Mary J. Blige

The Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, continues to entertain audiences while inspiring up-and-coming singers. Mary (born on January 11, 1971 in Yonkers, New York) was discovered thanks to a recording she made at a local mall. In 1988, she became the youngest - and first - female artist signed to Uptown Records. She spent her first few years on the label doing session work and received attention when she sang back-up vocals on the 1990 Father MC hit 'I'll Do 4 U.' She began to work on her debut album in 1991 with up-and-coming producer Sean 'Puff Daddy' Combs. The resulting album, What's the 411? was released on July 28, 1992 and spawned five singles, including the lead single 'You Remind Me' and 'Real Love.'

A turbulent personal life, including drug use and an abusive relationship influenced the darker tone of Mary's second album, 1994's My Life. During this time the singer worked on some outside projects including the duet with Method Man, 'I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need to Get By,' which won Mary her first Grammy and the Babyface composition 'Not Gon' Cry' which was featured on the soundtrack to Waiting to Exhale. Her next two albums, Share My World and Mary, were also commercial hits. The first single off of No More Drama, 'Family Affair' was Mary's first number one hit, spending six weeks at the top spot.

After a less-than-successful reunion with Sean Combs, Love & Life, Mary released her seventh album, the aptly-titled The Breakthrough, which sold 727,000 copies in its first week and won Mary three Grammys as well as a slew of other awards.  Her next release, 2007's Growing Pains sold 624,000 copies in its first week and won her two more Grammys. Growing up inspired by such singers as Patti Labelle and Aretha Franklin, Mary serves as an inspiration for such singers as Alicia Keys and Keyshia Cole, proving that Mary's song stylings are here to stay.