The album of the year is FINALLY here. Mary J. Blige's My Life II: The Journey Continues is the sequel of her classic 1994's My Life. Mary realized that this album can't be remade, but this album is her life now as she continues her journey to find peace. As a big fan of Mary, I was really worry about her calling this album My Life because that album is very close to my heart and I didn't want her to disappointed me and mess up the My Life legacy. But as I listen to the album The Queen of Hip Hop Soul didn't disappoint.
As I stated, I am a big Mary J. Blige fan, so I had to listen to this album as blogger and as a fan. So, here's my review
Mary begin's the album with an Intro with her talking to Diddy(Puffy..whatever), about how he thinks he feels about her making a My Life II. Cleary, Mary felt that she had include him because he was not invovled with the making of the album, when she is naming the album "My Life II" out of respect she had to include him. Then it goes into Feel Inside with Nas, which this song was a great way to open the album. This song is a certified banger. This song was leaked that included Nicki Minaj, which I was not happy with. Nas definitely was the right person to put on this track, you can tell his verse dedicated to his ex-wife Kelis. Next is Midnight Drive, where Mary's alter ego Brook Lynn is rapping on the track. The song is a song that only Mary J. can get away with because she is the Queen of Hip Hop Soul. Then we go into Next Level with Busta Rhymes this track is fun, if you going to a club or party and you need a track to ride out to in your car, Next Level is the song that will definitely get your ready for a good night. Busta Rhymes of course makes the song into a party record, just like Look Me Now with Chris Brown. Follow by this Mary's cover of Chaka Khan's Ain't Nobody. Mary's vocals are great, but Darkchild's production was a lackluster. I felt as though Darkchild could have used made a better beat then the one he used. Next is the album's first single 25/8, when I first heard this single I loved it. It's just so Mary because it has so much meaning. If you had an extra hour in a day or extra day in a week what would you do. One of the big highlights of the album is the track Don't Mind. This track to me is such a laid back track that you can vibe with Mary on this track. This song gives me I Love You from the My Life cd. This song makes makes you want get your "dougie" on. One my favorites from the album. No Condition is a classic Mary song to me, Mary is a artist that sing about pain this song is no expection. She sings " I am in no condition to love you no more". This is gave me 2011 version of her 1995 anthem Not Gon Cry. Next is the second single Mr. Wrong with Drake. When I first heard this song, I liked it but when I listened to it again I realized that it reminded me of Kelly Rowland's Motivation. Then I realized that the person that produced Kelly's produced Mary's. To me it's like Rico Love recycled the beat. That bothered me, I feel that Mary doesn't deserve a recycled beat. Even though Mary and Drake did great, the song is a lackluster to me. Another highlight is the song Why with Rick Ross. This song gives me that My Life vibe, Mary and Rick Ross on this 70's sample is classic. I love how the hip hop community embraces Mary as the Queen. Love A Woman is a duet what was in the making between Mary and Beyonce. In this duet the harmonies are awesome, you can tell in this song that Jay-Z & Kendu are doing things the right way, they clearly know how to love their wives, great duet. Irreversible is an album filler, which a song that I could do without, but I like how Mary rides this beat with her vocals, so that was a plus. Empty Prayers is a such an emotional song, Mary sing for anyone that prays for someone but the person still walk out of their lives, "Begging God for you to love me". Need Someone is my favorite song on the album. Every album Mary has a song that speaks for me and explains what's going on in my life. With Need Someone, Mary hit my life dead on, "I just need someone to love me." Then what I love about this song is she has the country vibe with shows her versaility. Next song is from the movie "The Help", The Living Proof. This song is crosses all barriers, this song explains that any bad situation you go through you can make it, so else but Mary could sing a song like this. This song is definitely Oscar worthy. I am happy as a Mary fan that Miss Me With That made the album because I thought this song was just going to be thrown to the side. This song is a classic Mary song, in this song she sings that don't come to me with the lies, "Miss me with that". Get it Right is a bonus track with actress/singer Taraji P. Henson, this song gives you that Floetry vibe. I like the song, but I wish instead of Taraji rapping on it, she would have sung because we all know she can sing.
Mary clearly proved why is titled of the Queen of Hip Hop Soul with My Life II: The Journey Continues. I understand why she called the album My Life II, because the Journey will always continue, I feel that the title could have been just the The Journey Continues. 9.0/10
STANDOUT TRACKS
Feel Inside
Don't Mind
Why
Love A Woman
Empty Prayers
Need Someone
The Living Proof
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