michael jackson

Tito Jackson: A Legacy in Music and Family

Tito Jackson, born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on October 15, 1953, in Gary, Indiana, was a prominent member of the legendary musical group The Jackson 5. The group was formed in the late 1960s and included his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. Tito played guitar and provided vocals for the ensemble. The Jackson 5 quickly rose to fame with their energetic performances and catchy hits like “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There.” Their music not only dominated the charts but also helped pave the way for future generations of artists.

The Jackson 5’s success was marked by their groundbreaking appeal across racial lines during a time when segregation was still prevalent in America. They were one of the first African American groups to achieve widespread popularity on television and radio. Tito’s contributions as a musician were significant; he helped shape the sound of the group with his guitar work while also being an integral part of their harmonies.

Tito married his wife, Dee Dee Jackson (née Duran), in 1972. Together they had three children: Taj, Taryll, and TJ. Dee Dee was not only a supportive partner but also played a crucial role in managing her husband’s career during its early years. Tragically, Dee Dee passed away in 1994 under circumstances that have been described as mysterious; her death deeply affected Tito and their children. Despite this loss, Tito has often spoken about how he cherishes the memories they created together.

Tito’s children have continued his musical legacy through their own endeavors. Taj is known for being part of the musical group 3T alongside his brothers Taryll and TJ. The trio achieved success in the late ‘90s with hits like “Anything” and “I Need You.” Tito has expressed pride in his children’s accomplishments while emphasizing the importance of family values instilled by both him and Dee Dee.

One cannot discuss Tito without mentioning his younger brother Michael Jackson, who became one of the most iconic figures in music history. Michael’s career skyrocketed after leaving The Jackson 5 to pursue a solo career that would lead him to become known as the “King of Pop.” His innovative approach to music videos, live performances, and philanthropy set new standards within the industry.

Despite their different paths, Tito maintained a close relationship with Michael throughout their lives. He often spoke fondly of their shared experiences growing up together in a musical family. The impact that Michael had on pop culture is immeasurable; he influenced countless artists across various genres.

Tito’s contributions extend beyond just being a member of The Jackson 5; he has pursued solo projects as well. In recent years, he released solo albums that showcased his growth as an artist while paying homage to his roots. His music reflects not only personal experiences but also broader themes that resonate with audiences worldwide.

The legacy of Tito Jackson is intertwined with that of his family—his brothers’ achievements have left an indelible mark on popular music history. As an artist who experienced both triumphs and tragedies within his life journey, Tito remains an important figure whose influence will be felt for generations to come.

With news of Tito Jackson’s passing at age 70, fans around the world mourn not only for a talented musician but also for a beloved father and brother who contributed significantly to music history alongside his family members. His legacy will undoubtedly continue through his children and the timeless songs created by The Jackson 5.

Happy Birthday Janet Jackson!

Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreography became a catalyst in the growth of MTV, enabling her to rise to prominence while breaking gender and racial barriers in the process. Lyrical content which focused on social issues and lived experiences set her reputation as a role model for youth.

The tenth and youngest child of the Jackson family, she made her debut at the MGM Grand. She starred in the variety television series The Jacksons in 1976 and went on to appear in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including Good Times, Diff’rent Strokes, and Fame. After signing a recording contract with A&M Records in 1982, she became a pop icon following the release of her third and fourth studio albums Control (1986) and Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). Her collaborations with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis incorporated elements of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap, and industrial beats, which led to crossover success in popular music. In 1991, Jackson signed the first of two record-breaking multimillion-dollar contracts with Virgin Records, establishing her as one of the highest-paid artists in the industry. Prior to her first studio project with Virgin, she appeared in her first of several lead film roles in Poetic Justice (1993). Her two studio albums which followed, Janet (1993) and The Velvet Rope (1997), saw her develop a public image as a sex symbol. These records, along with their promotional music videos and live performances in concert tours, branded Jackson as one of the world’s most erotic performers, garnering both criticism and praise. By the end of the 1990s, she was named by Billboard magazine as the second most successful recording artist of the decade in the United States after Mariah Carey. The release of her seventh studio album All for You in 2001 coincided with a celebration of her impact on the recording industry as the subject of the inaugural MTV Icon special.

