Danyel Smith

Author of Shine Bright: A Personal History of Black Women in Pop・@danamo

Photo Courtesy of Danyel Smith

What to say about Mary J.? 

Let’s go backwards from The London Sessions, to we-got-hood-love to roses and smoke and feeling like a woman. Let’s Breakthrough, before the white-tank, shoulders-back neighborhood princess stance of Love & Life. And please fast-forward past “No More Drama,” because we gon’ play these crazy games, we gonna keep it moving, we gonna show our scars and sing about that child you have with that girl you lied to — smh forget it. We are “Just Fine,” right? We’ve done enough crying. But if we are traveling back to those wild ‘90s days, Mary’s chilling behind her sunglasses like on the cover of Share My World. She’s wearing herself out by wearing and carrying that toughness daily. She’s telling us that she’s “not gon’ shed no tears,” but her leather cap is pulled so low we can barely see her eyes. Because even though Mary is introducing herself — debuting — and announcing that all she really wants is to be happy, Mary is still wary. She doesn’t yet know her journey. Or how her life will be our life. 

What to say about Mary J.? What, truly, is the 4-1-1? Well, for one thing, Mary J. Blige doesn’t actually go backwards. Mary stays taking out this time, to give us a piece of her mind.

Danyel Smith