Remember almost a couple years ago when Mary J. Blige was on Busta Rhymes "Touch It" Remix spitting her first week sales numbers. Brook Lynn was in effect... remember that?
Fast forward and no sign of Brook, but what has been consistent is Mary's delivery and her fans continually believing in her.
Today Growing Pains, Mary's eighth studio CD drops and she's doing signings at Best Buy today and Carol's Daughter in Harlem (125th St) later in the week. She even did the requisite "106 & Park" junket.
I am willing to bet 3 items off the McDonald's $1 menu that Mary J. Blige is a bit worried. And I ain't talking Mary J. Blige the woman, I mean Mary J. Blige the brand. (to all the stans in the comment, back off.)
Imma buy Mary's CD, and Imma bump it while cleaning up the crib and while on the train but thus far, I have to admit, even as a Mary J. Blige devotee.... I haven't (and I'm getting the feeling I might not) connect with this CD... at least not right now.
But with all that said... we love "Shake Down" featuring Usher... but that's probably cause it sounds like something Mariah would have done.
1st bitches!!!!
dat felt so gudd i had to do it again...1st bitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I've heard the CD and it's great. Grown folks music!
I like the new MJB cd. For the most part it's great. I really love the first half of the album. It starts to lose steam after "Fade Away" for me though.
This is a REAL nice CD. Love Just Fine, Grown Woman, Work That, Stay Down... and those are just after one quick listen. Great CD!
Oh! I left off Roses which is a standout track. Yeah, Mary does lose a little steam after Fade Away, but that's normal...
I love this cd! Her music has evolved with her life and doesn't sound like a marketing ploy targeted towards trends and teenagers. Its a solid mature r&b album with real soulful music that people in her age group can appreciate. I applaude her for being able to grow-up right along with her fans. Her fans are probably the parents of the teenagers who buy music today....so its a good look all around. I love it and will be buying the real cd.
That performance was good man. Mary J Blige do it girl.
I like the MJB cd. I thinks it's mature and evolved. BigUp to Mary for not falling in the trap!
the cd is definitely a good look...grown folks R&B...
not knocking what any of the other artists are doing right now, just affirming that it is good to have some variety
always feeling mary, keep coming that music from the soul. we need more artist that grow with the times, and stay true to themselve.
i think Mary will be straight, her only competition is alicia keys and she dropped like a month ago. Mary goes at least gold in a week
I'm with you guys. It is a big day for MJB. She has remained true to herself and her fans. This is grown folks music and she's speaking directly to folks about real life stuff...no real gimmicks, no fluff. Straight up no chaser. I've been bumping my leaked download for a week, but I'll pick up the cd after work at Best Buy for 9.99. Nothing but love for MJB with this one. It'd be nice if she topped numbers for the last album, but I'm not that optimistic. She might have with a better lead single. I still see her going gold - 500K - the first week and platinum within a month.
Mariah would not have done 'shakedown' cos all she can do is regurtitate the same shit. This new Mary album is a classic, it could be my favourite. I love every damn song, and have only listened to them a couple of times. Mary is killin' all them haters right about now, and is going to go platnum in the first week. This album is so much better and more consistent than the Breakthrough. It also sounds so different from all the other rnb albums out right now and is fresh. Something that can't be said of Mimi's last album or Alicia Key's new one. I am not hating that is the truth I tell you no lie, cos I love me some rnb bitches but Mary is da queen.
I'm gonna have to disagree with most of you. I am not really feelling this album. Out of so many songs (18?) I only like 6 or 7 of them. But wish her the best.
Soulman, please get off Mariah's clit. Mary has been Mary since day one. Just because the name "Shake Down" is similar to Mariah's "Shake It Off" doesn't mean it's something Mariah would sing. What the hell Mary have to be worried about? She has survived in a come-and-go industry over 15 yrs and is still going strong. Stop with the sneak diss.
she killed the 106 performance! i like the album and i will be coping this and lupe... it still doesnt beat "mary", or "share my world", but it works, she shouldnt be worried about anything... also, shake down does NOT sound like something mariah would do, soulman u takin a few cheap shots at my girl mary....
Growing Pains is a GREAT album. Mary continues to evolve into an outstanding artist and woman. But yo Soulman....why you been throwing shade on Mary lately? Chill out with that! You say you a fan but you keep talking type reckless about her! You gotta respect the Queen man!
COP LUPE FIASCO THE COOL, WAY BETTER ALBUM AND YES IM COMPARING R&B TO HIP HOP,
Let's all keep it 100 Mary ain't put out that FIYA as of lately, so if you not feelin it fine and if you are then fine too. People should be able to say that they don't like such and such from there favorite artist, just like they did with Jay-Z's Kingdom Come.
Mary doesn't have any reason to be "a bit worried". Way back during the "Mary" album she was content with not selling the way she used to and then came "No More Drama" and "Growing Pains". Mary is not worried about sales. She's gotten this far because she makes music from the heart. And even with Love and Life recieving the reception it did (i thought it was hot though), Mary has never made a wack album. Whether or not she does 700,000 again, Mary stays consistent -- -hate it or love it. That's not being a "stan". That's just being real.
Forget what Soulman says....these comments alone are hyping me up for when i get my copy 2moro...target baby!
I HAVE TO AGREE - ANYONE WITH CLASSSIC TASTE WILL KNOW THAT MARY'S NEW ALBUM MISSES THE "X" FACTOR - NOTHING EXCITING - JUST REALLY DISAPPOINTING, EVEN "LOVE & LIFE" WAS BETTER THAN THIS ALBUM.
I go so hard for Mary. I'm talking since '92 dancing in the basement to Real Love. I fux with her but I'mma keep hood Soulman...this new joint is garbage. I want a refund on my iTunes pre-order.
Next to Love & Life (y'all thought I forgot)...this is her worst album.
This album is tasteful and great. She expands her horizons. Shes on her grown women shyt right now and like she's says: Hater are gonna hate. If she would have released a song similar to Be Without You, everyone would have had something negative to say. What do you expect Mary to talk about? I like the album because she stuck with what she does best and thats talk about her issues with self and how to evolve from them.
P.S.: Your not going to like every song on the album but if 50% is worth listening, then it wasnt garbage. I like 85% of this album...LUV YOU MJB
I'm definitely feeling this album! It's alway great to hear that all the producers are doing tailor made material for her. Like I'm not really fan of "just Fine" but Tricky and The Dream did something that really reflects her soul and music.
I got Mary's cd and it is ok. It kinda just runs all together. The last half is very weak. She has a couple of tracks that I like. Oh well. She should have taken her time and not been in a rush to follow up The Breakthrough. I guess I am a hater because of my opinion. lol!! Whatever!
Well like Rolling Stones magazine says " ....its One of the Years Best Albums"! I love it. I dont care for the three tracks I think she did solely for the new fans she accumulated with the "breathrough" era but its great, and polished material. FYI Mary is hard to swallow sometimes because Mary is considered mainstream now, and that has never been one of her goals. I love "Stay Down", "shakedown", "roses", "fade away", "feel like a women", "hurt again" its so much! I give her a major kudos from one artist to another! You go Queen Mary! And Soul man the only thing she has to fear is fear itself! Brook-lyn standup!!!