by The Pen Behind the Voice: Mary J. Blige’s Songwriting Skills
When discussing Mary J. Blige’s illustrious career, the conversation often centers around her powerhouse vocals and ability to channel raw emotion through song. As one of the pioneers of hip hop soul who helped shape the genre, Blige is renowned worldwide as the “Queen of Hip Hop Soul” for her iconic hits and live performances. However, an aspect of her artistry that sometimes gets overlooked is her significant contributions as a songwriter on many of her biggest records. While she hasn’t written all of her songs, Blige has definitely put pen to paper on some memorable tracks over the years.
Early Collaborations
One of Blige’s earliest co-writing credits came on her breakout single “Be Happy” from her 1994 sophomore album My Life. The inspirational anthem about overcoming adversity featured writing contributions from Blige, Sean “Puffy” Combs, and Jeff Porter. Their collaboration resulted in one of Blige’s most iconic songs that resonated deeply with fans. Meanwhile, her writing partnership with producer Cory Rooney began with the smooth neo-soul track “More Than Love” from Case’s 1996 self-titled debut album. Blige helped craft the song’s emotive lyrics about longing for a lost love.
Expanding Her Creative Vision
In 1996, Blige surprised listeners by co-writing the soulful hip hop track “All That I Got Is You” for Ghostface Killah’s seminal album Ironman. Paired with one of the founding members of Wu-Tang Clan, the song showcased Blige flexing her writing talents outside the confines of traditional R&B. She collaborated on the lyrics with Ghostface Killah, RZA and Isaaah Theador, crafting an ode to loyalty and friendship over a jazzy sample. The unlikely but successful pairing of gangsta rap and melodic soul further demonstrated Blige’s eagerness to expand creatively.
Later Collaborations
As her career progressed, Blige continued lending her pen to projects outside her own albums. She co-wrote “Rainy Dayz” for Foxy Brown’s 1999 album Chyna Doll and “I Don’t Want To” for Angie Stone’s 1999 album Black Diamond. Blige also contributed to writing “Family Affair” for Sly & The Family Stone guitarist Sylvester Stewart in 2001. Throughout the 2000s, she co-wrote numerous tracks on her own albums like “No More Drama” and “Be Without You.” Blige’s writing partnerships with the likes of Raphael Saadiq and Jerry Wonda resulted in more of her signature soul-baring lyrics and melodies.
Songwriting Legacy
While Blige’s powerful voice and emotive performances remain her calling card, her contributions behind the scenes as a songwriter should not be overlooked. From her earliest collaborations to writing deep into her decades-long career, Blige has lent her pen to countless memorable songs across multiple genres. She seamlessly blends raw confessionals with catchy melodies. Blige’s songwriting skills have played a significant role in shaping hip hop soul as a genre and provided solace to millions of fans through her lyrics. Her impact extends far beyond just singing other artists’ words – Blige is truly an auteur of hip hop soul worthy of praise as both a vocalist and songwriter.
