The easiest and most profound way I can describe the character of Mary J. Blige is to me what Aretha Franklin was to my mother. Just as Aretha was the voice of black-women”>black-women empowerment in the 1960’s and 70’s, Maria J Blige did the same for women achieved by my generation.
In her career, Ms. Blige wrote music that seemed to me to have been sung personally and the circumstances of the passing of time. My first encounter with his music was when his emotionally strong voice rang out from his bass drum and car stereo in Lillian Knights Homes (housing project) on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the summer of 1992.
Here is what I consider to be the top ten songs from Queen Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige:
“You remind me” (1992).
This is the kind of song that every girl knows the lyrics too. But not only was it considered a “girly song”, but the dance beat also made it a favorite of young boys.
“True love” (1992
The strong hip-hop beat, “True Love”, was a favorite club dance. The first time I heard this song, my friends, and it simply seemed to be a remix of the rap song “Top Billin'” by the duo Audio Duo. This song made Mary J. Blige known throughout the city.
“Descendo” (1994
This shows Ms. Blige’s soulful vocal skills. In 1976 the R&B song; The Rolls Royce group, Mary J Blige took the command of the song, and made it, and struck a chord with the running fans, and brought it to the next generation.
“Everything” (1997
This song gently touches the heart of women who have always loved someone deeply. This is the song you want to play in your car as you drive to meet your sweetie.
“Abyss of the Abyss” (1999).
This is where Mary J. Blige exposes herself as more than a hip-hop soul singer. As the iconic Elton John plays keys on this track, Ms. Blige asks her to see her a> audience which is really beyond Maria’s music.
“Rainy Dayz” (2002
Rapper Ja-Rule joins Mary J. Blige on this song. It’s a fun uplifting song that reminds you that even though we may be stuck in a cloudy situation, the sun will eventually shine.
“No More Drama” (2002
This song was released at a time when I had no say in the drama going on in my life. Mary J. Blige expressed what I was feeling through this song. Again, it was a powerful sounding on what so many women accomplish in dealing with personal relationships, life and love.
“Love @ First Sight” (2003).
Mary J. Blige reunites with Sean Combs and dances into her hip-dance”>hip-hop soul roots with this hard core pounding song.This is a great chorus/part song.
“Without You” (2005
Clearly, Ms. Blige knocked it out of the park with this song. This is the kind of song that makes you push away every little thing that drives you crazy about your spouse and makes you realize that you do love him.
“Just the End” (2007
Currently this song is my personal anthem. In life’s varieties, I’ll just be fine. As the song says “You see my life won’t change, my life is fine…”
Other Maria J. Blige songs that I love and admire are “Love Knows No Boundaries,” “Be Happy,” “Remember,” “Don’t Care” and more. Ms. Blige has always stayed true to the music game, we’ve watched her grow from a cute little girl in a backwards baseball cap and Timberland boots to a diva destined to be. Mary J. Blige is the undisputed Queen of Hip Hop Soul.
