Talk:Mary J. Blige

Childhood

Why is there no mention of her being raised and from yonkers? she may have been born in the bronx, just like most of the people in yonkers, but she didnt live there for lonmg, she grew up in the slowbams projects, a block away from my home. also, the mention of her first recording at a local mall should be clarified to include that the mall was the Galleria in white plains. mjb solely represents yonkers and ive never heard her mention the bronx, so i dont understnad why this is here.

Her birthplace MUST to be mentioned in the box to the right, underneath her picture. When trying to find out information about anyone the facts of where a person was raised is important, as well as where they were born. I am not sure when this was posted but there is much mention of her Yorker background, and upbringing in Yorkers. mke 06:04, 11 October 2007 (UTC)mke 10/11/07

NEW PICTURE

THANK YOU!

Speaking of pictures, 11 is excessive. START THE CUT DOWN! TheKillerAngel 23:28, 6 May 2006 (UTC)

Problematic

I felt the line "one of the most popular rappers of the time" was problematic. I "Found my Everything" is the most beautiful song I've ever heard and when ever I get married hopefully Mary can be the one to sing that song to me and my baby who's my everything.

  Anyone care about that last sentence? No? Good.

POV

Since Mary J. Blige released her debut in 1992, Blige has led a new path and ground for female artists to follow. Her mixture of hip-hop beats, street sensibility, soulful vocals and glamorous sophistication helped create what became known as "ghetto fabulous". It also resulted in Combs naming her "The Queen of Hip-hop soul" after her first album came out and though she wasn't the first female to mix hip-hop and soul (singers like Mi'chelle and Alyson Williams preceded her in that regard), few can dispute she holds that title. Blige also was instrumental in building up the careers of the following: Sean Combs, who was virtually unknown before hooking up with Blige; his protege, rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who was featured on the hit remake to Blige's "Real Love" and was in fact Biggie's first record before releasing his own "Party & Bullshit" from the "Who's Da Man?" soundtrack; rapper Busta Rhymes, who rapped on Blige's debut; and R&B singer-songwriter Faith Evans, who co-composed several songs on the My Life album, to name a few. She also was an influence on younger R&B singers including Aaliyah, Beyonce, Amerie, Alicia Keys, Lil' Mo, Nicole Wray, Ashanti, Tweet, P!nk, Lauryn Hill and Keyshia Cole to name a few. Blige's music has also been an inspiration for people living in the ghetto and includes both male and female listeners who have found salvation in Blige's music. Blige, in turn, calls her fans her inspiration for the music she makes.

This section is definitely not neutral. For one, it could be argued that "Blige" and musicians like her actually keep people in the ghettos, rather than providing "inspiration". This seems like a marketing ploy. --NoPetrol 07:05, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

New picture on article

I have to say that I preferred the old picture more. It was a better promotional image. — DtownG 19:22, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

We can't make a fair use claim for copyright images if we have free ones unfortunately. Arniep 00:51, 25 February 2006 (UTC)

Still, we should use the old one. They use this promo photo on several sites. User:Tigermichal

Age

According to http://www.birthdatabase.com/, if you type in "Mary Blige," it says she was born January 11, 1970. 69.249.118.231 04:44, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

On ussearch.com every listing for a Mary J. Blige is 36. What year did she start high school? If it's the class of 1988 then she was definitely born in 1970. It also says 1970 on imdb. [1]--Fallout boy 01:57, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

Her actual birthdate is 1/11/71. IMDB is known for having errors and I wouldn't be so quick to trust ussearch.com because there is no way to know which of those names actually belong to the artist. 1971 is the common year used in 99% of all press info. If you do a simple Google search for her birthdate 1971 is what you will find. You may want to check out her artist profile on Rock On The Net [2] and/or All Music Guide [3].

