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

Do you know which song spent the most weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100? Do you know which song was the first to debut at the top spot? That Grape Juice has you covered! ‘Back In The Beat’ is our brand new feature, which each Friday takes a look back at the songs that topped the Billboard Hot 100 at this exact point in time in years of past.

Covered by me, Trent, it provides the opportunity to not only take a ‘trip down memory lane’, but remember some of the monumental songs that molded the present day sound of the music industry. So get out your pen and paper because class is officially in session!

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?

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