In 1992, Blige released her debut album What's The 411?. The album sold 3.4 million copies on the strength of singles You Remind Me, Real Love, Reminisce, Sweet Thing, and Love No Limit. The album pioneered a new genre known as Hip-Hop Soul and is credited with influencing the marriage of Hip-Hop and R&B.
In 1994, Blige released her sophomore album My Life. Blige wrote or co-wrote fourteen of the seventeen album tracks. Supported by singles Be Happy, Mary Jane (All Night Long), I'm Goin' Down, and You Bring Me Joy, the album sold over three million copies and was certified 3x platinum by the RIAA in 1996. It has since been included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Not Gon' Cry, a 1996 single written and produced by Babyface for Waiting To Exhale soundtrack (1995), peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Blige's highest charting single of the 1990s. The same year, Blige won her first Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for her performance on I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By by Method Man.
On April 22, 1997, Blige released her third album, Share My World on MCA Records. Blige cut ties with producers Sean Combs and Chucky Thompson and worked with the likes of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Rodney Jerkins, Babyface, R. Kelly, and Poke & Tone. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with sales of 240,000 copies, Blige's first to do so. Supported by singles Love Is All We Need, I Can Love You, Everything, Missing You, and Seven Days. Share My World was certified 3x platinum by the RIAA and sold nearly 4 million copies in U.S.
In Summer 1998, Blige embarked on the Share My World Tour, which resulted in a Gold-certified live album released later that year, simply titled The Tour. The album spawned one single, Misty Blue.
On August 17, 1999, Blige's fourth album, titled Mary was released. It marked a departure from her more familiar hip hop-oriented sound; this set featured a more earthy, whimsical, and adult contemporary-tinged collection of songs. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 239,000 copies in its first week. It spent 57 weeks on the chart and produced four charting singles: All That I Can Say, Deep Inside, Give Me You, and Your Child. Though not as successful as prior releases, the album still sold 2.1 million copies in the U.S. and was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Album.
On August 28, 2001, MCA released Blige's fifth studio album, No More Drama. The album's first single, Family Affair (produced by Dr. Dre) became her first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for six consecutive weeks. Two other singles, Dance For Me and No More Drama were released, with the latter becoming a Top 20 hit. On January 29, 2002, the album re-released and featured three new songs, one being Rainy Dayz, which was released as a single and became another Top 20 hit for Blige. No More Drama has since sold 3.2 million copies in the U.S. and 5 million copies worldwide.
In 2003, Blige won her second Grammy (and first as a lead artist) for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "He Think I Don't Know".
On August 26, 2003, Blige's sixth album Love & Life was released on Geffen Records (which had absorbed MCA Records.) Blige reunited with producer Sean Combs for the album. Despite the album debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and becoming Blige's fourth consecutive UK top ten album, Love & Life became Blige's then lowest selling album selling 1 million copies. Still, it was nominated for Grammy Best Contemporary R&B Album.
Geffen Records released Blige's seventh studio album, The Breakthrough on December 20, 2005. For the album, Blige collaborated with J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Rodney Jerkins, will.i.am, Bryan-Michael Cox, 9th Wonder, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Raphael Saadiq, Cool and Dre, and Dre & Vidal. It debuted at number one on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Selling 727,000 copies in its first week, it became the biggest first-week sales for an R&B solo female artist in SoundScan history. The official lead single, Be Without You peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, while peaking at number one on the R&B chart for a record-setting fifteen consecutive weeks. In March 2017, Billboard Magazine ranked "Be Without You" as the most successful R&B/Hip-Hop Song of all time. The song was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year and won the Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance categories at the 2007 Grammy Awards. Other singles included Top 40 Hit Enough Cryin, Top Five R&B song Take Me As I Am, and UK Top Three Hit One. The Breakthrough won the Grammy for Best R&B Album in 2007.
In December 2006, a compilation called Reflections (A Retrospective) was released. It contained many of Blige's greatest hits and four new songs, including the worldwide lead single We Ride (I See the Future). The album peaked at number nine in the U.S, selling over 170,000 copies in its first week, while reaching number forty in the UK. It has sold more than 1.6 million copies.
Blige's eighth studio album, Growing Pains, was released on December 18, 2007, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It sold 629,000 copies in its week and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. The album won Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album in 2009. It spawned the Top 40 Hit Just Fine.
Blige's ninth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear, was released on December 21, 2009, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 332,000 units in its first week of release. The album had sold 726,100 copies in the United States by April 2010, and was certified Gold by the RIAA on January 6, 2011.
Blige was honored at the 2009 BET Honors Ceremony and was paid tribute by Anita Baker and Monica.