Also I don't understand what you mean about her starting high school. If her birth year was as you stated, 1970, she would have been 18 in 1988 and no one starts high school at 18 years old. She dropped out of high school around age 16/17. -- Germier 01:06, 17 March 2006 (UTC)

I am fully aware that she did not graduate from high school. I said if she started high school in the class of 1988. Classes are named by the year they graduate. So if she started high school in the class of 1988, she would've started in 1984. As for ussearch, we may not know if that is her. But on birthdatabase.com, which uses the same records, they have her under the same name with the same birthdate. How many Mary J. Bliges were born on January 11 in NY are there? Just because something shows up on google doesn't make it fact (see argumentum ad populum). Most of the sites that come up on Google just copy their information from one another. As for Rock On The Net and allmusic.com, they are of questionable authoritiveness (I've never even heard of the former before).Fallout boy 22:07, 17 March 2006 (UTC)

All i'll say is read up on the artist more and also check for her older sister's, LaTonya Blige-DeCosta, birthday you'll find it's January 12, 1970. Also just because you've never heard of something means nothing. Again read up on the artist more.--Germier 17:28, 17 March 2006 (UTC)

That doesn't prove that Mary J. Blige was born in 1971. That could just as easily prove that LaTonya's birthday is also wrong.--Fallout boy 22:45, 17 March 2006 (UTC)

Guys! Let's keep it friendly! --139.30.17.26 18:17, 6 May 2006 (UTC)

The year of graduation/starting HS does not prove birth year. You assume graduation at 18, but some start school when they are 5 and graduate when they are 17. Rlevse 12:33, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

I never said it proved birth year, but it does strongly support it. 99.9% start when they are five. There is also only one source that says her sister was the one born in 1970.[4] Since when have we used CelebrityWonder.com as a definitive source?--Fallout boy 08:53, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

The Notable Names Database (NNDB) and Birthdatabase.com born agree that Mary J. Blige was born on January 11, 1970. Hotwine8 00:43, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

• According to birth records, Blige was born in 1971. Even NNDB backs this up.LAUGH90 (talk) 04:55, 18 June 2008 (UTC)

Hotwiki's Edits

I reversed your edits because it's repetitious to put the years next to the album headers, as they are mentioned in the text — also, the No More Drama rerelease cover is applicable to be included, as it's considered by Billboard to be its own album. — DtownG 8:54, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

First, the article don't need too much images since the section of No More Drama is so short. Second, years should be added, look at the articles of big stars.--Hotwiki 13:29, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

Ukrainian Connection

Is she a fan of Yulia Tymoshenko?

Is Yulia Tymoshenko a fan of Rosa Parks? Mjbjosh 00:30, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

Brook

Where should info about her alter-ego, “Brook” (Brook-Lyn) go? (Brook was introduced in The Breakthrough and (visually) in the “Touch It Remix” video from Busta Rhymes) --Jaybeeunix 17:33, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

The picture

That "NFL kick off" picture is quite tacky. The album cover is a better image of MJB. Can we please just let that one be OR replace it with one more suitable? --FireIce 19:19, 19 March 2006 (UTC)

if free images are availiable they should go at the top of articles. Arniep 00:24, 20 March 2006 (UTC)

I agree. That "free image" is awful. It's a far away shot, with her face partly covered by a mic and other bodies in frame. The beginning picture on an article SHOULD be a publicity photo, not a performance shot. As long as the uploader credited the source and used the proper licensing, I don't see a problem. I think this is just an ego thing. This person wants THEIR picture used. - Incognito9810 23:35, 19 March 2006 (UTC)

nope, if free images are availiable they should always be used at the top of articles. Arniep 09:50, 20 March 2006 (UTC)

If anyone would like a new image for the header, it must be under a free license. One of the requirements of being a fair use is that there is no free alternative (which is also on the image tag: "It is believed that the use of some such photographs to illustrate the person, product, event, or subject in question in the absence of a free alternative qualifies as a fair use"). Besides, I'd rather see a real image of her, rather than one that's been extensively photoshopped and airbrushed.--Fallout boy 09:57, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

Vocal Range

The ability to go to A5 does not make the singer a soprano. I don't think Ms. Blige is a Soprano, I would say Mezzo.--81.129.76.218 17:18, 26 July 2006 (UTC) I think that as of 2008 Mary J. Blige is a soprano. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.241.246.49 (talk) 21:54, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

Excellent

I just wanted tell everyone that worked on this page that you all did an excellent job. Obadiaha 01:27, 30 December 2006 (UTC)

Runaway Love

Should she be credited somehow for her vocals in Ludacris' new single. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.136.68.213 (talk) 23:38, 30 January 2007 (UTC).

"Facts" section needs to be removed

This section should not exist - it is not in accordance with Wikipedia's style standards. The information in it should be deleted if trivial or moved to other sections in the article. -- John Broughton (☎☎) 16:48, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

Sean Paul?

