Old School Friday - Favorite Female Artist
Categories: Old School Friday
Written By: Shawn Williams
It took me .01 seconds to decide who I was going with when I saw this week’s Old School Friday theme. For me in the category of female artists, there is Mary J. Blige and then there is everybody else (sorry Jill).
MJB came on the scene by way of Yonkers, New York just as I was entering college. Her music was the soundtrack for my days at Texas A&M. I must have played My Life all the way through 1,000 times.
I even rocked the live album over and over. Back then, people tried to convince me that Mary couldn’t sing. It was really never about the voice for me, it least not like that. I was feeling the soul and the pain that laced ever single, every stanza, every bar of Mary’s Joints. It was how she sang about a love which always seemed so urgent, perpetually in flux and far too painful, which many of us in our early 20’s could relate to.
In a couple of weeks I’ll have to come out with my MJB Top 10. The Queen of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige, the best period.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Wow!! Excellent choice! MJB was definitely holding it down! I killed the 411 & My Life CDs! I even saw her live in concert with the Bad Bot Family. Hands down the best concert I ever been to! She doesn’t really sound that great live (definitely a studio chick) but when she sings you can certainly FEEL all that she is talking about!!
June 13th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Mary J is just that The Queen of Hip Hop Soul. I’m a late bloomer in the fan category though. It wasn’t until No More Drama that I actually noticed her pain and passion. I now go back and listen to all her music.
Happy OSF!
June 13th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Excellent choice. Mary is all soul and she has so successfully used her talent to extend her own hard life lessons to us all.
In light and love
Danielle
June 13th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Mary J ain’t none too shabby - but, I’m partial to Chaka Khan as my favorite. Hope you get a chance to check her out at SjP’s.
SjP
June 13th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Mary is a power house
Great Choice
June 14th, 2008 at 8:07 am
MJB is one of those artists that make you feel like you know them personally. When she came out with What’s The 411 my friends & I played the groves off that record. Excellent choice!