What's the 411? - Blige, Mary J. (CD 1992)

So yes, I am completely aware that it is now February but hey, due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control (like my computer needing to be completely reconfigured), I was forced to delay this project. A look back is going to be a monthly review series where I review one classic album in R&B. I wanted to begin with an album that I felt had a strong impact and that people could relate to. Something that takes me back to a specific point in my life and makes me smile. The first look back is with Mary J. Blige s What s The 411 .

What s The 411 was released in 1992 and seriously put Mary J. Blige on the who s who list of R&B singers. She was signed to then power player Uptown Records and her career was guided by the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy. At the time few artists were doing what Blige was doing, mixing Hip-Hop and R&B. It was innovative, it was funky and it sure as hell sounded good.

- Track Listing -

01. Leave A Message
02. Reminisce
03. Real Love
04. You Remind Me
05. Intro Talk
06. Sweet Thing
07. Love No Limit
08. I Don t Want To Do Anything [duet with K-Ci]
09. Slow Down
10. My Love
11. Changes I ve Been Going Through
12. What s The 411?


Real Love was the single that introduced Blige to the music world and even today sounds as if it could fit in on the radio. That s part of the beauty of , it s that it s appeal and sound are a testament to the times but also manage to stand the test of time. Real Love established Blige as a soulful woman with a big voice and the momentum flowed right on through to Reminisce . Notably Reminisce as well as My Love were written by the late Kenny G-Love Greene who was a member of the R&B group Intro and who was responsible for hits for a ton of hits that he never got enough recognition for. Reminisce is a mid-tempo ballad that showed a more subtle side to Blige s vocal abilities. Honestly, I don t think it would be right to say that Blige has a pretty voice but it is a voice so steeped with emotion and passion for what she happens to be singing, that you can relate to her as a person and for that she has earned my respect and my allegiance to her as a fan of her work.

One of the songs that stands out to this day as being one of Blige s best is not even her own. Sweet Thing , a remake of the Chaka Khan classic was a big hit for Blige. It became a quiet-storm staple and showed the mellowness of Blige s vocals something that you really don t hear all of the time. Because she is a singer whose voice is so powerful, it s nice to see her pull back just a bit and show reserve and do justice to the track.

At the time of this album s release Blige and K-Ci (then of Jodeci fame, now of K-Ci and JoJo fame) were the 1st couple of R&B. An odd pairing yes, but when the two sang together there was magic. That magic reflects on I Don t Want To Do Anything an emotive and powerful duet. Their voices are well suited to be together and the ballad was well produced by another Jodeci band member Devante Swing. The production is anything but subtle but it manages to play second fiddle to the two powerhouse singers.

My Love is another star of it s a sweet mid-tempo track about lost love. It s another of the tracks that shows a more demure side of Blige and lets you see the depth of her talent. Perhaps the best track and my personal favorite track of was the Diddy produced Changes I ve Been Going Through . No samples, no guest rappers and the song is quality. Musically, there is a lot going on which is typical of a P.Diddy track, but more often than not Diddy is able to make his first-rate music play second string to the vocals and he does that here. The only thing wrong with the song is that the background vocals (sung by Billy Lawrence) seem to at times be a bit stronger than Blige s vocals but I m sure that was done for a reason. To an average ear you might even believe it was Blige, but a closer inspection of the liner notes will tell you otherwise.

- Final Thoughts -

What s The 411 is one of those albums that I m going to always have in my collection and dust off from time to time. If you ve never had the opportunity to hear it or even own it now is the time. Take a look at the foundation of a career that has spanned a decade, been through ups and downs and managed to persevere.