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October 5, 2011

Mary J. Blige has released the official album cover for her forthcoming album My Life II: The Journey Continues (Act 1). The album is slated for a November 21st release and is lead by first single “25/8".

[Edited 10/8/11 11:24am]

I love it.

Beat!!!

Now, if only the music would equal the album cover...

purplethunder3121 said:

Now, if only the music would equal the album cover...

Always has to be a hater in a thread...

getxxxx said:

purplethunder3121 said:

Now, if only the music would equal the album cover...

Always has to be a hater in a thread...

No, I like Mary's music. When I saw her in concert recently she blew me away with her vocals and energy. And I like this new LP cover. I just hope the quality on the new album is better than more recent offerings.

purplethunder3121 said:

getxxxx said:

Always has to be a hater in a thread...

No, I like Mary's music. When I saw her in concert recently she blew me away with her vocals and energy. And I like this new LP cover. I just hope the quality on the new album is better than more recent offerings.

nice clean up there

Rolling Stone revealed the tracks likely to make the final cut of Mary's tenth studio album are the Jerry Wonder-produced "Feel Inside" and "Beautiful Scars," a ballad by Diane Warren. Also describing the album as retro with lots of live instrumentation and soul samples.

Mary has also teamed back up for production from long time collaboraters Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Babyface.MTV.com revealed that the album titled My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1), will be released November 21, 2011.

The LP, recorded in Los Angeles and New York City, sees Mary looking toward the future while acknowledging the past. “From me to you, My Life II… Our journey together continues in this life,” explained Mary. “It’s a gift to be able to relate and identify with my fans at all times. This album is a reflection of the times and lives of people all around me.”

The album will aso feature production from Kanye West and The Underdogs.

I share Purlplethunder's skepticism; Mary hasn't released a fully listenable album since The Breakthrough. That said, the first single, "25/8" is a strong cut. I'm hoping the other tracks are equally good.

Ocotber 4, 2011 performance on ABC's DWTS.

[Edited 11/17/11 15:08pm]

I ADORE the hair but I'm not feeling that dress AT ALL! Its a little too Mahogany meets Apocalypto. Those feathers have got to go!

Identity said:

My Life II: The Journey Continues (Act 1).

Couldn't she have chosen a better title?! that sounds so pretentious.

SoulAlive said:

Identity said:

My Life II: The Journey Continues (Act 1).

Couldn't she have chosen a better title?! that sounds so pretentious.

I know. I HATE the title and the last time I thought she was actually GREAT was when she put out the "No More Drama" CD. Everything after that seems hit or miss with me. Mostly MISS though. I would have LOVED to have seen her release "I Can See in Color" as a single from the last album, but that didn't happen either.

[Edited 10/5/11 16:21pm]

SoulAlive said:

Identity said:

My Life II: The Journey Continues (Act 1).

Couldn't she have chosen a better title?! that sounds so pretentious.

Some artists' landmark albums (as My Life has been described as) are so strong that the artist feels they have to have something to match it. Mary is using this title to explain how far she's come, I guess, since she made that album 17 years ago. Least that's her main story.

purplethunder3121 said:

Now, if only the music would equal the album cover...

!!!!!!!!!!

Growing Pains was the last time I fucked with Mary on a full album. Stronger was a hot ass mess that somebody of her stature ought to be ashame of to even record as a joke. Someone To Love was a remake of a lame ass Diddy Money song and her version was even worse. 25/8 is so dated and the concept is just lame.

I'll download it only because even Mary at her worst can still drop a few pearls like Kitchen, Bad All By Myself, I Can See In Color, Willing and Waiting, Never Been & I Can Love You just to name a few from some whack albums. I just want her to move away from the hip hop stuff and just make music in the vein of Mary & Growing Pains which really serve as definitive albums.

Mary looks great on the album cover. Looking forward to hearing her new material! Hope its good.

All I know is the album better not have 200 rappers on it.

Timmy84 said:

SoulAlive said:

Couldn't she have chosen a better title?! that sounds so pretentious.

Some artists' landmark albums (as My Life has been described as) are so strong that the artist feels they have to have something to match it. Mary is using this title to explain how far she's come, I guess, since she made that album 17 years ago. Least that's her main story.

Shit, she should've learned from the first time she tried to make a sequel to My Life with 2003's Love & Life. I've come to the realization that the singles I've heard from this upcoming release just don't sound right. They are retreads...but we shall see! "25/8" was okay and "Someone To Love Me (Naked) had a nice beat, but it was BLAH! The thing that is shocking me with this title is the "Act 1" part...is a second part coming out? Sounds weird if you ask me.

As for the cover...beautiful, but I prefer the cover of this:

PlayboyOriginal said:

purplethunder3121 said:

Now, if only the music would equal the album cover...

!!!!!!!!!!

Growing Pains was the last time I fucked with Mary on a full album. Stronger was a hot ass mess that somebody of her stature ought to be ashame of to even record as a joke. Someone To Love was a remake of a lame ass Diddy Money song and her version was even worse. 25/8 is so dated and the concept is just lame.

I'll download it only because even Mary at her worst can still drop a few pearls like Kitchen, Bad All By Myself, I Can See In Color, Willing and Waiting, Never Been & I Can Love You just to name a few from some whack albums. I just want her to move away from the hip hop stuff and just make music in the vein of Mary & Growing Pains which really serve as definitive albums.

