Our Favorite Mary J. Blige Singles

Happy Birthday, MJB!

Mary Had a Little Song - Thank goodness for Mary J. Blige, the queen of hip hop/R&B. So on this day, her 45th birthday, we’re proudly proclaiming our 15 favorite Mary singles. Let’s love in angst together. — Jon Reyes(Photo: Chris Walter/WireImage)

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Mary Had a Little Song - Thank goodness for Mary J. Blige, the queen of hip hop/R&B. So on this day, her 45th birthday, we’re proudly proclaiming our 15 favorite Mary singles. Let’s love in angst together. — Jon Reyes(Photo: Chris Walter/WireImage)

'I Love You' (1994) - It goes without saying that My Life was a classic in its entirety, but the singles on their own are stellar. "I Love You" was actually a B-side to another single. Produced by Chucky Thompson, the beat has been interpolated into countless mixtapes. It’s sweet, vulnerable and poignant. Everything Mary is great at.(Photo: Uptown Records)

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'I Love You' (1994) - It goes without saying that My Life was a classic in its entirety, but the singles on their own are stellar. "I Love You" was actually a B-side to another single. Produced by Chucky Thompson, the beat has been interpolated into countless mixtapes. It’s sweet, vulnerable and poignant. Everything Mary is great at.(Photo: Uptown Records)

'Love Is All We Need' featuring Nas (1997) - The songstress's first of many team-ups with Nas. For the lead single to Share My World, Mary pulled out all the stops by teaming up with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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'Love Is All We Need' featuring Nas (1997) - The songstress's first of many team-ups with Nas. For the lead single to Share My World, Mary pulled out all the stops by teaming up with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.(Photo: Geffen Records)

'I'm Going Down' (1995) - This Rose Royce remake of a classic is...a classic. Mary adds a vocal grit the original hadn’t seen, making it perfect for the '90s new audience.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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'I'm Going Down' (1995) - This Rose Royce remake of a classic is...a classic. Mary adds a vocal grit the original hadn’t seen, making it perfect for the '90s new audience.(Photo: Geffen Records)

'Love @ 1st Sight' (2003) - Puffy and Mary teamed up again for her sixth album, where the pair went back to their aesthetic from the early '90s. While this single didn’t really take off, it’s still a fun summer record, which Mary is really good at and should do more often.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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'Love @ 1st Sight' (2003) - Puffy and Mary teamed up again for her sixth album, where the pair went back to their aesthetic from the early '90s. While this single didn’t really take off, it’s still a fun summer record, which Mary is really good at and should do more often.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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'I Am' (2009) - This anthem of devotion co-written by Johntá Austin and produced by Stargate is a great ballad only MJB can deliver.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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'I Am' (2009) - This anthem of devotion co-written by Johntá Austin and produced by Stargate is a great ballad only MJB can deliver.(Photo: Geffen Records)

'You Remind Me' (1992) - What’s more incredible than the hip hop infused R&B Mary was so natural at? That she can rock the body-hugging spandex and hockey jersey ensembles in the same video. Her first single was a perfect representation of MJB.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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'You Remind Me' (1992) - What’s more incredible than the hip hop infused R&B Mary was so natural at? That she can rock the body-hugging spandex and hockey jersey ensembles in the same video. Her first single was a perfect representation of MJB.(Photo: Geffen Records)

'Real Love' (1992) - This record really is everything. It’s the perfect sing-along soul record. Trivia: L.A. Reid co-wrote it and it made it to the No. 7 spot on the Billboard 100.(Photo: Uptown Records) 

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'Real Love' (1992) - This record really is everything. It’s the perfect sing-along soul record. Trivia: L.A. Reid co-wrote it and it made it to the No. 7 spot on the Billboard 100.(Photo: Uptown Records) 

'Be Happy' (1994) - The My Life era began with this single co-produced by Teddy Riley and Puffy. Considering the heavy material on her sophomore album, “Be Happy” was a light plea from Mary.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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'Be Happy' (1994) - The My Life era began with this single co-produced by Teddy Riley and Puffy. Considering the heavy material on her sophomore album, “Be Happy” was a light plea from Mary.(Photo: Geffen Records)

'Not Gon’ Cry' (1996) - Mary’s contribution to the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack was one of many hits from the successful compilation. Babyface wrote the song inspired by Bernadine, one of the main characters in the film, and gave Mary her highest charting single at the time. Don’t shed no tears remembering how amazing Mary looked in that black wrap and sunglasses.(Photo: Arista Records)

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'Not Gon’ Cry' (1996) - Mary’s contribution to the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack was one of many hits from the successful compilation. Babyface wrote the song inspired by Bernadine, one of the main characters in the film, and gave Mary her highest charting single at the time. Don’t shed no tears remembering how amazing Mary looked in that black wrap and sunglasses.(Photo: Arista Records)

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'I Can Love You' featuring Lil’ Kim (1997) - For Share My World, Mary shed a lot of skin. She left her former label and Puffy behind and went with a much more glossier hip hop sound. Getting Lil’ Kim for her second single was definitely a statement on its own.(Photo: MCA Records)

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'I Can Love You' featuring Lil’ Kim (1997) - For Share My World, Mary shed a lot of skin. She left her former label and Puffy behind and went with a much more glossier hip hop sound. Getting Lil’ Kim for her second single was definitely a statement on its own.(Photo: MCA Records)

'All That I Can Say' (1999) - For her fourth album Mary went a little softer in sound. For the first single of the album, Lauryn Hill wrote and produced this whimsical beauty. Mary could always do it big but with “All That I Can Say,” she proved she could do understated as well. Sidenote: the "doo doo doos" are supplied by Ms. Hill.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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'All That I Can Say' (1999) - For her fourth album Mary went a little softer in sound. For the first single of the album, Lauryn Hill wrote and produced this whimsical beauty. Mary could always do it big but with “All That I Can Say,” she proved she could do understated as well. Sidenote: the "doo doo doos" are supplied by Ms. Hill.(Photo: Geffen Records)

'Family Affair' (2001) - This was a big pop moment for Mary delivered by none other than Dr. Dre. The party record was a huge one and would help make her fifth album go triple platinum. Plus, her wig game in the video is too good. No hateration!(Photo: Geffen Records)

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'Family Affair' (2001) - This was a big pop moment for Mary delivered by none other than Dr. Dre. The party record was a huge one and would help make her fifth album go triple platinum. Plus, her wig game in the video is too good. No hateration!(Photo: Geffen Records)

'No More Drama' (2002) - The title track to Mary’s fifth studio album was released as a single months after the 9/11 attacks and the video featured footage of tanks and news coverage. You can even see Mariah and Puffy in the video as they were both putting public scandals and breakdowns behind them at the time. Mary’s powerful delivery makes this a career highlight. Just check out this Grammy performance.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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'No More Drama' (2002) - The title track to Mary’s fifth studio album was released as a single months after the 9/11 attacks and the video featured footage of tanks and news coverage. You can even see Mariah and Puffy in the video as they were both putting public scandals and breakdowns behind them at the time. Mary’s powerful delivery makes this a career highlight. Just check out this Grammy performance.(Photo: Geffen Records)

'Be Without You' (2005) - Our darling Mary’s biggest single came almost 10 years into her career. The single by itself sold over 2 million copies.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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'Be Without You' (2005) - Our darling Mary’s biggest single came almost 10 years into her career. The single by itself sold over 2 million copies.(Photo: Geffen Records)

'Take Me As I Am' (2005) - This softer single co-written by Keri Hilson from her The Breakthrough album peaked at No. 3 on the R&B charts.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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'Take Me As I Am' (2005) - This softer single co-written by Keri Hilson from her The Breakthrough album peaked at No. 3 on the R&B charts.(Photo: Geffen Records)