The backlash from the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy resulted in an industry blacklisting under the direction of Les Moonves, then-CEO of CBS Corporation. Jackson subsequently experienced reduced radio airplay, televised promotion and sales figures from that point forward. After parting ways with Virgin Records, she released her tenth studio album Discipline (2008), her first and only album with Island Records. In 2015, she partnered with BMG Rights Management to launch her own record label, Rhythm Nation, and released her eleventh studio album, Unbreakable, the same year. Since then, she has continued to release music as an independent artist.

Jackson has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the world’s best-selling music artists. She has amassed an extensive catalog, with singles such as “Nasty”, “Rhythm Nation”, “That’s the Way Love Goes”, “Together Again”, and “All for You”; she holds the record for the most consecutive top-ten entries on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart by a female artist with 18. She is also the only artist in the history of the chart to have seven commercial singles from one album (Rhythm Nation 1814) peak within the top five positions. In 2008, Billboard placed her number seven on its list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists, and in 2010 ranked her fifth among the “Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years”. In December 2016, the magazine named her the second most successful dance club artist after Madonna. Her accolades include five Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, eleven American Music Awards, an Academy Award nomination, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and eight Guinness World Records entries. In 2019, she was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Written by Dianne Washington

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor. Called the King of Pop, his contributions to music, dance and fashion along with his publicized personal life made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades.

The eighth child of the Jackson family, Michael made his professional debut in 1964 with his elder brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon as a member of the Jackson 5, and began his solo career in 1971. In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music. His music videos, including those of “Beat It”, “Billie Jean”, and “Thriller” from his 1982 album Thriller, are credited with breaking racial barriers and transforming the medium into an art form and promotional tool. The popularity of these videos helped bring the television channel MTV to fame. Jackson’s 1987 album Bad spawned the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”, “Bad”, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, “Man in the Mirror”, and “Dirty Diana”, becoming the first album to have five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. He continued to innovate with videos such as “Black or White” and “Scream” throughout the 1990s, and forged a reputation as a touring solo artist. Through stage and video performances, Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk, to which he gave the name. His distinctive sound and style has influenced numerous artists of various music genres.

Thriller is the best-selling album of all time, with estimated sales of 65 million copies worldwide. Jackson’s other albums, including Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995), also rank among the world’s best-selling albums. He is recognized as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time by Guinness World Records. Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, and was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Dance Hall of Fame as the only dancer from pop and rock music. His other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records, 13 Grammy Awards, the Grammy Legend Award, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 26 American Music Awards—more than any other artist—including the “Artist of the Century” and “Artist of the 1980s”, 13 number-one singles in the United States during his solo career,—more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era—and estimated sales of over 350 million records worldwide. Jackson has won hundreds of awards, making him the most awarded recording artist in the history of popular music. He became the first artist in history to have a top ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades when “Love Never Felt So Good” reached number nine on May 21, 2014. Jackson traveled the world attending events honoring his humanitarianism, and, in 2000, the Guinness World Records recognized him for supporting 39 charities, more than any other entertainer.

Aspects of Jackson’s personal life, including his changing appearance, personal relationships, and behavior, generated controversy. In 1993, he was accused of child sexual abuse, but the civil case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount and no formal charges were brought. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of further child sexual abuse allegations and several other charges after the jury found him not guilty on all counts. While preparing for his comeback concert series, “This Is It,” Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication on June 25, 2009, after suffering from cardiac arrest. The Los Angeles County Coroner ruled his death a homicide, and his personal physician, Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Jackson’s death triggered a global outpouring of grief, and a live broadcast of his public memorial service was viewed around the world. Forbes ranks Jackson as the top-earning dead celebrity, a title held for a sixth consecutive year, with $115 million in earnings.

