Blige's genre-changing sound, in many ways, changed and shaped the sound for modern day R&B and blue-eyed soul artists. The 'Queen of Hip-Hop Soul' and 'Queen of R&B' (publications often refer to her as both honorific titles), Blige is uniquely credited as the first singer to release an album singing over hip-hop beats, which created the subgenre ' hip hop soul' which fuses elements of soul, R&B and gospel style vocals over hip hop beats.

She has released 15 studio albums, eight of which have achieved worldwide multi-million album sales. Blige began her career as a backing vocalist for Uptown Records in the early 1990s. There’s no quit in her anymore.Blige performing live at the Neighborhood Ball in Washington, D.C. “We’ve been too strong for to long,” Blige reminds her man on the hook. On the first single from The Breakthrough she powers through all rough patches with the kind of muscle only love can provide. Usually Mary’s on the brink of a failed relationship, which soon tanks. “You’re not worth my tears.” This is the Mary-showing strength even during periods of turmoil-we’d love for years to come.

“Should’ve left your ass long time ago,” she sings walking away from the man she once stood by proudly. But instead of just wallowing in self-pity, she keeps a stiff upper lip. And though she wasn’t actually married in real life, she sure did wail on the Waiting to Exhale single like a hubby of 11 years did her wrong and stepped out on her. Mary plays the character of a scorned wife here. Still, she looked to a higher power and sung of better days ahead. She was adjusting to fame, in an abusive relationship with K-Ci of K-Ci and JoJo, and on drugs. As she’s confessed since, My Life was recorded during the roughest period of her life. The title track from her sophomore album is arguably the most hopeful and gloomy on the set. Here, along with the next cut on this list, is where you hear her heart ache the loudest. “Down” is from her sophomore set My Life, an album mostly about being in the dumps when it comes to love. Mary’s cover of the Rose Royce Carwash ballad is so marvelous that when others sing it today, most think hers is the original. Dre-produced single topped Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, as well as their Pop and R&B charts. Fittingly, it came from her fifth album entitled No More Drama. This early oughts jam marked the start of Mary pushing negativity to the side in favor of club-ready bangers. Her rapping alter ego, Brook Lynn, also makes a solid lyrical appearance-shouting out a pair of designer shoes and telling the chump where to find her when he comes to his senses. And instead of staying and arguing, she’s packing up and bouncing out of his life to producer Rodney Jerkins’ booming bass and strings. Grown and needing a lot more than promises to please her, Mary’s fed up with the lies of a man afraid to put a ring on it.

Mary j blige my life song text