My Life (Mary J. Blige album)

Following the success of her debut album, ''What's the 411?, and a remixed version in 1993, Blige went into the recording studio in the winter of 1993 to record her second album, My Life. Producer Chucky Thompson was brought in and had originally been contracted to produce one song and an interlude for the project. In the middle of recording My Life'', Combs suggested covering Rose Royce's 1977 hit "I'm Going Down", which he wanted Alexander to handle the session. However, the two butted heads over production credit issues, as Combs wanted to give credit to himself and Thompson, although neither were present for the song's recording session. In this period, Blige would once again dominate the charts with her singles: the Top 40 hit "Be Happy", a cover version of "I'm Goin' Down" and "You Bring Me Joy". The album uses primary soul samples from R&B musicians such as Curtis Mayfield, Roy Ayers, Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass, Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Rick James, and his protégés, the Mary Jane Girls. == Critical reception ==

NME wrote that the beats "reign supreme" and commended Blige for "telling her audience she grew up the same way they did, listened to the same things, was influenced by the same situations." In a mixed review, Jonathan Bernstein of Spin found most of the songs too "ordinary" and felt that Blige's compositions "give her space to stretch out and emote, but for all the melody they possess they might as well be breathing exercises." Connie Johnson was more critical in the Los Angeles Times, finding it "drab" and devoid of attitude from Blige, who "doesn't add her own hard-core signature to any significant degree". 281 on a 2012 revised list, and 126 on a 2020 list. In 2006, the record was included in Times 100 greatest albums of all-time list. Most recently, the album was recognized by Apple Music as the 86th best album of all time in 2024 on the Apple Music 100 Best Albums list. == Accolades ==

My Life debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart, and eventually peaked at number seven. The album also debuted at number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and it spent a total of eight weeks at the top of that chart. The album would ultimately go on to spend 46 weeks on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart and 84 weeks on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album also charted in Canada peaking at number 37 on the Canadian Albums Chart, and at number 59 on the UK Albums Chart. On December 13, 1995, My Life was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of three million copies in the United States. ==Track listing==

Unless otherwise indicated, Information is taken from the Album's Liner Notes. Notes • signifies a co-producer ;Sample credits • "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" contains an interpolation of "All Night Long" by Mary Jane Girls • "K. Murray Interlude" music also used for "Who Shot Ya?" by The Notorious B.I.G. and "Speak to My Heart" by New York Restoration Choir with Donnie McClurkin • "I Love You" contains a sample of "Ike's Mood I" by Isaac Hayes • "No One Else" contains a sample of "Free At Last" by Al Green • "No One Else" also contains a vocal sample of "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick • "Be Happy" contains a sample of "You're So Good to Me" by Curtis Mayfield • "Be Happy" also contains a sample of "I Want You" by Marvin Gaye == Personnel ==

Unless otherwise indicated, Information is taken from the Album's liner notes • Mary J. Blige – vocals (1–2, 4, 10–12, 15, lead on 3, 5, 7–9, 13–14, 16–17), background vocals (8–9, additional on 14, 16) • Andre Harrell – executive producer • Big Bub – additional background vocals (14) • Bassy Bob Brockmann – strings, additional keyboards (1), digital music programming (1, 3), recording engineer (3–5, 8–9, 11–12, 15), mixing (1, 3–4, 6, 8, 11–12) • Bruce Purse – trumpet (10) • Prince Charles Alexander – flute, piccolo flute, tenor saxophone (10), recording engineer (5, 7, 10, 15, 17), mixing (7, 10, 17) • Chucky Thompson – keyboards (9, additional on 8), instruments (4, 11–13, all other on 9, additional on 2–3, 5, 7, 14–15, 17) • Mr. Dalvin – arranger, additional instruments (16) • Darryl Pearson – additional bass (16) • Debra Young – production coordination • Diane Monroe – violin (10) • Eileen Folson – cello (10) • Faith Evans – background vocals (8–9, additional on 14) • Frank Colon – percussion (10) • Fred McFarlane – additional keyboards (10) • Gloria Agostini – harp (10) • Herb Middleton – keyboards (8, additional on 9), all other instruments (8) • Herb Powers – mastering • JoDee Stringham – design • JoJo Hailey – background vocals (3, 8) • K-Ci Hailey – arranger, background vocals (8), background vocals (16) • Keenya Mauldin – hair stylist • Keith Murray – vocals (6) • Kevin "K-Dog" Johnson – drums (10) • Latonya J. Blige – background vocals (3, 5, 13, 17, additional on 7) • Lenny Underwood – piano (10) • Lesa Terry – violin (10) • Mark "Led" Ledford – trumpet (10) • Nasheim Myrick – recording engineer (1, 3–7, 9, 11–15, 17), music programming (3) • Paul Pesco – guitar (10) • Rashad Smith – additional music programming (7) • Regina Carter – violin (10) • Rich Travali – recording engineer (2, 9) • Rob Paustian – recording engineer (15–16), mixing (16) • Sam Fine – make-up • Sante D'Orazio – photography • Sean "Puffy" Combs – executive producer • Sybil Pennix – stylist • Tim Dawg – associate executive producer • Tony Maserati – recording engineer (1, 5–7, 9, 11, 13–15), mixing (2, 5, 7, 9, 13–15, 17) • Victor Bailey – bass (10) • Vincent Henry – alto saxophone (10) ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications==