Henry and Jamie who are struggling to bury Pappy. Hap accedes to Henry's request to help with the coffin and says a prayer over the grave. In
7992-402: The poorer characters in the film appears dated more to the 1930s, as opposed to the 1940s when the film takes place; this was an intentional decision meant to give the impression of clothes passed down between generations of people unable to afford newer ones. The military and pilot uniforms seen in the film were replicas of real uniforms. For the scene in which Ronsel is ambushed by members of
8100-422: The project along with Steve Stoute . Sharing production duties were producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis , R. Kelly , Babyface and Rodney Jerkins . The album was made at a time when Blige was trying to "get her life together", by trying to overcome drugs and alcohol, as well as the ending of her relationship with Hailey. After an encounter with a person who threatened her life the previous year, she tried to quit
8208-514: The record was included in Time ' s 100 greatest albums of all-time list. 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 documentary , The Show . Later in
8316-582: The release of the Amazon Studios documentary Mary J. Blige's My Life , directed by Vanessa Roth . In December 2021, it was announced that Blige had formed her own label, Mary Jane Productions, in conjunction with 300 Entertainment . Along with the news came the release of two new singles, "Good Morning Gorgeous" and "Amazing" featuring DJ Khaled . In January 2022, Blige released "Rent Money" featuring Dave East . The songs appear on Blige's fourteenth studio album, also titled Good Morning Gorgeous , which
8424-561: The remix to Busta Rhymes 's " Touch It " in 2006); and " Take Me as I Am " (which samples Lonnie Liston Smith 's "A Garden of Peace"). Blige's duet with U2 on the cover of their 1992 hit, " One " gave Blige her biggest hit to date in the UK, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart eventually being certified one of the forty highest-selling singles of 2006; it was her longest charting UK single. The success of The Breakthrough won Blige nine Billboard Music Awards , two American Music Awards, two BET Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, and
8532-493: The same period, cable network BET aired a special on Blige titled The Evolution of Mary J. Blige , which showcased her career. Celebrities such as Method Man and Ashanti gave their opinions about Blige and her music. Blige is featured on singles by Big Boi , and Musiq Soulchild . Growing Pains was nominated for and won the Grammy Award for " Best Contemporary R&B Album ", at the 51st Grammy Awards held on February 8, 2009, earning Blige her 27th Grammy nomination, in
8640-500: The single "Thriving" featuring Nas . During an interview with Ebro Darden on Beats 1 for the premiere of "Thriving", Blige announced that her next studio album would be released before July. On June 23, at the 2019 BET Awards , she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her extraordinary contributions to the music industry. In June 2021, Blige celebrated the 25th anniversary of her album My Life with
8748-489: The single version of "Dance for Me" featuring Common. Blige won a Grammy for ' Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ' for the song "He Think I Don't Know". In April 2002, Blige performed with Shakira with the song " Love Is a Battlefield " on VH1 Divas show live in Las Vegas, she also performed " No More Drama " and " Rainy Dayz " as a duet with the returning Whitney Houston . On July 22, 2002, MCA released Dance for Me ,
8856-572: The song "The Living Proof" as the lead single to the soundtrack of the film The Help . On July 24, VH1 premiered their third Behind the Music that profiled her personal and career life. In August 2011, Blige released her first single off the album, " 25/8 ". Blige's tenth studio album, My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1) , was released in November 2011. The album, primarily recorded in Los Angeles and New York City , saw Blige looking toward
8964-402: The soundtrack album charted at number six, marking Blige's 16th top ten entry on the chart, tying her with Mariah Carey for the second-most top tens by a female artist. June 2, 2014, saw Blige pairing up with another English musician with the release of a reworked version of Sam Smith 's " Stay with Me ". A live visual to the song was released on the same day. Following her concert date at
9072-451: The spring of 2010, Blige was slated to star as Simone with British actor David Oyelowo portraying her manager Clifton Henderson. Blige later dropped out of the role due to financial issues and the role was subsequently recast with actress Zoe Saldana as Simone in Nina , released in 2016. Mudbound (film) Mudbound is a 2017 American historical drama film directed by Dee Rees . It
