They don’t call Mary J. Blige the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul for no reason. Mary J. Blige bounded onto the music scene with her debut What’s the 411?, showcasing her distinct, soulful voice while gifting fans with classic hits and chart-topping singles that catered to everyone from the streets to the broken-hearted.
Blige’s rawness and candor about real-life struggles on wax, her powerful vocal abilities, and her knack for blending melancholic soul melodies with gritty hip-hop made her a formidable force within the music industry. A quick scroll through any R&B breakup playlist and an empowering breakup anthem from the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul is a guaranteed placement.
On Thursday (Nov. 30), Mary J. Blige will be honored at the annual Billboard Women in Music ceremony with the Icon award for her achievements and contributions in music. In honor of Blige’s Icon award, below Billboard revisits 10 of the R&B icon’s most empowering breakup anthems.
“Real Love” (1992)
Mary J. Blige’s early-’90s cut “Real Love” became the singer’s breakout hit and catapulted the then-rising crooner to stardom. Sampling Audio Two’s “Top Bullin,” “Real Love” finds a determined and optimistic Mary J yearning for a new lover after a romance gone wrong. The Bronx native’s classic later spawned a remix from fellow New York rhymer The Notorious B.I.G.
“Not Gon’ Cry” (1995)
Since her debut in the ’90s, Mary J. Blige quickly became known for her emotive cuts that uncovered the pain and deep emotions that come with heartbreak. One her biggest hits (and the ultimate post-breakup pick-me-up) is 1995’s “Not Gon’ Cry” from the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack. The Babyface-penned cut found a tear-stained Mary picking up the pieces of her broken heart and realizing that her former lover is no longer worth her tears.
“Family Affair” (2001)
While Blige isn’t exactly mourning a strained relationship in “Family Affair,” the message of the song is simple — “Let loose and set your body free” and “Leave your situations at the door.” The uptempo, elaborate beat constructed by Dr. Dre became one of Blige’s most recognizable songs – and first-ever Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single — and one of her most iconic videos, which Dre made a cameo in.
“No More Drama” (2001)
From the outset, a familiar piano riff is heard as production team Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis rework Henry Mancini’s “Nadia’s Theme” – the piano melody from The Young and Restless’ theme song – to create the somber piano arrangement for “No More Drama.” On the dramatic cut, Mary has grown weary of her significant other and his drama and is ready to hit the refresh button on her life, this time leaving all the stress of her past relationship behind.
“Enough Cryin’” (2005)
Leave it to Mary J to turn her pain into a bouncy earworm as she wipes her hands clean of a toxic romance that cost her friends and family. Mary also introduced her rap alter ego, Brook Lynn, on “Enough Cryin” and received assistance from Brooklyn rapper JAY-Z, who wrote the rap verse she performed on the song.
“Take Me As I Am” (2005)
Mary’s laundry list of ills wasn’t enough to keep her down and on “Take Me As I Am,” the singer’s resilience is stronger than ever before. She sings about all the hardships she’s endured and gives her listeners an ultimatum – “So take me as I am/ Or have nothing at all.” It’s an empowering anthem that teaches self-love and acceptance despite the personal opinions detractors may try to pass off.
“Just Fine” (2007)
Mary J’s repertoire is chock full of moody soul ballads but on “Just Fine,” Mary opts for a cheerful, feel-good jam rather than wallowing in grief. For the video, Blige radiates with positive energy as she enters a mirrored room and begins her own personal fashion show. She dishes out encouraging lines such as, “Having a really good time, I’m not complaining/ And I’m a still wear a smile if it’s raining/I got to enjoy myself regardless/I appreciate life, I’m so glad that it’s fine,” and even pays homage to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, in the colorful visual.
“I Feel Good” (2009)
On her eighth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear, Mary was a long way from the budding singer who gifted the world with 1992’s “Real Love.” A confident, self-assured Mary appeared on “I Feel Good” and the catchy tune is as simple as the song’s title — Mary feels “too damn good” and doesn’t let you forget it throughout the nearly four-minute track.
“Glow Up” (2017)
For someone of Mary J. Blige’s celebrity status, a public divorce isn’t easily escapable but with the release of her latest album, Strength of a Woman, Mary found a way to turn her past relationship woes into a club-ready trap tune and invited some famous friends to join her in her celebration. Amid the booming trap beats pervading the charts, “Glow Up” feels like a welcome addition though it’s not the typical instrumental fans of the ’90s R&B icon are used to hearing her on. But, after shedding the skin of a failed relationship, Blige is seemingly ready to have some fun, and DJ Khaled, Missy Elliott, and Quavo of the Migos were the perfect guests to enlist.
“Thick of It” (2017)
Inspired by her divorce from her husband of 12 years, Mary J. Blige recruited Jazmine Sullivan to co-pen the emotive track. “Should I stick it out?/ Are you worth this fight?/ Are we worth this fight?/ Cuz I ain’t no quitter babe,” she ponders over the trap&B ballad. To make her soulful, post-breakup tune all the sweeter, “Thick of It” became the fastest R&B single to climb to the No. 1 spot on the Adult R&B Songs airplay charts in over 20 years. Success is the best revenge, right?