Mary J Blige Albums Ranked

Mary Jane Blige (born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul”, Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, and ten Billboard Music Awards. She has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards, including one for her supporting role in 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. 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 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. In 2011, VH1 ranked Blige as the 80th greatest artist of all time. In 2012, VH1 ranked Blige at number 9 in “The 100 Greatest Women in Music” list. In February 2021, Blige became a first-time nominee for the 2021 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2022 Blige was awarded with the Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards. Here are all of Mary J Blige albums ranked.

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10. Share My World 

“Her voice sounds raw and powerful. It’s a marriage between old school soul and modern hip hop and R&B. I Can Love You has rich jazzy harmonies. Lil’ Kim plays the rival in love with a worldwide rap verse, which gives a contrast between two personalities. In Share My World the singer uses her personal experiences in a song with colourful chords. Everything is a new song with elements from the Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross duet “You Are My Everything”. This marks the beginning of a wave of great new soul records.”

9. Love & Life 

“The album begins with a string of up tempo songs. This is usually a nice way to begin an album. The opening interlude is particularly memorable with Jay-Z and his slick wordplay. “Don’t Go” is definitely an album highlight. Although the song is up tempo, I like how Mary sings the chorus slow; very creative! “Willing and Waiting” samples Atlantic Starr’s “When Love Calls”. I really like this song.”

8. Growing Pains 

“I really do like this CD. The messages in her song, I hear loud and clear. People want her to still be stuck in a drama filled life, but this woman has grown. I struggled in my life as well and listened to her music. I enjoy her music very much, especially the Breakthrough and My Life (my favorite CD). As her life changes for the better, her music changes and sends such a different message. I listen to the words and say that’s where I am in my life, happy and glad to be where I am and I believe that’s the messages she is sending.”

7. My Life II: The Journey Continues (Act I) 

“This was her sophmore cd when she was dealing with bad relationships, bad management, substance abuse etc. I was skeptical about her follow up to her debut album but this did not disappoint. It produced hit after hit. I enjoy it more than her first cd. One of the biggest hits was her cover of Going Down by Rose Royce. This is must for R&B lovers and a neccesity for Mary J Blige fans.”

6. The London Sessions 

“Artist can’t always just do the same thing for their careers, they have to grow and reinvent themselves, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. This definitely works. Disclosure, Sam Smith, etc., have helped Mary create a beautiful and different piece of art. Electronic type of music is obviously present in this new one, but she doesn’t lose her roots of soul at all. It a creative blending that works and has become my new favorite album of Mary J. Blige”

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5. The Breakthrough 

“Profound to ones healing as a survivor. The “Breakthrough” is a breakthrough it is own right. This work of art imitating life depicts the metamorphasis of a true survivor. Those who have experienced a life breakthrough will get the bonus in an allegorical since as opposed to those who are just thrilled with the entertainment and thats okay.”

4. Mary 

“There is definitely not ONE song on this album that I don’t like. Seriously. It’s that good. I think Mary’s album, My Life is SO overrated. I know this because I bought it for my aunt years back, and decided to borrow it sometime earlier this year or last, and besides the singles, it was definitely lacking. Most of the songs were boring and some of them even sounded the same.”

3. What’s The 411? 

“This album is packed with some hits, songs that Mary will always be known for. “Reminisce” is a great track showcasing Blige’s vocals (a combination between the sensibilities of hip-hop and Aretha, Gladys, Patti, etc…). “You Remind Me” is another Blige staples as well as “Sweet Thing” and “Love No Limit”. Basically, this is a classic album that you don’t get tired of listening over and over again and it is the “breakthrough” of Mary J. Blige.”

2. No More Drama 

“I heard “Family Affair” on the radio for the first time a few days ago and instantly loved it. I hadn’t paid much attention to Mary J. Blige in the height of her career, but after listening to this album, she may be one of my favorite artists. It’s such a great mix of upbeat, danceable tunes, a little bit of angry edginess, and just the right amount of quiet soulful songs. Well worth the money, especially in comparison to most commercial music today.”

1. My Life 

“I am such a huge fan of Mary J Blige and this and her first album are my absolute favorites of hers. This, like the first album is timeless. For me she definitely is the ‘queen of hip-hop soul’. Her vocals are so emotive and this is an album that takes you back to the 90’s when rnb had much more substance!”