Mary J. Blige hasn’t had the most to smile about as of late (see: crispy chicken, fresh lettuce, tortilla). However joy abounds, for the RIAA have certified her latest release ‘My Life II: The Journey Continues’.
Details after the jump…
The set, which arrived last November, was awarded a Gold certification for US sales of 500,000.
And while a far cry from the Platinum heights the Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul is used to, there’s little to fret about given the fact the set produced no discernible hits. Not to mention the current commercial climate of R&B.
For her next outing, we’d love to see Mary embrace the “current” with her own soulful twist. For, her tried and tested “life is full of struggles” angle is wearing oh so thin. Cuts such as ‘Just Fine’ and ‘One Love’ with U2 saw her global status soar, hence it was somewhat of a shame that she regressed into trying to appeal to an audience who, given this recession and life’s other hardships, likely just want something to lean and rock to. Or at the very least, something “different”.
Mary’s iconic status affords her the ability to “dabble in different,here’s hoping she capitalises on it with her next release. In the meanwhile, watch Mary talk ‘My Life II’ with That Grape Juice…
Your thoughts?
![New Song: Mary J. Blige - 'Christmas Without You' [Produced by Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/christmas-without-you-mary-j-blige-2024-rodney-jerkins-464x260.jpg "New Song: Mary J. Blige - 'Christmas Without You' [Produced by Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins].")
it was a really good album. it really is a shame that 80% of the time if you are not doing electro dance music, you will flop.
It’s BEEN Gold. But thanks for posting
since when is not having hits off an album an excuse for it flopping….isnt that what an album is supposed to do….have hits??!!! …lmfao
How come Sam f***** bum ass didnt post about Mary J. Blige’s sorry ass sales but went all out about Rihanna!??
^ ^ ^
Rihanna fans.
@Pat what Sam means is that despite them not successfully promoting the project and producing hits, some people actually remembered to go out and buy it, or were compelled to buy it even when they hadn’t been motivated to do so from hearing a single on the radio.lol
I need to her to really come out with some fire! Believe it or not, SOUL music is popular at the moment and if Mary can crank out something worthwhile (I’m Going Down,Be Without You,etc.) and return to her roots she will be successful. She needs to make material that people NEED to have, not just the throwaway tracks like “Mr. Wrong.” Another Just Fine would be amazing as far Hip-Hop/R&B songs go, but if she wants to have something that will chart on the Hot 100 she needs a really soulful song that can smash Adele,Gotye, and all the others that think they are singing at the moment. Consumers are hungry for it.
Doing better than most
DEATH. @ ‘Lean and rock to’.
mary should really consider focus on delivering a sold record that is meaningful to her and not just songs that sound catchy written by young people that also dont put meaning into the lyrics becasue whats works for someone else is not always goinig to work for everyone.
my only question is “what’s in dem chicken wraps?”
OK. with all due respect, I disagree with this article
Mary J Blige is an r n’b/ soul artist, that’s her identity and this is what got her so far in this industry. Why does she need to “embrace the current” ( translation : “go pop”)? You even said that about Beyonce and the woman sold 2 million copies of her album! Gold is not a flop, especially when most artists who “embrace the current” can’t even sell 300k in a year! Not every artist has to sell 5 million ww or have top 10 singles. Besides, she tried to be current with ‘The One’ a few years ago and it didn’t work…
It was a better album than her previous one, loved it, but she constantly releases albums that aren’t every different.
She needs to take a LONG break!
Damn wassup @CARL
where can I find you at?
I completely agree with ASAP (As Sincere As Possible) 100%!!!
I don’t think it’s fair that r&b artists must sacrifice their r&b identity to sell records or be considered current. You don’t see Country and Rock Artists doing pop b/c that what’s hot at the moment. They usually stick to their roots.
Sam your statement makes you seem narrow minded in thinking that going pop (current) is the only way that any artist can garner WW success.
thanks for letting us know this but this album been gold about two months now…kudos to Mary tho i hardly hear her new music on the radio thats when u know u bad if u can sale off ya name with no airplay
I think she should release Empty Prayers to Urban AC/AC/Hot AC, and Love A Woman (featuring Beyonce) to Rhythmic/Urban. Those are smashes in the waiting.
Even though it’s nowhere near the original ‘My Life’, it’s my favourite album of hers for a while.
She’s in a very hard predicament. She’s proven herself in the early part of her career by pioneering a sub-genre and being the very best at it. That is where I would prefer her to stay. And she’s also ventured outside of hip-hop soul, and received A LOT of acclaim for it.
The trouble is the money isn’t in REAL, AUTHENTIC R&B and hip-hop anymore. If you go pop, that’s when people spend money and you see the artists at the top of the charts.
Blah blah blah. Who remembers the article.where Sam was crinkle for.Jesus that one week this album outsold TTT? Now he drums up this somber mess to lessen the blow that it flopped. TTT has sold over 800k in the same timeframe. The problem with that album is its nowhere near the greatness that was my life. Also alot of people say they love r&b and don’t back it up with their money.
Once again Sam wants more American artist to develop that simple eurotrash sound that many other R&B artist are trying to do to remain relevant. Keep that thinking in the UK everyone is not Kelly Rowland (Down for whatevr). Also Mary J Blige album has been good for a hit ass minute now and her album is beyond the 500,000 mark. At the end of the day Mary J Blige has had chart success /career longer than anyone out now and has been doing fine. So for her needing some random internet people and a uk blogger to A&R her album is clearly not the case.
The album is phenomenal and we have two more singles coming out. So that right this article as if her album era is over.
Congratulations on yet another gold album Mary. Mary just needs to do Mary. She doesn’t need “to embrace what’s current” or whatever because she is more than that. She tried doing that in 2009 with “the One” and that song wasn’t the greatest.
Mary J Blige is tired and old she is nothing but a has been
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knowledge.