9180-616: The time, " Not Gon' Cry ", at the 1997 Grammy Awards , which gained her a third Grammy Award nomination, her first for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance , as Blige was recording the follow-up to My Life . 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". On August 17, 1999, Blige's fourth album, titled Mary
9288-405: The time. 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. The album became Blige's first album in six years to debut at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 285,298 copies in
9396-401: The top ten on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while altogether missing the top twenty on the Hot 100 (although peaking inside the UK top twenty). The following singles, " Ooh! ", " Not Today " featuring Eve , " Whenever I Say Your Name " featuring Sting on the international re-release, and " It's a Wrap " fared worse. Although the album was certified platinum, it became Blige's lowest-selling at
9504-453: The truck. Laura confronts Jamie as he prepares to leave and they have sex. As Ronsel frantically searches for his photograph, he is ambushed and beaten by Pappy and members of the Ku Klux Klan . Pappy brings Jamie to a barn where the Klan is preparing to kill Ronsel for fathering a child with a white woman. Jamie points a gun at his father in an effort to save his friend and is also beaten by
9612-448: The unhealthy lifestyle and make more upbeat, happier music. As a result, songs such as "Love Is All We Need" and "Share My World" were made. Share My World debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and spawned five hit singles: "Love Is All We Need" (featuring Nas ), "I Can Love You" (featuring Lil' Kim ), "Everything", "Missing You" (UK only) and "Seven Days" (featuring George Benson ). In February 1997, Blige performed her hit at
9720-492: The war ends, Ronsel and Jamie return home and realize that they have changed but the Mississippi Delta has not. Jamie becomes an alcoholic and suffers from PTSD . Ronsel, accustomed to the relative lack of racism among Europeans, struggles with racism in Mississippi. They become aware of each other's difficulties and bond over their war experiences. Ronsel questions why Jamie treats him with respect, and Jamie recounts that on
9828-549: The year, she recorded the Babyface -penned and produced " Not Gon' Cry ", for the soundtrack to the 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. Blige gained her first two Grammy nominations and won the 1996 Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for her collaboration with Method Man on " I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By ". Shortly after, Blige
9936-456: Was a character ... we were trying to make more of a commentary about just how tough times were through experiences." A. O. Scott in the New York Times wrote of the result: "Rachel ... brings the soil, the flora and the weather to life in a way that emphasizes the archaic, elemental power of the story." Michael T. Boyd served as the film's costume designer. Some of the clothing worn by
10044-558: Was added to the cast. On May 31, Jonathan Banks and Rob Morgan were cast. Filming began in New Orleans , Louisiana, in May 2016. For the film's opening scene, artificial rain produced by rain towers was used, while actual rain was filmed for wide shots. Shooting took place over the course of 29 days, including two days in Budapest , Hungary, for scenes set during World War II. The production
10152-448: Was certified double platinum. It was not as commercially successful as Blige's prior releases, though all of the singles: "All That I Can Say", "Deep Inside", "Your Child", and "Give Me You" performed considerably on the radio. In the meantime, MCA used the album to expand Blige's demographic into the nightclub market, as club-friendly dance remixes of the Mary singles were released. The club remix of "Your Child" peaked at number-one on
10260-400: Was enhanced with the music videos for the singles "All That I Can Say" and "Deep Inside" and included two bonus tracks: "Sincerity" (featuring Nas , Andy Hogan 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
10368-486: Was featured on Jay-Z 's breakthrough single, " Can't Knock the Hustle ", from his debut Reasonable Doubt (1996) and with Ghostface Killah on " All That I Got Is You " from his debut, Ironman , which was also released that year. In addition, Blige co-wrote four songs, provided background vocals and was featured prominently on two singles with fellow R&B singer Case on his self-titled debut album (1996) including
10476-468: Was impacted by both heat and stormy weather. On one occasion, Rachel Morrison , the film's director of photography, developed sun poisoning . On another occasion, filming had to be postponed due to a nearby tornado warning . A scene between the characters Ronsel and Jamie that was initially planned to take place on the side of a road was altered due to rain, instead taking place inside Jamie's pickup truck. Dee Rees asked Morrison to focus on "the idea of