Blige's tenth studio album, My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1), was released in November 2011. The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200, selling 156,000 copies in the first week; it was eventually certified Gold in 2012 and has sold 763,000 in the US.
A Mary Christmas, Blige's first holiday album, was released on October 15, 2013 through Matriarch and Verve Records. In early December, A Mary Christmas became Blige's 12th top ten album after it rose to #10 in its eighth week and was certified Gold by the RIAA.
Think Like A Man Too, which serves as Blige's 12th studio album, was released on June 17, 2014. On Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, the soundtrack album charted at number six, marking Blige's 16th top ten entry on the chart, tying her with Mariah Carey for the second-most top tens by a female artist.
Following her concert date at the Essence Festival, on July 9, 2014 it was announced Blige would move to London to experiment with a new sound for her new album. Blige spent a month in London recording her album in RAK Studios with a host of young British acts, including Disclosure, Naughty Boy, Emeli Sandé and Sam Smith. Twelve new songs, co-written and recorded by the singer, were released on November 24, 2014 on an album entitled The London Sessions. The album received acclaim and was included on many Best Albums of 2014 lists. The album debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 and number one on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, with 55,000 albums sold and 2,000 shifted in album-equivalent units. It became her 13th top ten entry on the Billboard 200 and her tenth number one entry on Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums.
Following a heavily publicized divorce from her husband and manager Kendu Isaacs, Blige released her thirteenth studio album Strength of a Woman on April 28, 2017. Supported by Urban AC hit singles Thick of It and U + Me (Love Lesson), Strength of a Woman debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 on the issue dated ending May 20, 2017, with 78,000 album-equivalent units, selling 72,000 standard copies in its first week. It became Blige's highest-charting album since 2009's Stronger with Each Tear, and her tenth top five entry on the chart.
In 2017, Blige starred in the period drama film Mudbound directed by Dee Rees. Playing Florence Jackson, the matriarch of her family. For her performance in Mudbound, Blige was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also received nominations for Best Original Song for Mighty River, becoming the first person nominated for an Academy Award for acting and original song in the same year.
On July 12, 2018, Blige released a new single, titled Only Love.
All My Love
Mary J. Blige Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Live ya life girl
(On the real-a, live ya life girl)
Love is all we need (said it's all we need)
'Cause everybody needs love
Love is all we need
If we try to live together and be happy
You and me are one
And we've only just begun
So let's make a new beginning and have some fun
Love is all we need (said it's all we need)
To make everything complete
All we need is L-O-V-E
Love is all we need (said it's all we need)
'Cause to love you would mean everything
'Cause everybody needs love
Dealing with tough times
Seems to always blow my mind
But I know where my heart is so I am fine
If we remain friends
It would never ever end
And this love I give to you you can depend on, love
Love is all we need (said it's all we need)
To make everything complete
All we need is L-O-V-E
Love is all we need (said it's all we need)
'Cause to love you would mean everything
'Cause everybody needs love
Love is all we need
To make every little thing complete, yeah yah
Oh, if you would trust in me
I would let you know, that I love
Love is all we need
Said I love you, said I love you
Oh Lord knows that we need it
Said we need it, said we need it
Love is all we need (oh said it's all we need)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Come on
'Cause everybody needs love
Feel this hit, bangin' in your residential district
Presidential chipped out canary rock sizzlin'
Mary hot pop crisp shorty got this
Fly angel, my dreams of a queen came true
In this land that's dark, if you my man, then you my heart
I'll blast for you, need bail put up the cash for you
Girls who mad loyal die for you
Leave 'em if they actin' too fly for you
All up in yo mix then in somebody else Six
Quick to put your name in some murder one shit
I'm not the one cheatin' on you, or beatin' on you
'Cause I'm laid back you thought that I was sleepin' on you
Real love make a ill thug feel bugged
Nas analyze are you trustworthy by the looks in your eyes
Stay wit' me, be my dog like Dollar and Richie
She convinced me, all we really need is love strict
(Love is all we need) you know love is all we need
To make everything complete
I wanna be happy, we can be happy
Don't you wanna be happy with me?
You and me are 2 in 1
And our lives have just begun
If we can love, we can love
'Cause everybody needs love
Love is all we need
Love is all we need
Oh we need, oh need yeah, we need love
Love is all we need
Ohh
'Cause everybody needs love
One love, one life
Live on, stay strong
Live ya life girl
'Cause everybody needs love (Mary)
The song Love Is All We Need by Mary J. Blige is a soulful and upbeat track that speaks about the importance of love in our lives. The lyrics emphasize the idea that love has the power to make everything complete and that it is necessary for us to live together in happiness. Mary J. Blige's powerful vocals resonate with the listener, reminding us that love should be at the center of our lives.
