A Bronx native, Mary J. Blige was discovered while recording Anita Baker's "Caught Up in the Rapture" at a karaoke studio in a local mall. Impressed with her powerful voice and soulful stylings, Uptown Records signed her and released her 1992 debut album What's the 411?

An R&B chart topper, the album paid tribute to Blige's love of classic soul with a cover of Chaka Khan's "Sweet Thing," adding an urban edge with cameos by artists such as Heavy D., Grand Puba and De La Soul.

What's the 411? went platinum, powered by the singles "Real Love" and "Reminisce," later resurrected as a rap hit by Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth. MCA reissued a remix of the album the following year.

Blige's 1994 hip-hop flavored follow-up My Life was equally well-received, scoring her another No. 1 R&B album and the hit single "Be Happy." Her next studio effort is 1997's Share My World.

In the summer of 1998, Blige released her first live album, a 24-track CD titled The Tour. Her next album, No More Drama, came out in 2001.

In summer 2003 she released her new album Love & Life.

 

Personal quotes:

"There's not enough time to be disrespecting... Life is too short."
-Mary J. Blige