Mary J. Blige - What's the 411?
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Free Music Notes for What's the 411?
Free Music Review: What's The 411?
Hit: 4 Stars
In anticipation of Mary's new joint, I had a Mary-athon - not to compare one album to the next but just to appreciate where she started as an artist and how she's grown & evolved to now. I actually didn't buy this album until after I'd purchased & fell in love with 'My Life'.
Back in 1992, Mary took the r&b world by storm with this release. NOBODY was doing music that so successfully mixed hip hop beats with such a soulful voice and rightfully almost every single released soared up the top 10 charts of r&b music.
Listening to it again was cool and I noticed that songs I loved then, I still love now and the good thing about these particular singles is that they sound TIMELESS - they're not specific to the 90's. The standout tracks to me are: REMINISCE, REAL LOVE, YOU REMIND ME & LOVE NO LIMIT.
Tracks that I haven't really listened to consistently but upon this listen really sounded great to me are: I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING & SLOW DOWN. Her cover of SWEET THING gets an honorable mention but really doesn't quite come up to the level of Chaka Khan's original but it is a nice shout out.
Overall I'd give the disc an B+ rating because there's only 2 tracks that I consider filler and they are even great to listen to because of the beats the 7 songs I mentioned are truly enjoyable to listen to even now, 13 years after they were released. So if you're curious about the beginnings of the 'Queen of Hip Hop/Soul' and enjoy this genre of music, I'd highly recommend you getting this disc.
Free Music Review: u got it going on hun
Hit: 4 Stars
what's the 411? this is mary's first album. her voice was so fresh and catchy. good songs on this album include: u remind me, sweet thing, love no limit, what's the 411 and real love. GOOD JOB UPTOWN/PUFFY. this cd definately jump started mary's career which led to other amazing projects. MJB for lifeFree Music Review: She Blows Up tha Spot...
Hit: 4 Stars
...with this debut. Nobody saw this coming, not at least the country as a whole. One of the most important female singers to come along in the last 20 years, Mary shows the world how hard times and heartbreak mold and form a natural singing talent to become a force in American music, not just R&B, urban, or whatever it's being called these days.
These are just samples of her talent (she raises the bar in future efforts). You can hear the raw elegance in her vocals during the last part of "Changes...". You can hear her graceful vocalizations, not overdone-almost restrained, on "Reminisce". All of these great performances here on this album only made the people expect even more from her.
Best cut is hands down, "Love No Limit". And if you notice on the vocals, you'll hardly hear sound like that in any of her later recordings. From note one to the last fadeout second, she goes at it and just does not quit...remarkable! It was just a once-in-a-lifetime performance that has fortunately been recorded for posterity.
As I said before, this release is only the introduction of her talent, and to the re-emergence of ghetto artistry. With the help of her production team, Mary & company will help to once again broadcast the sound of (black) America across the world.
Free Music Review: "What's the 411?" is a classic!
Hit: 4 Stars
Mary J. Blige is one of R&B's elite. Any fool knows that. She has worked with a countless number of her colleagues. If an R&B legend being honored, Mary is 95% of the time apart of that tribute. She has had a hard life growing up in New York. Her father left her and her family at an early age, and Mary soon after begin using drugs heavily. She has been abused by her ex-boyfriends. I, personally see a huge change in her maturity. She is truly a woman now. She has grown up so much throughout the years. This is the album that began the Mary J. Blige saga...
Six of this album's twelve tracks were released. How many albums have that much success? I can count them on my fingers. "What's the 411?" came out in 1992. Each time I listen to this album I am reminded of those wonderful times the early 1990's brought. "Real Love" was played all the time. Mary has this soulful voice that many people are not blessed with. Even on a fast tempo song like "Real Love", she lets her listener know that she can really sing. Mary covered Chaka Khan's hit "Sweet Thang". She did a beautiful job on this song. Chaka couldn't have done it any better herself. Just wave your hands from side to side and sing it. "Oh, oh, sweet thang, don't you know you're my everything" Haha. This is the best song on the CD, without a doubt. "I Don't Want to Do Anything" is a duet with K-Ci Hailey, whom she dated. This song is really nice, and their vocal performance is especially good. "Love No Limit" and "Reminisce" were both released and both stronger songs on the album. I love "You Remind Me". Everything about the song is great. The chorus is really catchy, the lyrics are good, and nice production. Puff Daddy/P. Diddy/Diddy/Sean Combs produced this album. Kudos to him because he did a really nice job.
I recommend this album to anyone who is a fan of music. It's an essential, trust me.
Mikeisha's Top 5
1. Sweet Thing
2. You Remind Me
3. Real Love
4. Love No Limit
5. I Don't Want to Do Anything
Free Music Review: Reminisce
Hit: 5 Stars
The debut for Mary J. Blige tailored the title Queen of Hip-hop Soul rightfully taken with this twelve track release. What's The 411? was also the beginning of the style of Sean 'Puffy' Combs that brought her the sound to call her own. Simple hip-hop / rap samples gave Mary a rougher, authentic style that had given her the edge on the music for the times. Samples on the album include MC Lyte's "Stop, Look, Listen" on "Reminisce", Audio Two's "Top Billin'" on "Real Love", the remake of "Sweet Thing" is as affective as is the original, and Biz Markie's "Make The Music With Your Mouth Biz" on "Changes I've Been Going Through". She even rhymed with Grand Puba over the title track with impressive results. Mary took it to another level with the slow songs like the duet with ex-boyfriend K-Ci on "I Don't Want To Do Anything". The originality of "Slow Down" is a hidden gem to make this album complete and a complete success. The 411 is she got it going on!