The Rundown: Mary J. Blige, The London Sessions
A track-by-track look at her collab across the pond.
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The Rundown: May J. Blige, The London Sessions - After reigning as the queen of hip hop soul for over 20 years, Mary J. Blige wants to stretch herself musically, vocally and continentally. Having worked with American music greats from Diddy to Chaka Khan, Mary traveled to London to collaborate with some of the U.K.'s young and most promising producers like Sam Smith, Jim Napes and Emeli Sandé. The result is a stew of acoustic-feuled ballads, sonic dance cuts and classically tinged torch songs. Check out this rundown of Mary's new, bold musical step. (Photo: Capitol Records)
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'Therapy' - For her 20-plus year career, Mary has had no problems delving into her deep pain, which she discusses to kick off her latest LP. Accompanied by a shimmering surf guitar lick and fat back beat, Mary tells her love that instead of dealing with all he's putting her through, she can go see a shrink. (Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for H&M)
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'Doubt' - Oozing with inspiration, this track is Mary's declaration of self-affirmation and her shunning of self-doubt over soaring piano work. If you're a fan, the R&B vet offers her usual words of encouragement. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
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'Not Loving You' - Over grand piano production, Mary stretches her voice further than she has, perhaps, in her entire career, belting to a lover that she cannot offer him her heart if he does not love himself. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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'When You're Gone' - "I miss ya like you took a piece of me with ya," Mary sings. "Didn't think I cared that much, did ya?" Mary's R&B soaked vocals get a slight classical makeover as it melds with a heavenly acoustic guitar. (Photo: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
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'Right Now' - A piston-pumping rhythm fuels this dance track, which finds Mary singing a goodbye to a dude she can no longer find the love for. "Don't wait for me when you know you did me wrong," she instructs. "I've been holding on too long." (Photo: C.Smith/ WENN.com)
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'My Loving' - Mary sings about the love for her boo over a standard house-music track armed with booming four-on-the-floor bass and otherworldly keyboard vamps. (Photo: Earl Gibson/BET/Getty Images for BET)
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'Long Hard Look' - On this track Mary's vocal flows over an off-beat rhythm as she tells her doubtful beau to realize they've worked long and hard to have something special. (Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
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'Whole Damn Year' - On the subject of amour, Mary rides a steady snare and lilting piano while melodically discussing the time in which it took her to overcome a breakup. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Nobel Peace Prize Concert)
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'Nobody But You' - This bouncy house music track has Mary cutting through the clutter of naysayers and doubters to hear the loving words of her man, which she says she keeps in her heart. (Photo: John Ricard / BET)
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