10584-541: Was owned by Dream Family Entertainment. The filing claimed that Dream Family never gave rights to use the song to Blige, Feemster or Geffen Records. Rights to the lyrics of the song used in an iPod commercial are not in question. Blige returned to performing in January 2009 by performing the song " Lean on Me " at the Presidential Inauguration Committee's, " We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at
10692-540: Was portrayed by Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers . In 2001, Blige starred opposite rapper Q-Tip in the independent film Prison Song . That same year, Blige made a cameo on the Lifetime network series, Strong Medicine ; playing the role of Simone Fellows, the lead singer of a band who was sick, but would not seek treatment. In 2000, Blige was featured in a superhero web cartoon in junction with Stan Lee . Blige used
10800-497: Was recording a Christmas album. The album, titled, A Mary Christmas was released on October 15, 2013, through Matriarch and Verve Records, her first release with the latter. The album includes collaborations with Barbra Streisand , the Clark Sisters , Marc Anthony and Jessie J . In early December, A Mary Christmas became Blige's 12th top ten album after it rose to No. 10 in its eight week. On October 23, 2013, Blige sang
10908-612: Was recruited to perform the new theme song for the ABC Daytime talk show The View for its twentieth season titled "World's Gone Crazy" written by Diane Warren . A music video was also shot for the new theme song with co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg , Joy Behar , Candace Cameron Bure , Raven-Symoné , Paula Faris , Sara Haines , Sunny Hostin and Jedediah Bila . Blige also appeared on The View alongside Maxwell during its premiere week on September 9, 2016, to discuss their joint tour and theme song. On September 30, 2016, Blige premiered
11016-529: Was released in March 2010 and reached number tw25 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart though it failed to reach the Hot 100. One of Blige's representatives reported to Us Weekly magazine that a tour in support of Stronger with Each Tear would begin in the fall of 2010. In March 2010, Blige released Stronger with Each Tear in the United Kingdom, as well as in the European markets. The album performed modestly in
11124-500: Was released on December 18, 2007, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It sold 629,000 copies in its first week, marking the third time since Nielsen SoundScan began collecting data in 1991 that two albums sold more than 600,000 copies in a week in the United States. In its second week, the album climbed to number one, making it Blige's fourth number-one album. The lead single, " Just Fine ", peaked at number twenty-two on
11232-473: Was released on February 11, 2022. On February 13, 2022, Blige performed at the Super Bowl LVI halftime show alongside fellow American rappers Dr. Dre , Eminem , Kendrick Lamar , Snoop Dogg , 50 Cent , and Anderson .Paak . Days later, on February 17, Blige said on the radio show The Breakfast Club that she is working on an album entirely produced by Dr. Dre. On March 7, Blige and Pepsi announced
11340-484: Was released. It marked 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 of the 1970s to early 1980s soul. She also appeared on In Concert: A Benefit for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua with Eric Clapton in 1999. On December 14, 1999, the album was re-released as a double-disc set. The second disc
11448-431: Was the most successful single from the album, peaking at number 10 on Billboard ' s R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The rest of the songs released, including lead single " 25/8 " achieved only moderate success, peaking within the top 40 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The album itself debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, selling 156,000 copies in the first week; it was eventually certified Gold in 2012 and has sold 763,000 in
11556-441: 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 and deleted three of the songs from the original track listing, while adding two brand-new songs—one of which was the fourth single and top twenty Hot 100 hit " Rainy Dayz ", (featuring Ja Rule ), plus two remixes; one of the title track, serviced by Sean Combs/Puff Daddy and
11664-431: Was written by Rees and Virgil Williams , who based their screenplay on the 2008 novel Mudbound by Hillary Jordan . It stars Carey Mulligan , Garrett Hedlund , Jason Clarke , Jason Mitchell , Jonathan Banks , Rob Morgan , and Mary J. Blige . The film depicts two World War II veterans – one white, one black – who return to rural Mississippi each to address racism and PTSD in his own way. The film premiered at
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