Michael Jackson King of pop

Jimmy Ruffin

James Lee Ruffin (May 7, 1936 – November 17, 2014) was an American soul singer, and elder brother of David Ruffin of the Temptations. He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being the Top 10 hits “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” and “Hold On (To My Love)”was born in 1936 in Collinsville, Mississippi, to Eli, a sharecropper, and Ophelia Ruffin. He was approaching his fifth birthday when his younger brother David was born. As children, the brothers began singing with a gospel group, the Dixie Nightingales.
In 1961, Jimmy became a singer as part of the Motown stable, mostly on sessions but also recording singles for its subsidiary Miracle label, but was then drafted for national service. After leaving the Army in 1964, he returned to Motown, where he was offered the opportunity to join the Temptations to replace Elbridge Bryant. However, after hearing his brother David, they hired him for the job instead so Jimmy decided to resume his solo career. Ruffin recorded for Motown’s subsidiary Soul label, but with little success.
In 1966, he heard a song about unrequited love written for The Spinners, and persuaded the writers that he should record it himself. His recording of “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” became a major success. The song reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the R&B Chart. It also initially reached #8 in the UK singles chart, rising to #4 when it was reissued in the UK in 1974. “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” remains Ruffin’s best-known song. It was the lead single from his debut album Jimmy Ruffin Sings Top Ten (released as The Jimmy Ruffin Way in the UK), which was released on the Motown’s Soul subsidiary label in 1967. Follow-up singles in America were successful, with “I’ve Passed This Way Before” and “Gonna Give Her All The Love I’ve Got” reaching the top of the US Charts in late 1966 and early 1967.
Ruffin’s second album, Ruff ‘n’ Ready, was released in 1969. It contained the song “Don’t You Miss Me a Little Bit Baby”, which made the lower parts of the Billboard Hot 100 (#68) and was a Top 30 hit on the R&B Charts, peaking at #27. As a solo artist, it would prove to be Ruffin’s last significant chart appearance in America for many years, and his very last significant charting record for Motown in the US. The song was also released as the B-Side to “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” when it was reissued in 1974.
As Ruffin found success in the United States difficult to sustain, he began to concentrate instead on the British market. In 1970, “Farewell Is A Lonely Sound”, “I’ll Say Forever, My Love” and “It’s Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)” each made the UK Top Ten, and he was voted the world’s top singer in one British poll. He also teamed up with brother David to record the album I Am My Brother’s Keeper, a modestly successful 1970 album for Motown that included the songs “When The Love Hand Comes Down”, “Your Love Was Worth Waiting For” and a cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me”. His third solo album for the label, The Groove Governor, was released in 1970, and did not fare as well as his previous two albums.
Following the success of his initial hits, Ruffin found it hard to maintain an identity, as most of his songs were later covered by other Motown artists, most prominently “Everybody Needs Love”, a hit when covered by Gladys Knight & The Pips for their 1967 debut album of the same name, “Maria (You Were The Only One)”, a hit for Michael Jackson and “If You Let Me,” a minor hit for Eddie Kendricks. In addition, he had recorded the first version of The Temptations hit “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep”.
He then left Motown, and recorded for the Polydor and Chess labels, where he recorded “Tell Me What You Want.” In 1980, Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees produced his album Sunrise and the hit single “Hold On To My Love”, which reached #10 in the US and #7 in the UK, on the RSO label.
In the 1980s, Ruffin moved to live in Great Britain, where he continued to perform successfully. In December 1984 he collaborated with Paul Weller of The Style Council for his benefit single “Soul Deep”, produced to raise money for the families of striking miners affected by the UK miners’ strike. This went under the name of The Council Collective and Jimmy appeared with Paul on Radio 1 to say he is involved because his father worked down the mines and “he understands the suffering.”
In 1986 he collaborated with the British pop group Heaven 17, singing “A Foolish Thing To Do” and “My Sensitivity” on a 12″ EP record. He took part in recording for Ian Levine’s Motown revival label, Motorcity Records, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He recorded duets with both Maxine Nightingale and Brenda Holloway. Later, Ruffin hosted a radio show in the UK for a time, and became an anti-drug advocate following the 1991 drug overdose death of his brother David. Ruffin was portrayed by Lamman Rucker in the 1998 mini-series The Temptations.
Following the 2010 release – on CD for the first time – of his 1970 album I Am My Brother’s Keeper, Ruffin had been writing and recording songs for a new album that he had planned to release during 2013. It was not finished at the time of his death.
In 2012, a compilation album titled There Will Never Be Another You, including his hit songs “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”, and “Hold On To My Love”, had been released.
Ruffin lived in the area of Las Vegas, Nevada. On October 17, 2014, it was reported that he was gravely ill and had been taken into an intensive care unit at a Las Vegas hospital. He died on November 17, 2014, in Las Vegas, aged 78.
Ruffin is buried at Palm Memorial Park Northwest Cemetery, Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada in the Garden of Eternal Life Section.
His siblings are Davis (David) Eli, Rita Mae (Marie), Rosa, and Quincy B (all deceased). His children are Arlet, Philicia, Jimmie Ray (deceased), Jimmie L., Ophelia and Camilla.
Written by Dianne Washington

