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.
Don't Worry
Mary J. Blige Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because these conjugal visits just ain't enough
I'm really looking forward to a future for us
Baby don't worry 'bout it
I'mma beeee right here, waitin on you
Even took a second job
So they won't take the clause and put a lean on the
I know it's gonna be a while before you get out, ooh
Baby don't worry 'bout it (don't worry)
I'mma beeee right here, waitin on you
And them dudes you ran with are foul
They been tryna get at me, ever since you been down
Even my girls are tellin me, I should end it all now
Baby don't worry about it
I'mma be
All I can think about is that honey complexion
And the way your skin glow when you slippin on them Dior dresses
I know you wonderin why I got you a Smith 'n Wesson
Cause them niggas in the hood is the reason we stressin
I miss that gangsta love and that lil' affection
Them butter soft lips when you kissin my chest and
Mary I put nuttin above you
And behind that vest I got a heart ma gangstas need love too
Some think the worst of you
They portray you as a man, it's not that far from the truth
You were caught up in the game and now it's, caught up to you
Baby don't worry about it
I'mma be right here, waitin on you
It used to be caramel skin tones, Sprewell rims on
Glass house, ass out, Jacob watch, gemstones
Bandanna, Nike Airs, tennis bracelet, wife hair
Black rag, do or die, .45 right here
Every time I was down, you was always right there
Whenever visitin hours came, I know my wife there
So pink diamonds right here, chain hang, ice there
The reason for my tattooed tear - I need you to hold me down
I'll be waiting on you (I'll)
I'll be waiting on you (I'ma be right here whenever you call me babe)
I'll be waiting on you (ooh-oh)
Baby don't worry about it
I'mma be right here, waitin on you
I'm locked up countin the days down
Tryna hold my head cause the penitentiary ain't no playground
I'm dyin in here and I don't know how you stay down
In the shootin range twice a week bustin that trey-pound
I would never ask you to wait around
But how do a white sandy beach in St. Tropez sound?
And no more outta town trips on that Greyhound
Just me hittin like a beat from Dr. Dre, out
I'll be waiting on you (I'll be waiting)
I'll be waiting on you (I'ma be right here, for you ba-by)
I'll be waiting on you (I'll)
Baby don't worry about it (don't worry babe)
I'mma be right here (I'ma be) waitin on you
I'll be waiting on you (I'ma be right here waitin for you baby)
I'll be waiting on you (you know I will)
I'll be waiting on you (whenever you need me baby)
Baby don't worry about it (I'll be right here, I'll be right here)
I'mma be right here, waitin on you (don't you worry)
I'm lookin' for a future with you baby
Wanna see you real soon, real soon, real soon
I'll be right there, I'll be right there
(Baby don't worry about it)
Don't worry, don't worry
(I'ma be right here, waitin' on you)
Don't worry
The song 'Don't Worry' by Mary J. Blige featuring Game is a song about being in prison and missing one's partner. The opening lines of the chorus 'Can't wait 'til we make real love because these conjugal visits just ain't enough' are quite clear about the situation. The singer is missing the intimacy of a real relationship despite making do with visits. The verse, on the other hand, focuses on the problems that arise while one is incarcerated, such as financial difficulties and the unacceptable behavior of some friends. The theme of loyalty is also stressed in the song, where the singer assures his partner that he is willing to wait and be there for her when she needs him.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't wait 'til we make real love
I am eagerly waiting for the day when we can make love without any restrictions
Because these conjugal visits just ain't enough
The short intimate moments we get during conjugal visits are not enough to satisfy us
I'm really looking forward to a future for us
I am hopeful and excited about our future together
Baby don't worry 'bout it
Don't worry, I've got your back
I'mma beeee right here, waitin on you
I will always be here for you, waiting for you to come home
Even took a second job
I took up another job to secure our finances and prevent any troubles like a lien on our house
So they won't take the clause and put a lean on the
I want to prevent any legal troubles like a lien on our house
House
Our home, where we will build our future together
I know it's gonna be a while before you get out, ooh
I understand that you will be in prison for a long time
And them dudes you ran with are foul
The people you associated with were questionable and not trustworthy
They been tryna get at me, ever since you been down
Since you have been in prison, the people you knew have been trying to get close to me in a way that makes me uncomfortable
Even my girls are tellin me, I should end it all now
Even my friends are suggesting that I should end our relationship because of the troubles that come with it
