Mary J. Blige - My Life II: The Journey Continues: Act 1 [Deluxe Edition] [11/21]

Artist:

Blige, Mary J.

UPC:

602527862750

Description:

Recording information: 2nd Floor Studios, CA; Circle House Recording Studio, Miami, FL; Jungle City Studios, NYC; Kensaltown Studios, London; Marvin`s Room Studios, W. Hollywood, CA; Mason Sound, North Hollywood, CA; MSR Studios, New York, NY; Platinum Recording Studio, NYC; Triangle Sound Studios West, Encino, CA.
Photographers: D`Andre Michael; Indrani; Klinko.
Intro excepted, a devout Mary J. Blige fan could listen to these 70 minutes of music as an untitled album and never think of it as a sequel to 1994`s My Life. Technically titled My Life II...The Journey Continues (Act 1) -- yes, it`s the first act of a continuation -- it`s more the successor to Blige`s previous album, Stronger with Each Tear. Blige is in a much different, presumably much better place now than she was when she made the turbulent My Life. That album has one guest who appears during a half-minute interlude; there really isn`t much room for any other voice. My Life II, like Stronger, is more like My Life and Those of Others Who Join Me, as it is it involves a succession of high-profile guests: Nas, Busta Rhymes, Drake, Rick Ross, Beyonc?, Diddy, and Lil Wayne. Those who are hoping for something in the spirit of mid-`90s Blige might be disappointed and think of the title as a ploy, but those who expect a wide variety of material in terms of style and mood will get precisely that. The first half contains several uplifting, upbeat numbers, including a muscular cover of Rufus & Chaka Khan`s "Ain`t Nobody," where producer Rodney Jerkins seems to have placed the synthesizer bass from Ren? & Angela`s "I`ll Be Good" in a deep fryer. Chest-beating pleader "25/8" clearly aims for classic status with a Gamble/Huff sample. The second half is heavy on ballads. ~ Andy Kellman

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Intro
2. Feel Inside
3. Midnight Drive - (featuring Brook Lynn)
4. Next Level
5. Ain`t Nobody
6. 25/8
7. Don`t Mind
8. No Condition
9. Mr. Wrong - (featuring Drake)
10. Why - (featuring Rick Ross)
11. Love a Woman - (featuring Beyonc?)
12. Irreversible
13. Empty Prayers
14. Need Someone
15. Living Proof, The
16. Miss Me with That
17. Someone to Love Me (Naked) - (featuring Diddy)
18. Someone To Love Me (Naked) - (featuring Lil Wayne/Diddy)

Album Information

Release Date:

11/21/2011

Type:

Performer

Genre:

R&B

Subgenre:

Contemporary R&B

Label:

Geffen

Producer:

Kendu Isaacs

Catalog Number:

B 001625902

Original Release Year:

2011

# of Discs:

1

Runtime:

68 : 42

Guest Artist:

Nas; Brook Lynn; Busta Rhymes; Drake; Rick Ross; Beyonce; Lil Wayne; P. Diddy

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