3.5/5
oBLIGEd
Don't call it a retirement. The Queen of R&B and hip-hop soul will be here for years. Mary J. Blige recently debunked rumours that her latest release, 'Gratitude', would also be her last. Sure, the fifteenth album from Mary is a personal thank you to fans, but it's no swan song victory lap. Wrapped up just in time for Christmas, this week, alongside new releases from fellow legends Jon Batiste, Dolly Parton, Gwen Stefani, St. Vincent, Linkin Park and Jin of BTS, Blige has been putting in work since the seems like yesterday 2011 release of the sequel to her classic 'My Life'. THAT'S the 411 as the journey continues with each act, every couple of years. 'The London Sessions' with some of the Big Smoke's finest. The 'Strength Of A Woman' who still has time to say 'Good Morning Gorgeous' to us. Even 'A Mary Christmas' to put under your tree.
No more drama in this love and life as she shares her world like she has classic collaborations with everyone from Sting to the late, great George Michael. A breakthrough who gets stronger with every tear and tear through the industry. All whilst showing the power of acting in things like 'Mudbound' and 'The Umbrella Academy'. The smoking Mary Jane can do it all with her ceiling smashing, sky-high talent. We should be thankful for all she's done. Even though she's giving it up for us, like the understanding in solidarity of the second single, 'You Ain't The Only One', as these growing pains flow with tears again, like a Brooklyn brownstone fire hydrant in a scorching summer. Bringing out all the big guns like some of the best artists of her generation. Fantastic 'Breathe' rapper Fabolous on the Biggie sampling single 'Breathing'. The rasp of death, Jadakiss on 'Need You More'. And Fat Joe on 'God's Child' as the now regular-sized man from New York raps, "Me, Nas and Hov the only icons left."
Ferg also features on the fabulous closer 'I Got Plans' that shows you there's more to come with the other legend left. But it's for all the brilliant 'Beautiful People' Mary J. sings for, like the time she remixed 'Beautiful' with the Black Stars of Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Anthems to empower with lines like, "Beautiful people/One/Then I’m going to/Beautiful places/Where there are just/Beautiful faces/Beautiful people, just like all of you, all of you/All of, all of you." Sing along now. On this delightful dozen track LP's latest billboard entry, Mary declares 'Here I Am'. Another beautiful ballad to add to the great American rhythm and blues songbook. All for the fans that 'Never Give Up On Me (she)'. Despite the love, coming off the 'Good Morning Gorgeous' bestseller since 'Be Without You', Mary is still street, and not afraid to tell you, 'Don't F### Up'. The drama was yesterday and yesteryear, my dear.
Laced, like the amazing album artwork by 300 Entertainment and her own Mary Jane Productions, the GREATful 'Gratitude' also features 'Superpowers' from an icon of the industry who is about to release her own book and come out of "retirement" (this album was originally meant to be her last) like the 'Kingdom Come' of a 'Black Album' Jay-Z coming "back like Jordan, wearing the 4-5." There's nobody like her and on 'Nobody Like You' she sings, "There ain't nobody but you (Nobody) on my mind/All the time/Oh baby, please believe, I'll be in love with you always (Always)/All my life/I love it when you call me in the morning when the sun comes up/'Cause you'vе been missing me all night/Tell me, "Plеase come over now"/Am I still asleep? Feels like a dream/That for once in my life I didn't have to fight for love/Where did you come from?", like there's no one else (there isn't) and no tomorrow (we hope there still is). We can't wait for more, as Mary can't (no stranger to the old double-text, herself) on the "All these games, I can't relay my race to the front/I can't be slowing down my pace, it ain't fair" of 'Can't Wait For You'. If this really is it, we're beyond grateful, but if it's not, we'd be so thankful for more. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Breathing (Feat. Fabolous)', 'You Ain't The Only One', 'God's Child (Feat. Fat Joe)'
Spin This: Mary J. Blige 'My Life II...The Journey Continues (Act 1)'
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