And what do u think of it so far?

some tracks are growing on me. I love Donm't Go, Friends, Special PArt of Me (girl was crying on that 1) and Ultimate Relationship (A.M.)

Love @ 1st Sight grew on me. When I first heard it I was turned off by the blatant sample of "Hot Sex." But I'm dancing to it now.

I also like Not Today w/Eve. and Willing and Waiting, it makes me feel good. I think it's because of the Atlantic Star sample: When Love Calls.

Again, I need to go back and listen to the whole album again.

I really enjoyed the DVD, watching them put the album together.

This album has definitely got to grow on me. I'm a little disappointed because her voice doesn't seem as stable as it used to. I'm also not too wild about all those damn samples she uses. The shit has kinda played out if you ask me. I know she mentioned something about doing without them out on the DVD...I wish she had.

okaypimpn said:

I agree with you. The samples are making it not wholely enjoyable. They're so blatant. Some I can get with, but I don't have the feeling of, "this is the sh*t," when I hear this album,like when I heard "Mary" and "No More Drama."

I mean "What's the 411" is one of favorite albums,but it's not 1992 anymore and Mary's not in her early 20's. I want her to continue to grow. I was afraid of this album when I heard she got back with Puff, then when I heard "Hooked" earlier this year, I was really nervous. I know "Hooked" was hype single, but I hate these "overt samples." Hell, it's not even a "sample;" it's the whole damn song!

On this album what makes the songs, to me, is her vocal delivery.

She consider Special Part Of Me & Ultimate Relationship her best songs from the album.

"Friends" was actualy based from a very crazy scary story. Read what she has to say about it: "Less clear is the ominous song "Friends," a tale of betrayal that never quite reveals its genesis. The story behind the song, according to Blige, is an experience reminiscent of that in "Stan," Eminem's memorable chronicle of an obsessive fan. "There was this prank caller that started bothering me around the 'My Life' album," she said. "When he first called, he was a fan. Then when he next called, somebody had told me he was a bad person, so I told him, 'Don't call me no more,' so the guy started cursing me out, and I started cursing him out, and we been cursing each other out for years. Meanwhile, this guy knew everywhere I was, all my business, he knew every car, every house I had.

"Turns out every friend I had, so-called, was calling him and telling him everywhere I was, trying to drive me crazy And you know how I found out? From the caller himself.

"He calls me, I call him, we check on each other — he's like my brother now. See how things turn around? He said, 'All those years, Mary, I never meant to hurt you, I love you, but your friends around you — I was trying to warn you that they was calling me so that I would hurt you.'"

As 4 the DVD? lol,,,

That was betta than Def Comedy Jam IMO, that was quite a good laugh.

shit must be Mary's favorite curse word

"That's the Shit!"

"That's some grits eatin shit right there"


Anyone have a count on how many times Mary said shit?

I can't stop laughing at Mary's cook. Every time I see that lady I laugh out loud. She look like a robot for real. And then I can just picture Mary checkin' her like someone else already said. LOL

You notice how Mary was talking at the dinner table, and Kendu whispered to someone "she likes giving interviews". I caught that the second time around. I was waiting for Mary to check him.

Saw how Mary was puffing out her cheeks like Dizzy Gilispe when her and Puff was arguing? She was holding back, but she still managed to tell him his mix sounds like shit, and it did. Noticed how Mary and Kendu stopped nodding their heads when Method's rap came on cause Puff mixed in some other insturements during his rap, it did not sound right.

The Floatry chics also came 2 the studio and wrote a joint 4 her too. It was cool!

Harlepolis said:

hey harley...give me your review of her cd?
this enquiring mind wants to know! (smile)

Ah, forget it. After "My Life" I lost all respect for the lady.

youngca said:

Its not really her best(musicaly) least not that groundbreaking like her BEST LP IMO(Mary-1999).

However, I can hear her happieness in her voice very clear crystal which is something I'm very pleased 2 hear(Mary lived a rough ass life). I don't wanna sound hypocrite or groupie-ish but in Mary's case, I don't really mind the sampling cuz unlike many artists she showcases the "sampled song" and bring something new and fresh out of it(Bottom line: she's smart when she uses samples).

Personaly, I pretty much enjoyed her spoken words tracks. The Jazzy & cheerful "Finally Made It" and the bonus track with the hypnotic funky feel "Soul Mates" which made me very impressed when I heard it, it has a very deep spiritual message.

What do you have from Mary btw?

NWF said:

I thought it should be the other way around. Cuz she was a stoned trick back in the day, heavy on them drugs and what not, adding the fact that she got into fights with everybody in that period of her life. On the other hand, right now she changed into mo' "positive" figure and people(esp women of all ages & races) are looking up 2 her as a great example of youth survival.

Harlepolis said:

i don't have any of her albums but i bought the first 2
for my niece and checked both albums out with her (when she
played them) mary j's a lot like lauryn she's improved
from her debut album to the present.

she's cool with me...the only reason i don't have any of her
records (cd's) in my collection is cuz i have so many other
artists i favor over her (man...my collection is out of orbit as it is) but my niece and i talk about her a lot and
she's the real authority of MAry J!

in fact next time she's comes by i'm gonna ask her what her
opinion of "love & life".

btw she's the one who hipped me to mary j's drug problems
and her boyfriend problem!

youngca said:

I understand how you overlook her stuff and its cool that you dig her.

But maaan, you ought 2 see her live so you would know why people are crazy about her. I saw her live back in 99 and she sang Dorothy Moore's "Misty Blue" I rarely cry but that night I sho nuff did. I love it when she says at the end of most of her concerts "You may hate me know, but ya'll gonna love me lata cuz I told ya'll the truth" simply becoz I think of my mother who says the same thang.

The reason why yo niece love her(how old is she btw?) is becoz she represent the youth and the struggle they go through(esp urban youth). Like L-Boogie, she talks about the struggle that we "youngsters" are faced with in the ghetto, streets and in life in general(They tell us the problems, causes and finally the soloutions) Mary is a living witness 4 the truth, like Tina Turner & Aretha Franklin, she's our day's survivor and we always look at her life and learn from it(at least some of us who have been through or going through the same bullshit like she did-Me 4 example).

For a start, I think you're gonna love her if you picked her 1999's release "Mary" which is considered 2 be her maturest effort ever. Lauryn Hill(as a producer) Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Elton John and her ex-boyfriend K-CI(from Jodici) appeared in the LP. I love her duet with K-CI in "I'm Not Looking" which is a REAL FIGHT going back and fourth between the 2 while singing,,,till she finish the song with her angry tone "I know you're sorry!". I strongly suggest you 2 pick that up. BTW George Benson & Roy Ayres played in her 97's release "Share My World" but I don't advice that 4 a start.

Harlepolis said:

I like it. There's some good stuff there.

I just got it, I have to let it sink in a bit before I can give a review...

I just picked it up today! $9.99 with bonus dvd.

Well..I think she finally made a good album all the way through. With the exception of "What's the 411". I'm on "It's A Wrap" and I like every track so far! I think it was that price that made me get it. :LOL: But it is really good!



[This message was edited Wed Aug 27 20:41:32 PDT 2003 by Chico319]

musicman said:

Exactly.