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.
Sincerity
Mary J. Blige Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep it real or front
I know you got what I need and I got what you want
And the hunt for soulmates is all over for us
We could go away where nobody would know it was us
Leave behind all the fuss, the studios, the pictures
No autographs, just laughs when I'm wit ya
I know what it's like when they know you now
Time and time and time again
I knew that our love had to end
But now it's gone so very far
That I can make a brand new start
I thought that we were meant to be
Be one big family
But I was weak and loved you still
No matter what you did, I could forgive
All I need is sincerity
All I need is sincerity
Thinking 'bout you all the time
Never seemed to cross my mind
How you could take the time to kill
Everything our love had built
I never knew how you could hide
Everytime you told a lie
But now I know why you're so cold
But I don't understand
Now that you set me free
I truly think that we
Could find love separately
I need sincerity
One thing, I'm not as weak
I'll always stand alone
But my mind is not made of stone
So I'll go on
All I need is sincerity
All I need is sincerity
Chipped tooth Don
Nasty, blue ice timbs on
Screw it face, half moon part, my tattoos dark
On a scale of tough criminals, nothin' to call me
I'm a rare individual, young and I'm bossy
Guess it come from a rough life, cuffed at night
Lettin' off hot lead that bust from iron pipes
I'm the type that have to shed blood
Pray to the ghost of dead thugs, dead blocks that spread drugs
Fled from the cops 'till when my first joint dropped
I'm still wit my hood, Hollow Point still in the glock
But I've been shitted on by these high class hoes
Even these chickens did me wrong, I was just gettin' on
So I turned cold, givin 'em hard dick and straight to the hole
Like Rod Strickland, it was takin' it's toll
I needed someone I could hold in my darkest hours
A strong couple is a blessing and the heart is the power
Give me someone I could trust, not just a hotty to bone
Does she love Escobar, or love Nasir Jones?
Let me know so I could cop her the stones
What's clear to me, it's sincerity
Somebody I could call my own, yeah
All I need is sincerity
The song "Sincerity" by Mary J. Blige talks about two individuals who have realized that they have found their soulmate. The lyrics explain the dilemma of being famous and the burden that comes with it. However, the solution is to escape from the fussy world and escape to find true love. The song talks about forgiveness, second chances, and trusting one's mind over their emotions. The song's chorus repeats the phrase "All I need is sincerity," which emphasizes the need to be truthful and honest with oneself and one's partner.
Throughout the song, Mary J. Blige sings about her experiences with heartbreak and betrayal coupled with the need for authenticity in relationships. The lyrics contain the message of how being genuine, truthful, and loyal is what completes a relationship. Both individuals should be willing to contribute equally to make the relationship successful, and both should be dedicated to making it work. The lyrics focus on a desire for happiness, emotional fulfillment, and true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Now there's two ways we can do this
We have two options on how to proceed
Keep it real or front
We can either be honest or pretend
I know you got what I need and I got what you want
We're looking for the same thing in each other
And the hunt for soulmates is all over for us
Our search for true love is finally over
We could go away where nobody would know it was us
We can escape from the public scrutiny
Leave behind all the fuss, the studios, the pictures
We can leave behind the stress of the entertainment industry
No autographs, just laughs when I'm wit ya
We can just enjoy each other's company without drawing attention to ourselves
I know what it's like when they know you now
I understand the pressure of fame
But bark at your dog baby, and I'll hold you down
I'll be loyal to you when you need me
Time and time and time again
Repeatedly
I knew that our love had to end
I had a feeling that our relationship wouldn't last
But now it's gone so very far
Our relationship has progressed much further than I expected
That I can make a brand new start
I can start over
I thought that we were meant to be
I believed we were destined to be together
Be one big family
Have a close, loving relationship
But I was weak and loved you still
I was in love with you even though I knew it wasn't healthy
No matter what you did, I could forgive
I was willing to overlook your mistakes and forgive you
All I need is sincerity
I require honesty and genuineness
