30 Songs for 30 Years of Mary J. Blige
Celebrating the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul as her reign enters its 4th decade
Mary J. Blige may well be the most important musical artist of the ’90s.
When Mary’s electric debut, What the 411?, exploded into the the world in July of 1992, it instantly reshaped the landscape of urban music. Not only did Mary’s viscerally soulful vocals atop familiar hip-hop loops east coast stomp R&B into the hip-hop era, her street savvy rawness provided a pathway into soul romanticism for jaded hip-hop heads.
In honor of Mary’s 30th year in the game, I’ve put together a playlist of 30 songs that embody the musical and personal journey she has allowed us to share with her.
This isn’t a greatest hits countdown. I tried to include the most culturally resonant records, as well as the truly transcendent ones. But some chart toppers missed the cut in favor of show-stopping deep cuts and a couple of personal favorites (my list, my rules).
I’ve included the full Spotify playlist for your enjoyment at the end of the article.
*All songs performed by Mary J. Blige unless otherwise indicated.