In Sean Paul's song We Be Burnin' (the explicit version) one of the lines is "some got gold and oil and diamonds, all we got is Mary J." The song is about legalizing marijuana. Is this a reference to Mary J. Blige and if so, what does it mean?

... OHHH! I get it now, Mary J... marij... uana... marijuana... Mary J... sorry I'm a little slow took me a couple weeks to get that. Never mind this! 72.75.72.225 19:28, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Abusive Relationship

Why didn't you guys put in a piece of info about Mary in the abusive relationship w/ the dude outta KC n Jo-Jo? I feel like that info is what makes people realize that it makes her an even more exceptionally strong woman. Everyone knows the dude use to be beating her ass so why ya'll ain't post it in her page? 15:18, 15 March 2007 (UTC)15:18, 15 March 2007 (UTC)15:18, 15 March 2007 (UTC)15:18, 15 March 2007 (UTC)♥@$h13Y♥15:18, 15 March 2007 (UTC)15:18, 15 March 2007 (UTC)15:18, 15 March 2007 (UTC)15:18, 15 March 2007 (UTC)~~

Mary is definitely an ALTO!!

for da people that says Mary is a soprano u are wrong. Mary is definitely an alto. Although she is very talented her range is very minimum. When she does sing high she uses her falsetto. Everything else she sings is in her low register. There is not one song that I've heard that would classify Mary as a soprano. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Cchllover (talk • contribs) 05:52, 23 March 2007 (UTC).

Well, her voice has gotten deep as she got older. Take for instance "Im Goin Down", that song is definatly a soprano (IMHO). Even "Real Love" is a low soprano song. Only her most recent songs like "Be Without You" are alto (without her stretching). Jgcarter 01:38, 23 October 2007 (UTC)

Acting

I think it should have been mentioned that Mary is staring in the lead role in the new movie coming out in the 2007 year, based off of Dr.Nina Simone's autobiography, "I Put A Spell On You." Which is going to be phenomenal, especially to me considering Mary is my favorite R&B singer and Nina is my favorite Jazz singer. -Rakash Singh April 13,2007

not an encyclopedia entry

Some of this stuff e.g. saying how she will be in the charts fo years to come is not suitable for wiki

Not sure about comparing her to soul greats

No comment has been made about her poor pitching. She seems to be lauded as an incredible singer, but does not pitch well and often oversings songs which causes her voice to crack or for her to waver off the melody. I think a less biased opionion of her singing should be added - she certainly is not a great singer. Robojam 20:09, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

As no comment was made on my comment, I edited the page to change "one of the most accomplished artists" to "one of the most popular artists", as the original was opinion that is not backed up by her singing ability.Robojam 16:00, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:B000BNTM32.01. SCLZZZZZZZ .jpg

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Fair use rationale for Image:Blige-my-life.jpg

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Fair use rationale for Image:Love&life.jpg

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Background section make no sense

The section opens saying that she was born in Yonkers, and goes on to say that her family moved to Yonkers. Her birthplace was stated in neighboring the Bronx. Perhaps her family lived there for a short period of time, before moving to Yonkers. Either way, I do not know the answer, but this section makes no sense. She can't move to a place she already lives. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Miaeba (talk • contribs) 06:06, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

Pronunciation

What is the correct pronunciation of Ms. Blige's last name? Bly? Blizh? Blije? This would be good info for the top of the page. Thanx, LorenzoB 19:06, 22 October 2007 (UTC)

Her last name is pronoced blijel. Hope that helps! Jgcarter 01:34, 23 October 2007 (UTC)

according to [[5]] it is bl eye zh. 09:36, 27 October 2007 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.34.102.247 (talk)

Please put the IPA next to her name at the top of the article. Jidanni (talk) 00:19, 6 September 2008 (UTC)

Shakebra Ghee

Under the Growing Pains area of this article, it mentions a writer named Shakebra Ghee. After an exhaustive Google search, I have turned up nothing on her except for a myspace page, that sources this wikipedia page as proof of songs this person has written. I am going to be taking all reference to her out of this article until I can figure out if this person is even notable. ≈Alessandro ♫ ^{T • C} 21:32, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