I'mma be
I will be here for you always
All I can think about is that honey complexion
I constantly think about your beautiful skin color
And the way your skin glow when you slippin on them Dior dresses
You look absolutely stunning when you wear your Dior dresses and your skin glows
I know you wonderin why I got you a Smith 'n Wesson
You may wonder why I got you a gun, but I did it to protect you from the dangerous people in our environment
Cause them niggas in the hood is the reason we stressin
The people in our neighborhood cause us stress and anxiety
I miss that gangsta love and that lil' affection
I miss the passionate love and the little gestures of affection that we used to share when I wasn't in prison
Them butter soft lips when you kissin my chest and
I miss the feeling of your soft lips when you kiss my chest
Mary I put nuttin above you
Mary, you are the most important thing in my life and I will always put you first
And behind that vest I got a heart ma gangstas need love too
I may appear tough on the outside, but I have a heart just like everyone else and I need love too
Some think the worst of you
Some people have negative opinions about you
They portray you as a man, it's not that far from the truth
Some people see you as a man, and although it may not be true, it's not far from the truth
You were caught up in the game and now it's, caught up to you
You were involved in illegal activities and now you are facing the consequences
It used to be caramel skin tones, Sprewell rims on
We used to have nice things like caramel-colored skin tones and expensive rims on our car
Glass house, ass out, Jacob watch, gemstones
We used to live in a house with floor-to-ceiling windows and expensive furniture, you wore revealing clothes and had expensive jewelry
Bandanna, Nike Airs, tennis bracelet, wife hair
You used to wear a bandanna, Nike Airs, and a tennis bracelet while I loved your hair
Black rag, do or die, .45 right here
You had a black handkerchief and a .45 gun with you, you knew it was either survival or death
Every time I was down, you was always right there
Every time I was facing difficulties, you were always by my side
Whenever visitin hours came, I know my wife there
I always knew that you would be there for me during visiting hours
So pink diamonds right here, chain hang, ice there
I have expensive pink diamonds on me and my chain is hanging with ice on it
The reason for my tattooed tear - I need you to hold me down
I have a tattoo of a tear drop to remind me of the tough times we went through together, and I still need you to hold me down
I'm locked up countin the days down
I am in prison, waiting for the day when I can be with you again
Tryna hold my head cause the penitentiary ain't no playground
I am trying my best to stay strong in this tough environment
I'm dyin in here and I don't know how you stay down
I am struggling to survive in here, and I don't know how you are able to remain patient and loyal to me
In the shootin range twice a week bustin that trey-pound
I go to the shooting range twice a week to practice my aim with my .357 pistol
I would never ask you to wait around
I would never force you to wait for me if you wanted to move on
But how do a white sandy beach in St. Tropez sound?
However, I want to propose a luxurious getaway for the two of us when I am freed from prison
And no more outta town trips on that Greyhound
I want to provide you with comfortable transportation instead of the uncomfortable Greyhound bus
Just me hittin like a beat from Dr. Dre, out
When I am released from prison, we will finally be able to be together and live our lives, like a beat from Dr. Dre
I'm lookin' for a future with you baby
I want to build a future with you, baby
Wanna see you real soon, real soon, real soon
I can't wait to see you in person, very soon
Don't worry, don't worry
Don't worry, everything is going to be alright
Don't worry
I've got you, don't worry
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MIKE CITY, ANDRE YOUNG, MICHAEL ELIZONDO, JAYCEON TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HannibalHector714
This generation will never understand how DOPE the 90s were. ✌🏽😎
@cj27125
Facts 💯
@darcymcfayden5728
Ditto on that. where are the club bangers now? They don't know nothing about that they listen to time music.
@CBfeb1
My heart just skipped a beat reading this… we just don’t know how GREAT WE HAD IT🙏🏾🫡🏁
@lynetteblackwood2108
90s is better than you.
@jernesehill1808
Just like OUR parents said about the 70s lol… WE ARE OUR PARENTS 😩😩😩🤣🤣🚩
@dreyvionhanna9361
Her style is so unmatched ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@ShaniTrahan-xx9lc
I think her style is tight to me 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
@aliyaparris883
I was like 13 in this video.. Cumberland St. between Lafayette Ave. n Greene Ave.. ill never forget running home to ask my father if I could stay out later to be in this video.. i was too excited.. 🥰❤🔥
@MrGenoboss
Where r u