And that was a good album...better than The Breakthrough as it was experimental and more focused.

silverchild said:

Timmy84 said:

Some artists' landmark albums (as My Life has been described as) are so strong that the artist feels they have to have something to match it. Mary is using this title to explain how far she's come, I guess, since she made that album 17 years ago. Least that's her main story.

Shit, she should've learned from the first time she tried to make a sequel to My Life with 2003's Love & Life. I've come to the realization that the singles I've heard from this upcoming release just don't sound right. They are retreads...but we shall see! "25/8" was okay and "Someone To Love Me (Naked) had a nice beat, but it was BLAH! The thing that is shocking me with this title is the "Act 1" part...is a second part coming out? Sounds weird if you ask me.

As for the cover...beautiful, but I prefer the cover of this:

Yeah I'm not getting that at all lol

She actually did a performance of ALL the songs on "My Life". I watched her sing "Don't Go" and have to say I missed her singing in the low register! Hope she brings that back. I don't like the high register used ALL the fucking time. It's like "you're not Chaka woman!"

Indifferent.

Timmy84 said:

silverchild said:

Shit, she should've learned from the first time she tried to make a sequel to My Life with 2003's Love & Life. I've come to the realization that the singles I've heard from this upcoming release just don't sound right. They are retreads...but we shall see! "25/8" was okay and "Someone To Love Me (Naked) had a nice beat, but it was BLAH! The thing that is shocking me with this title is the "Act 1" part...is a second part coming out? Sounds weird if you ask me.

As for the cover...beautiful, but I prefer the cover of this:

Yeah I'm not getting that at all lol

She actually did a performance of ALL the songs on "My Life". I watched her sing "Don't Go" and have to say I missed her singing in the low register! Hope she brings that back. I don't like the high register used ALL the fucking time. It's like "you're not Chaka woman!"

Ok! When was this My Life performance and where can I find it?

silverchild said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah I'm not getting that at all lol

She actually did a performance of ALL the songs on "My Life". I watched her sing "Don't Go" and have to say I missed her singing in the low register! Hope she brings that back. I don't like the high register used ALL the fucking time. It's like "you're not Chaka woman!"

Ok! When was this My Life performance and where can I find it?

She did the album at the Filmore (I forgot what city lol):

KA-KAWWW!!

I love her but the title is a bit much/overkill.

It's a part 2 already, which is fine, but then it's got an individual title (The Journey Continues), but wait...it's just act 1 of that.

johnart said:

I love her but the title is a bit much/overkill.

It's a part 2 already, which is fine, but then it's got an individual title (The Journey Continues), but wait...it's just act 1 of that.

You gotta love her ambition lmao every title always gotta have an optimistic feel to them, not simpler titles like "What's the 411" or "My Life" or "Share My World" or "Mary" or even "No More Drama". "The Breakthrough" and "Growing Pains" were signs she was finally growing into the so-called "Aretha Franklin of the millennium". The "Stronger" album halted that momentum. Let's hope this don't continue the downward spiral.

Timmy84 said:

johnart said:

I love her but the title is a bit much/overkill.

It's a part 2 already, which is fine, but then it's got an individual title (The Journey Continues), but wait...it's just act 1 of that.

You gotta love her ambition lmao every title always gotta have an optimistic feel to them, not simpler titles like "What's the 411" or "My Life" or "Share My World" or "Mary" or even "No More Drama". "The Breakthrough" and "Growing Pains" were signs she was finally growing into the so-called "Aretha Franklin of the millennium". The "Stronger" album halted that momentum. Let's hope this don't continue the downward spiral.

Hope it doesnt too, but if it does, then we're in for a long ass ride if each step is gonna be divided into parts and sub-divided into acts.Lawd.

Wonder whats happening with the Nina Simone thing.

[Edited 10/5/11 21:55pm]

silverchild said:

Timmy84 said:

Some artists' landmark albums (as My Life has been described as) are so strong that the artist feels they have to have something to match it. Mary is using this title to explain how far she's come, I guess, since she made that album 17 years ago. Least that's her main story.

Shit, she should've learned from the first time she tried to make a sequel to My Life with 2003's Love & Life. I've come to the realization that the singles I've heard from this upcoming release just don't sound right. They are retreads...but we shall see! "25/8" was okay and "Someone To Love Me (Naked) had a nice beat, but it was BLAH! The thing that is shocking me with this title is the "Act 1" part...is a second part coming out? Sounds weird if you ask me.

As for the cover...beautiful, but I prefer the cover of this:

I prefer this cover. And I'm co-signing with Purplethunder. I'm listening for something good this time, I'm tired of mediocre music. I can't even name one song from that Stronger album, I forgot I had it.

johnart said:

Timmy84 said:

You gotta love her ambition lmao every title always gotta have an optimistic feel to them, not simpler titles like "What's the 411" or "My Life" or "Share My World" or "Mary" or even "No More Drama". "The Breakthrough" and "Growing Pains" were signs she was finally growing into the so-called "Aretha Franklin of the millennium". The "Stronger" album halted that momentum. Let's hope this don't continue the downward spiral.

Hope it doesnt too, but if it does, then we're in for a long ass ride if each step is gonna be divided into parts and sub-divided into acts.Lawd.

Wonder whats happening with the Nina Simone thing.

[Edited 10/5/11 21:55pm]

You never know? She could pull an Erykah Badu (i.e. New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)) on us and give us another "masterpiece" aside from the faulty decent single. It may be unexpected as hell...but this is MARY we're talking about! Her peak has come and gone. You never know!