On the latter, MJB says “Thank you for showing me who you really are” and “when people show you who they are, we should believe them.” They’re wise words from a woman who has been down this road before. Understated ballads like “Indestructible” and “Thank You” seek comfort in the midst of chaos. The second half of Strength of a Woman is less about regret and more about rebuilding. It’s good to hear him sounding coherent again and not like a spastic Autobot. Kanye West’s guest verse is surprisingly poignant too. Those lessons continue with the self-explanatory “Love Yourself.” While the lyrics don’t break any new ground – it’s the same “love you before you love somebody else” stuff your grandma told you back in middle school – it’s the vicious horns producer DJ Camper use on the track that will keep you running back. She admits it was “not always good, but I stayed on my feet.” “U + Me (Love Session)” is vintage Mary, where she coyly reads her ex the riot act before moving on. Mary’s real strength is when she channels her anger. Mary ain’t been this pissed since the first Clinton administration.īut save the drama for those garbage gossip blogs. N****, you won’t get a dime.” Then she hits him with “there’s a special place in hell for youuuuu.” In falsetto.
![thick of it mary j blige cd thick of it mary j blige cd](https://assets.capitalxtra.com/2016/41/mary-j-blige-1476108795-article-0.jpg)
“How you gonna fix your mouth to say I owe ya when you had another b**** takin’ trips n’ s*** with my money for so long – you must have lost it (lost your miiiiiiind). But Mary goes from brokenhearted to breaking dishes on “Set Me Free”: So when she belts out “Are you worth the fight?/Are we worth the fight? … You know I deserve more than this,” the emotions are gut-wrenching.
![thick of it mary j blige cd thick of it mary j blige cd](https://static.qobuz.com/images/covers/62/61/0000881126162_600.jpg)
said that the album’s first single, “Thick of It,” was written not long after her marriage crumbled. While her previous album, 2014’s underrated The London Sessions, was filled with simmering soul, Strength of a Woman, MJB’s 13 studio album, is more like scorched earth.Ĭuz when a woman’s fed up, it ain’t nothing you can do about it. Mary wears her tattered heart on her sleeve – it’s her honesty that makes her music so relatable and groundbreaking. If you want to understand Mary J.’s narrative, look no further than her album titles – My Life. Blige announced that she was releasing a new album on the heels of her failed marriage, R&B fans knew that Mary would have a story to tell – and pain produces the most poignant music.Īnd for 25 years, MJB has been the matriarch of heartbreak and healing. Blige announced that she was releasing a new album on the heels of her failed marriage, R&B fans rejoiced.