The King of Pop: Happy Birthday Michael Jackson

They call him the King of Pop, they call him the greatest entertainer to ever walk the planet earth, he touched hearts all over the world, he made women faint at his concerts, he has a huge catalog of music that goes back to the 70’s and his name is Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson is an iconic artist that inspires a whole lot or artists that exist today, not just in singing and dancing but entertaining period. Every Black household, cookout, birthday party, wedding, has Michael Jackson’s music, whether it’s “Thriller”, “Off the Wall”, “Dangerous” or even music from The Jacksons like their “Destiny” or “Triumph” albums. When you’re listening to a Jacksons album or song or a Michael Jackson album or song, you can’t help but to mimic Michael’s mannerisms and dance moves, especially the classic Moonwalk dance that he premiered on Motown 25 while performing his smash hit “Billie Jean” in 1983. Let’s not forget the classic bio pic movie about the Jacksons starring Angela Bassett, playing Michael’s mother, Katherine, in 1992. Angela, as usual, does an amazing job playing that role. Growing up, my mom would play The Jacksons while she cleaned up around the house, their music was from the 70’s and 80’s and here I was, a 2 year old running around singing these songs. Til this day, their music is still amazing to me and I always loved their harmonies and how instrumental it was. “Destiny” is my personal favorite Jacksons album but my all time favorite Michael Jackson song is “I Can’t Help It” from his 1979 album “Off the Wall.” Also, how incredibly dope Michael Jackson music videos were? Off the chain yo! I personally didn’t care for the extra long concepts and short films and stuff, that was annoying to me, except “Thriller” but when the music finally comes on Michael is doing his thing. Another magical thing about Michael were his live performances. His live performances were just as dope as the music videos. We didn’t know what to expect so you couldn’t miss a Michael Jackson performance. Now music, we would be here for days talking about his catalog. “Off the Wall” was very disco-ish but a classic, “Thriller” was more on the pop side, the early MTV days when they weren’t playing music videos from Black artists and I believe “Billie Jean” was the first music video played on MTV by a black artist. “Bad”, Mike had a new image, people found out he had a skin disease called vitiligo. It’s when the skin loses it’s original skin color but in blotches all over the body. Michael was still loved though, he had the same spark and magic. Then there was the 90’s and there was “Dangerous”, which is my favorite Michael Jackson era. That “Remember the Time” video is my all time favorite Michael Jackson music video. I loved the whole Egyptian ruler theme where Eddie Murphy and beautiful model Iman were the king and queen and Magic Johnson was one of the servants. That choreography was bananas yo! I try to learn that whole dance til this day. LMAO! Then we have the “HIStory” Michael. This was when Michael became more political and was speaking about the injustices and his unfair treatment in the world by the government and the media. “Scream” with his sister Janet is too legendary. That’s another favorite Michael Jackson video of mine. Me and my sister always acted like we were in that video, jumping on the furniture, dancing everywhere, we pretended to have an audience and everything, that’s the Michael Jackson effect right there. “HIStory” is my favorite Michael Jackson album because the songs were powerful, unapologetic, strong, emotional and raw all at the same time. Michael didn’t give a fuck! That’s why they banned the “Scream” video back then. Songs like “Tabloid Junkie”, “D.S.”, “Earth Song”, “Money”, “Stranger In Moscow” and the best song to me on the album is “They Don’t Care About Us.” These songs were the answers to everything. Michael was giving it to the people raw and uncut and of course there was the remix album in 1997 called “Blood On the Dance Floor: HIStory In the Mix.” Me and my sister ran that CD to the death! Those remixes had a flavor of hip hop, R&B, pop and dance and the entire thing was banging from beginning to end but after that, nobody heard another album from Michael until 2001’s “Invincible.” To me that was his last REAL album because the posthumous music wasn’t all that. They should’ve just left it at “Invincible.” I remember when “You Rock My World” came out. They ran that video to death on MTV. Chris Tucker foolish ass was his hilarious self as usual in the video and of course in classic Michael Jackson fashion, it was a short film and lots of dancing all over a woman he was chasing, just like “The Way You Make Me Feel.” Let’s not forget about the remix featuring Jay-Z. When you live in the hood where people are selling bootleg CD’s off the street, you come across some underground dope shit and I loved that remix. I personally liked the remix better. That was a street joint only found on mixed CD’s provided by DJ’s. Songs like “Butterfliez”, “Cry”, “Heaven Can Wait”, “Break of Dawn”, “The Lost Children” and “Whatever Happens”, this was another dope Michael Jackson album but it’s underrated to me, people didn’t appreciate this joint. It’s been seven years since Michael passed and we all still feel the pain of his loss. It’s like a cut trying to heal but it’s healing incorrectly. It gets re opened on the day of his death and his birthday but we all love Michael very much. He’s moonwalking and singing in a new and better place. Happy Birthday and rest in peace King. We love you and miss you. Hee Hee!