The song begins with Mary J. Blige encouraging listeners to live their lives to the fullest. She then goes on to say that love is all we need and that it is something that every person requires. The lyrics suggest that if we try to live together and be happy, we will find fulfillment and meaning in our lives. Mary J. Blige acknowledges that life is tough at times, but if we remain friends and depend on each other for love and support, we can overcome anything.
Overall, the song Love Is All We Need is a powerful reminder of the importance of love in our lives. It encourages us to live in harmony with others and to find joy in one another. Mary J. Blige's uplifting and soulful vocals inspire listeners to believe that love truly is all we need to find happiness and fulfillment in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Live ya life girl
Be true to yourself and live your life the way you want to.
(On the real-a, live ya life girl)
Seriously, live your life authentically.
Love is all we need (said it's all we need)
The only thing we need to make our lives complete is love.
'Cause everybody needs love
Everyone needs love in their life to feel fulfilled.
To make everything complete
Love is the final piece of the puzzle that makes our lives whole.
If we try to live together and be happy
If we work together and strive for happiness, we can achieve it.
You and me are one
We are a team, and we will always be there for each other.
And we've only just begun
Our relationship is just starting, and there's a long journey ahead.
So let's make a new beginning and have some fun
We should start fresh and enjoy the excitement of something new.
All we need is L-O-V-E
Love is the four-letter word that encompasses everything we need.
'Cause to love you would mean everything
Loving you is the most important thing to me, and it would complete my life.
Dealing with tough times
Going through difficult situations.
Seems to always blow my mind
It's very challenging and always overwhelming.
But I know where my heart is so I am fine
I am okay because I know what I truly care about.
If we remain friends
If we keep our friendship strong and keep supporting each other.
It would never ever end
Our friendship will last forever, and nothing will break it apart.
And this love I give to you you can depend on, love
My love and support for you will never waver, and you can always rely on me.
If you would trust in me
If you had faith in me and believed in me.
I would let you know, that I love
I would express my love for you and make sure you knew how much you mean to me.
Feel this hit, bangin' in your residential district
This music is so good that you can feel the beat in your neighborhood.
Presidential chipped out canary rock sizzlin'
Mary is wearing expensive, high-quality diamonds that are shining bright.
Mary hot pop crisp shorty got this
Mary is confident and knows she's got it going on.
Fly angel, my dreams of a queen came true
Mary is the perfect woman for Nas, and he feels lucky to be with her.
In this land that's dark, if you my man, then you my heart
In this tough world, if you are my partner, then you hold a special place in my heart.
I'll blast for you, need bail put up the cash for you
I'll always have your back and support you, even in difficult situations where you need help.
Girls who mad loyal die for you
Girls who are fiercely loyal will do anything for you.
Leave 'em if they actin' too fly for you
If someone is acting too good for you and disregarding your feelings, it's time to move on.
All up in yo mix then in somebody else Six
If someone is messing with your business and getting involved in someone else's business, they can't really be trusted.
Quick to put your name in some murder one shit
People who are unreliable are quick to spread rumors or allegations that could hurt you.
I'm not the one cheatin' on you, or beatin' on you
I am honest and loyal to you, and I would never hurt you physically or emotionally.
'Cause I'm laid back you thought that I was sleepin' on you
I may have a laid-back personality, but that doesn't mean I'm not paying attention or caring about you.
Real love make a ill thug feel bugged
True love can make even the toughest person feel vulnerable or uncomfortable.
Nas analyze are you trustworthy by the looks in your eyes
Nas can tell if someone is trustworthy by the way they behave and their body language.
Stay wit' me, be my dog like Dollar and Richie
Stay by my side and be my loyal companion, like Dollar and Richie from the TV show 'The Phil Silvers Show.'
She convinced me, all we really need is love strict
Mary has convinced Nas that love is the most important thing in life, and they should strive to make it strong.
Oh we need, oh need yeah, we need love
We truly need love in our lives, and nothing else can replace it.
One love, one life
We should strive to have one love and one life.
Live on, stay strong
Keep living life and staying strong, no matter what challenges come.
Don't you wanna be happy with me?
Don't you want to be happy together with me and make our lives complete?
You and me are 2 in 1
We are inseparable and are two parts of a whole.
And our lives have just begun
Our journey together has just started, and we have so much ahead of us.
If we can love, we can love
As long as we love each other, everything will be okay.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Samuel Harris III, Mary J Blige, Rick James, Terry Steven Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind