Our Favorite Mary J. Blige Singles
Happy Birthday, MJB!
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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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'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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'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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'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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'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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