Back In The Beat: Mary J. Blige – ‘Family Affair’

The Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul, Mary J. Blige, earned her first #1 single, ‘Family Affair’, on November 3rd 2001. Produced by the equally legendary Dr. Dre, the song, which served as the first release from Bige’s ‘No More Drama’ album, spent 6 weeks at at the peak of the Billboard Hot 100. Furthermore, the record also snagged the top spot of the Hip-Hop /R&B charts from Ginuwine’s ‘Differences’ where it remained at the chart’s summit for 2 weeks. The track also entered the top 10 in several countries, hitting #1 on the French Single Chart and #8 in the UK. In addition, ‘Family Affair’ earned Blige a Grammy Award nomination for ‘Best Female R&B Vocal Performance‘. In 2008, the track was ranked as the 79th most successful track in the history of the Billboard Hot 100.

Classic! Although Blige was already a massive success with R&B audiences, this song made her a household name and permanently cemented her title in the history of popular music. She hadn’t garnered a lot of cross-over success until this track was dropped and it placed in a whole new league in the industry. I would go further and say that this was the song that officially made Mary J. Blige into a diva! From the car to club to the crib, this song sits comfortably amongst many of the classics of Contemporary R&B’s biggest hits. Now this is what I call ‘feel good music’!

Thoughts?