By the time What’s the 411?, Blige’s solo debut, arrived in summer 1992, that look signaled a departure from traditional R&B tropes and hip-hop’s growing influence on the genre. Entrusted with transforming Blige and cultivating her image as an artist, Combs, along with stylist Misa Hytlon-Brim, keyed in on her around-the-way girl tendencies and magnified them, outfitting Blige in street-approved designer wears, backward baseball caps, and baggy Girbaud jeans. Earning her first credits singing background for Uptown artist Father MC, Blige’s career as a soloist stalled before being paired with Sean “Puffy” Combs, a hot-shot A&R with a stylish flair and a pulse on what was hot in the streets and the clubs. Unbeknownst to Blige, a demo of the performance would be passed along to Jeff Redd, an artist and A&R at Uptown Records, who was taken aback by Blige’s vocal prowess.įacilitating a meeting with label president and CEO Andre Harrell, Redd’s efforts resulted In Blige inking a deal in 1989, becoming the youngest act on the roster and its first female R&B artist. The course of Blige’s future would forever be altered following a visit to the Galleria Mall, in White Plains, New York, where she sang a cover of Anita Baker’s “Caught up in the Rapture” in a recording booth on a whim. However, her roots in the rough-and-tumble Schlobohm Houses and a lack of connections within the music industry made her chance at attaining a music career an unlikely one. The same time she started taking part in side projects – recording duets with other singers and contributing to soundtracks.Raised in Yonkers, New York, Blige discovered her talent as a singer at seven years old, honing her skills with performances for local residents, friends, and family. Her autobiographical sophomore attempt My Life was released in 1994, being darker and less up-tempo then its predecessor. She immediately got down to her follow-up, while the remix album What's The 411? Remix spawned the interest to her debut work. In 1993, Blige was already christened as the Queen of hip-hop soul. However, in 1991, the Uptown Records started working over her debut album titled What's The 411? and next year the lead-single You Remind Me saw light.

She became the first female artist at the studio and mostly worked on back vocals for her mates, as the label mostly focused on the famous performers. Their representative met Mary and signed her to the label. Her mother's boyfriend took his attention to the cassette and though his hands it came to the Uptown Records. In 1988, she made a cover on Anita Baker's Rapture in a recording booth in the local shopping mall.

Mary Jane Blige was born on Januand grew up in New-York, the USA.

Mary j blige my life album