by Mary J. Blige: A Legend Admired by Her Peers
Mary J. Blige has been a dominant force in R&B and hip hop music for over three decades. Since bursting onto the scene in 1992 with her debut album What’s the 411?, Blige has won nine Grammys, sold over 80 million records worldwide, and influenced countless artists across multiple genres. With her raw emotion and unflinching honesty in her lyrics, Blige helped establish and define the hip hop soul subgenre.
It’s no surprise that many of today’s top celebrities greatly admire Blige and the impact she has had on music and culture. Her peers recognize her talent, resilience, and status as a trailblazer. While Blige may be considered a legend at this point in her career, she has also inspired many current artists finding their voice. Here are some of the biggest celebrity fans who have publicly praised Mary J. Blige over the years.
Dr. Dre
One of the first and most influential hip hop producers, Dr. Dre, has long been a fan and supporter of Mary J. Blige. In a 2012 interview with Rolling Stone, Dre spoke about first working with Blige in the early 90s. He said “Mary had that pain and anguish in her voice that I loved. I knew she had the potential to be huge.” Dre went on to executive produce Blige’s breakthrough album What’s the 411? and helped launch her career into superstardom.
The respect between Dre and Blige remains strong to this day. In 2021, Dre hinted at the possibility of a future collaboration with Blige during an interview on the Drink Champs podcast. He said “I would love to do something with Mary J. Blige…I think that would be ill.” Given Dre’s impeccable track record of hits, a team-up with Blige would surely produce magic. Their history shows that Dre was one of the first in the industry to recognize Blige’s rare talent and give her a platform to truly shine.
Beyoncé
It’s no secret that Beyoncé greatly admires Mary J. Blige and considers her a major influence. In a 2013 interview with Vibe, Beyoncé said “Mary was the person that made me believe that you could be yourself—that you didn’t have to fit any mold. She really paved the way for all of us.” Beyoncé’s respect for Blige was on full display during their 2016 Formation World Tour. At each stop, Beyoncé brought Blige out as a special guest to perform “Drunk in Love” in a powerful duet.
In 2021, Beyoncé showed her fandom yet again by sampling Blige’s “My Life” on her song “Black Parade” from her visual album Black Is King. The sample selection was a full-circle moment, as Blige’s raw vulnerability on “My Life” helped pave the way for artists like Beyoncé to explore complex themes around Black identity and womanhood through music. It’s clear that Beyoncé sees Blige as the blueprint she followed to become the global superstar and cultural icon she is today.
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys is another artist who has cited Mary J. Blige as a pivotal influence, especially early in her career. In a 2017 interview with Billboard, Keys said “Mary J. Blige was somebody who showed me it was okay to be vulnerable, it was okay to cry through my music, it was okay to tell my story in the rawest, realest way.” Keys went on to say that Blige “set the bar for realness and authenticity.” This influence is evident in Keys’ own soul-baring lyrics and emotive performances over the years.
The admiration is mutual, as Blige has praised Keys in return. In a 2021 interview with Ebony, Blige said of Keys “She’s one of the best songwriters, she’s one of the best voices, she’s one of the best performers…She’s phenomenal.” Clearly there is deep respect between these two gifted singers who both bring vulnerability and truth to their art. Their bond shows how Blige’s blueprint of authenticity has been passed down to inspire new generations of artists.
Janelle Monáe
Avant-garde singer and actress Janelle Monáe has said Mary J. Blige was a pivotal artist who helped her find her voice early on. In a 2017 interview with Billboard, Monáe said “Mary J. Blige showed me that it was okay to be vulnerable through song. She showed me that it was okay to cry and be emotional through music…That gave me courage as a young Black girl finding my voice.”
Monáe’s respect for Blige was on full display when she joined Blige on stage during her 2018 Brooklyn concert. The two powerhouses performed “Just Fine” together in a showcase of sisterly support between artists. Monáe represents a new generation carrying on Blige’s legacy of raw emotion and fearlessness in embracing one’s full self through music. Their bond shows how Blige’s influence continues inspiring new artists to break barriers.
Taraji P. Henson
Acclaimed actress Taraji P. Henson is another huge Mary J. Blige fan. In a 2021 interview with Ebony, Henson said of Blige “She is the greatest. Mary has a song for every emotion. When I’m happy, when I’m sad, when I’m going through a breakup, Mary has got it covered.” Henson clearly turns to Blige’s discography for solace and can relate deeply to the trials Blige has portrayed so honestly in her music over the decades.
Henson’s admiration for Blige goes back to her childhood. In a 2016 interview with Essence, Henson recalled “Mary J. Blige got me through so much in my life. I used to listen to her on my Walkman when I was a little girl going through things.” Now as an established actress, Henson continues championing Blige at every opportunity by praising her impact and status as a legend. Their connection shows how Blige’s music has been a source of strength and comfort for generations of fans.
Fantasia
Soulful American Idol winner Fantasia is another artist who cites Mary J. Blige as a pivotal influence and inspiration. In a 2021 interview with Ebony, Fantasia said “Mary J. Blige paved the way for me and so many other artists to be ourselves and tell our stories through our art.” She went on to say “Mary showed us it was okay to be vulnerable and real in our music. I’ll always be grateful for the doors she opened.”
Fantasia’s respect and admiration for Blige was clear when she joined her on stage during Blige’s 2018 Brooklyn concert for a show-stopping duet of “I’m Going Down.” Their powerful vocals blended together in a showcase of sisterhood and passing of the torch between generations. Fantasia represents the next wave of artists embracing raw emotion in R&B thanks to the blueprint laid by Blige so many years ago.
In Summary
Mary J. Blige’s decades-long impact on music and culture is immense. Across genres from hip hop to pop, R&B to rock, countless major artists today openly admire Blige and consider her a pivotal influence in their own careers and artistry. Whether through vulnerability in lyrics, showcasing emotion in live performances, or embracing one’s full self through music, Blige’s indelible mark is evident.
Her peers recognize Blige as a true legend who paved the way and set the standard for authenticity. Most inspiring of all is seeing new generations of artists, from Beyoncé to Janelle Monáe to Fantasia, carry Blige’s torch of fearless self-expression proudly into the future through their own work. Blige’s influence will surely continue inspiring artists for generations to come.
Thử lại
Claude-Instant-100k