Just Plain Ol’ MARY!

On this day in 1999, Mary J. Blige aka The Queen of Hip Hop Soul, released her fourth self titled album called “Mary.” I remember vividly that summer when the album came out like it was yesterday. I was 5 years old and I spent that entire summer at my auntie’s house in Virginia with my sister and cousins. Whenever we watched TV, my older cousin used to watch music videos all day from MTV Jams. I remember seeing Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, Ginuwine’s “So Anxious” and Mary J. Blige’s “All That I Can Say” music videos the most. I am a huge Mary J. Blige fan, the same way I’m a ATCQ fan. I have every Mary J. Blige album, music videos downloaded and saved on my flash drive, magazines, books, posters and a VHS tape from back in 2008. I’ve been a fan of Mary since I was 2 years old and even my family can tell the stories about me being a Mary fan as a kid. Those stories amaze me still to this day but anyways, back to this album. “All That I Can Say”, the very first joint on the album and the first single released from this album was a great way to start the album off right. Compared to Mary’s first three albums, this album was more R&B/soul with that Gap Band, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder vibe than the usual hip hop vibe Mary is known for in her sound. To me it’s like her “Share My World” album only more R&B so the evolution in Mary’s career was a perfect one. “All That I Can Say” was written and produced by Lauryn Hill and she even sings background on it too. It’s a very dope song with a “I’m gonna have a good day” kinda vibe and the music video was something different from Mary too. She presents a whole new femininity side of her that wasn’t seen before. The whole time in the video, she’s dreaming of searching for her man by walking down the street vibing in her usual Mary vibe, singing and doing her little nods and rocking, then she’s all over billboards and street lights with these red balls flying around everywhere on Times Square-42nd Street, then she’s in a dress on an escalator going to the sky and then there’s skyscrapers, the sky and she’s walking on cloud 9 literally towards a man whose just standing there and then she wakes up bugged out about the dream and it ends. This video was in heavy rotation on MTV Jams back in 1999. “Sexy” is the second joint on the album featuring The Lox’s very own Jadakiss. This is the only song on the album with a hip hop vibe and the song takes inspiration from Michael Jackson’s 1979 joint “I Can’t Help It”, which is my all time favorite Michael Jackson song from his album “Off the Wall.” The song talks about making love. The third song “Deep Inside” and the second single released from this album, is a joint about Mary wanting acceptance for who she is and not the superstar. It was only right that Elton John appears playing piano on the song because the song samples from his song “Bennie and the Jets.” The music video was dope too. She’s on tour, she walks backstage and sees these “demons” everywhere. Then she’s walking down the street, drops her jacket and appears in an all white outfit with a fur vest. Then the best part is when she busts out into a dance sequence in all red with backup dancers to her underground hit “Sincerity” featuring Nas and DMX. That song can be