Long Slow Edit War

Can someone explain to me the argument that seems to be going on among a group of anonymous IPs? The infobox keeps getting changed to add and removed various forms of hip-hop in it, including things like "hip-hop gospel" and "hip-hop soul". I wouldn't recognize a Mary J. Blige tune if you put it on my stereo full-blast, so I don't understand the controversy.Kww (talk) 14:44, 3 January 2008 (UTC)

Quite true. This whole junkheap of comments, (well, some are within reason).. show too many fans and too little actual research. Question to the others here: What are you working toward? What in wikipedia do you seek to accomplish? Those who have far too much time on their hands, please, contribute references with NPOV if you wish to see real information in wikipedia's pages. If your work is worth anything, I'd assume you'd want credit for it. --leahtwosaints (talk) 16:22, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

That Picture

That picture of Mary on her main page needs to be change, Mary has hundreds of pictures that are better.Please change that one! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.163.248.181 (talk) 14:34, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

Her sales

People need to stop writing in here that she is one of the best selling female artists of all time, she is not even close, so unless you have a very reliable source, then don't write that. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 200.6.237.16 (talk) 04:02, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

Mary J and Blue Suede Shoes

This is interesting. In 2002: 'Hip-hop-soul diva Mary J. Blige faced a torrent of criticism after singing "Blue Suede Shoes" during a Presley medley on VH1's "Divas Live" special. "I prayed about it (performing the song) because I know Elvis was a racist [emphasis added]," Blige said later. "But that was just a song VH1 asked me to sing. It meant nothing to me. I didn't wear an Elvis flag. I didn't represent Elvis that day. I was just doing my job like everybody else."' Source: [6]

Has this been discussed by anyone here? Seems quite a significant event in her life that year. And controversial, not least because way back in 1957, black journalists at Jet magazine investigated the "Elvis is a racist" rumor, but only found the opposite - that Elvis judged people "regardless of race, color or creed." It must be a bit embarrassing for Mary (and her critics) to have made such a remark based on discredited rumors. I hope that's not why this incident doesn't appear to be mentioned. See How Did Elvis Get Turned Into a Racist? for more details, and apologies if this has been covered before. Rikstar (talk) 14:48, 3 December 2008 (UTC)

I think it is remarkable that she was singing "Blue suede shoes" anyway even when she thought Elvis was a racist. If she had such opinion it would have been consequent not to perform songs connected with Presley especially when the composer of the song -Carl Perkins- has a similiar background like Elvis. She only "remembered" that Presley was racistic after she got critized massively. I am from Germany and her lame excuse But that was just a song VH1 asked me to sing. It meant nothing to me. I didn't wear an Elvis flag. I didn't represent Elvis that day. I was just doing my job like everybody else reminded me of german film stars who performed between 1933 and 1945 for the Nazi film industry telling similiar stories. Of course these people could get drafted and get killed in a war they might not believe in, the Nazis could prohibite that they act or sing or send them or their friends and family into Conzentration Camps at worst. So at least not all of them were opportunists but only afraid (who would not be afraid?). But there is no such excuse for Blige. The only question is: Is she a opportunist, a racist or a combination of both? 87.162.32.54 (talk) 21:25, 3 December 2008 (UTC) Franco, Deutschland

I think that would be completely irrelevant to the article as you can't prove either theory. Since there aren't archives nor past discussions on this talk page, from what I see, I don't believe it was discussed before, Rikstar. DiverseMentality 22:20, 3 December 2008 (UTC)

her behavior speaks for itself. That is proof enough and no theory. I think it could be included in the article since it found its way in the Presley article. You don't have to use my harsh words but leaving it out looks like white-washing. You can say many negative things about the Presley article in wikipedia. But at least no one will be guilty of white washing over there. 87.162.32.54 (talk) 00:06, 4 December 2008 (UTC) Franco, Deutschland

Adding to the article that Blige is an opportunist or racist violates our BLP policy. According to her quote, she is neither an opportunist or racist, she says Elvis was racist. DiverseMentality 00:15, 4 December 2008 (UTC)

maybe my english is not good enough. Here is a second try: There is some controversy about the behavior of Mrs Blige. Calling someone a racist who never were a racist, never will be (because he is dead) but was the opposite instead is worth mentioning. That she is either a opportunist or a racist is my personal opinion and seems logical but I did not tell you to write this down. I asked only that it should be worth mentioning that she accused Elvis Presley of being a racist that he never was and that it is a proven fact that he was no racist. If you don't want to include this I like to know why.

Is that clear enough?