Video: Mary J. Blige Live on Letterman
Confession: Mary sounded so good in this performance we thought she was lip-synching. Yes we’re ashamed, but in our defense y’all know when she performs she puts you THROUGH it. This was so calm, so smooth. A lot of people say they liked MJB better when she was singing about the pain/cocaine in her life but isn’t everyone entitled to a little happiness? Call us saps but we’re all about the happy Mary. Especially when it means she looks and sounds this good. The performance is just one of many songs she performed last night for her live webcast concert at the Ed Sullivan Theater. Also the gangster is still there! Did you see when she took her iced-out mic off the stage and sat on it during the interview?!?! You’re right Mary: can’t trust those late-night thieves for a second! -Judnick Mayard
CYRIOUSLY: The Future Is Now…
Hopefully by this point, readers have been able to take some of my postings with a grain of salt (and a gulp of Mountain Dew) because I have no intent on slowing down my mind flow and speaking freely. Cyrus x seriousssssly, man…so with that being said, I want to take a quick moment and focus on the future of R&B.
Mary J. Blige, “Brand New” MP3
Are we cynical for thinking the answer to Mary’s verse in this song is like, you guys should just break up? It’s about trying to put the spark back in a long-running relationship but sounds like Mary’s doing all the work. What about Kendu, though? This song is good anyway, the kind of love ballad MJB excels at.
Download: Mary J Blige, “Brand New” (via Miss Info)
Video: Mary J Blige, “I Am”
We think this is a sleeper hit—the chorus is so subtle and yet we can’t get it out of our heads. The video is a perfect match, with Mary acting like a normal lady living in a gigantic professionally decorated mansion with a dedicated string instrument room, just thinking about her man by the ocean. So basically exactly like our lives, see Mary is so popular because she makes things we can relate to. It’s true!
Mary J. Blige f. Trey Songz, “Got Hood Love” MP3
Songz may not appreciate Kellz, according to R anyway, but he certainly understands the value of a good Mary collabo… and he doesn’t do too bad! In fact, this paean to the dramatic ups and downs of hood love (and every other relationship) could be a contender for winter holed-up-with-Netflix anthem ‘09/’10. Which is saying something.
Download: Mary J. Blige f. Trey Songz, “Got Hood Love”
Mary J. Blige, “I Can See In Color”
“Precious,” a film that has already drummed up Oscar buzz for Mariah Carey, should have an equally epic soundtrack. Yall already know how Mary J. does when it comes pain on record.
Download: Mary J. Blige, “I Can See In Color”
Mary J. Blige, “Skycap” (prod by Timbaland)
This is by and far the most interesting thing Timbaland has done in years. Unless you coun’t throwing Jay-Z duds and them leaking them as interesting. Matter of fact, this is damn near a duet. Well, not actually, but Timbo does play the background nicely and we certainly aren’t mad at the distorted chorus in the background. Mary soars as always but this time she’s signing about it. Not sure why this didn’t make the last album, as it’s rumored to be from those sessions, but let’s hope she makes room on the next.
Download: Mary J. Blige, “Skycap”
Mary J. Blige, “Said And Done” (Prod by Ryan Leslie)
While many have seen fit to criticize Mary J. Blige’s recent, blindingly positive tilt as her career’s twilight, on “Said And Done” she sounds inspired if not beautifully pained in the image of the albums that cemented her place in music history. The single is a far cry from the adult contemporary of something like “Just Fine” or even the high school dance fishing of “The One (f. Drake),” but it might be that R. Les has the medium to make Mary large once again.
Download: Mary J. Blige, “Said And Done”
Mary J. Blige, “Stronger”
Judging from this video, basketball makes Mary J. Blige cry, and LeBron is the most emotional dude on the planet.
Drake’s Slow Jammy Jams
Here is another reason why Drake is going number one in your brainspace with a bullet: he can play the part of Wayne wingman or smooth dude your sister (or you) dreams about. Latest mixtape’s all girl stuff with a couple hot beats (”The Winner” by Tha Bizness, the dudes who did “My President is Black”), one chin-scratcher (”Juice”: too much “Tom’s Diner”!) and proof he can hold his own with a backdrop of R&B queens (Mary) and new jack dons (”Digital Girl RMX”). Tracklist after the jump.
Download: Drake, “Heartbreak Drake pt. 2 (R&Drizzy Edition)”
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