found on the limited edition of this album. Then she sings the rest of “Deep Inside” and the video ends with “M-J-B” and a walk off. “Beautiful Ones” the fourth song on the album. I absolutely love the vibe of this song. Everything about it to the beat, the chorus and harmonies, that song I can say low key had a hip hop vibe too cause the beat has this bass in it that’s strong if you have the right speakers to listen to that joint. “I’m In Love”, the fifth song on the album and a remake that was originally done by The Gap Band. Mary puts her own raspy and rawness twist to it. If you have the original “Mary” album release, “Time” is the sixth joint but if you have the limited edition, it’s “As” a classic remake with George Michael and originally done by Stevie Wonder. The video is just George and Mary with their thousands of doppelgängers all over the club. “Time” is hands down my favorite joint on the album. To me this is Mary’s most conscious record. She talks about drugs and crime in the black communities all over America and preaches that people should stop the violence and come together but I can’t forget to mention how sick and wicked the beat is. It reminds of me bugs crawling, when you watch a beetle crawl just like in the cartoons, it has this sound effect and that’s what the beat reminds me of. “Memories”, the seventh joint, this is my second favorite on the album. The harmonies match the beat so well. Mary took her vocal stacking to the next level on this album to me and I get goosebumps. “Don’t Waste My Time”, the eighth joint featuring the Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin. Both Mary and Aretha battle it out on this song about a man whose wasting his woman’s time by being with her knowing that he still has feelings for another woman. “Not Lookin'”, the ninth joint featuring K-Ci Hailey of Jodeci. This is an awkward song because both Mary and K-Ci were together back in the early 90’s during her “What’s the 411?” and “My Life” days. Mary is basically telling him off about his “mack daddy” ways and avoids him trying to woo her and get back with her but she wasn’t having it. LOL! “Your Child”, the tenth joint and the third single. Mary tells a story about a man’s infidelity and having a baby by another woman and the music video was spot on perfect for the song. “No Happy Holidays”, the eleventh joint, Mary talks about being with a man who never spends his holidays with her. She spends the holidays alone while he’s out maybe with family. The twelfth joint, “The Love I Never Had”, Mary talks about having feelings for a man she can’t have. “Give Me You”, the thirteenth joint and final single. This was my favorite when I was younger but “Time” replaced it instead. This song is about Mary wanting her man to give her his all, meaning love and affection and not materialistic things. Michael Jordan appears in the music video and last but not least Mary’s remake of the classic “Let No Man Put Asunder.” What a great way to end the album with a classic 70’s dance track that was originally done by First Choice. To me, this album reflected a more sensitive side of Mary. She got rid of the “homegirl” attitude and hip hop sounds for the big ballads. I would rank this album maybe fifth or sixth on my first to last list of Mary J. Blige albums.

Written by Jay-Doggz