Thinking 'bout you all the time
I think about you constantly
Never seemed to cross my mind
It never occurred to me
How you could take the time to kill
How you could deliberately destroy our relationship
Everything our love had built
Everything that we built together
I never knew how you could hide
I didn't understand how you could conceal the truth from me
Everytime you told a lie
Whenever you lied to me
But now I know why you're so cold
Now I understand why you're emotionally distant
But I don't understand
I still have questions
Now that you set me free
Now that our relationship is over
I truly think that we
I believe that we
Could find love separately
Could find love with other people
One thing, I'm not as weak
One thing I've learned is that I'm not as vulnerable as I used to be
I'll always stand alone
I'm prepared to be on my own
But my mind is not made of stone
I'm still capable of feeling emotions
So I'll go on
I will move forward
Chipped tooth Don
A man with a chipped tooth named Don
Nasty, blue ice timbs on
Wearing blue Timberland boots
Screw it face, half moon part, my tattoos dark
His face has a defiant expression, he has a hairstyle with a crescent moon-shaped part, and his tattoos are dark
On a scale of tough criminals, nothin' to call me
Compared to other violent offenders, he is not particularly noteworthy
I'm a rare individual, young and I'm bossy
He believes that he is a unique, confident person
Guess it come from a rough life, cuffed at night
He thinks his tough upbringing has contributed to his demeanor, and he has been arrested by the police
Lettin' off hot lead that bust from iron pipes
He has fired guns that shoot hot, lead bullets from metal pipes
I'm the type that have to shed blood
He is capable of being violent and hurting others
Pray to the ghost of dead thugs, dead blocks that spread drugs
He prays to deceased gang members and drug dealers from his neighborhood
Fled from the cops 'till when my first joint dropped
He evaded the police until he became famous as a music artist
I'm still wit my hood, Hollow Point still in the glock
He still associates with his old neighborhood and carries a gun with hollow point bullets
But I've been shitted on by these high class hoes
Women from a higher social class have treated him poorly
Even these chickens did me wrong, I was just gettin' on
Even women who were attracted to him for his fame and success mistreated him
So I turned cold, givin 'em hard dick and straight to the hole
He became emotionally distant and only engaged in sexual relationships with these women
Like Rod Strickland, it was takin' it's toll
This behavior was unhealthy and taking a toll on him, like it did on the former basketball player Rod Strickland
I needed someone I could hold in my darkest hours
He needed a partner who could support him emotionally through difficult times
A strong couple is a blessing and the heart is the power
A committed, loving relationship is valuable, and emotions are important
Give me someone I could trust, not just a hotty to bone
He wants a partner who he can rely on and has more substance than just physical attractiveness
Does she love Escobar, or love Nasir Jones?
He wants to know if a potential partner loves his alter ego Escobar, or the real him, Nasir Jones
Let me know so I could cop her the stones
If she loves him for who he really is, he will buy her expensive jewelry
What's clear to me, it's sincerity
He values honesty and authenticity in relationships
Somebody I could call my own, yeah
Someone who he can truly claim as his partner
All I need is sincerity
He prioritizes sincerity and emotional honesty in his relationships
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KENNETH KORNEGAY, MARY J. BLIGE, ROBERT M. JAMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Richardson
Mary's hidden gems/deep cuts/collaborations are the best parts of her albums. Her catalog is that deep and this still knocks in 2020. Two of the goats in hip hop with the one of the female goats in R&B. Mary never disappoints.
Lulan Okonwo
You mean the greatest female in rnb
David Richardson
@Lulan Okonwo I stand corrected. The female 🐐 of R&B.
Wayne Morris
Her Hidden Gems‼️‼️‼️‼️. Her B Sides are So Classic
W
‘Sincerity’ is one of Mary’s greatest songs. This beat is hard and no other female singer could’ve hopped on this and made it the hood masterpiece it is
Jay Jay
Facts... Well, maybe Alicia Keys could do a remake of this song. I agree Mary's voice has grittiness that R N B NEEDS right now.
brittlia
Just Jay Lol Alicia Keyssss?
taystiecummings
Just Jay sorry, not even!
Peaches H. Nice
@taystiecummings right
nemya
Well, apparently Miss Jones could have. Just learned Puff jacked her style for the 411 remix album 😩