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.
Work That
Mary J. Blige Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Work your thing out
Work your thing out
Work your thing out
There's so many-a girls
I hear you been running
From the beautiful queen
You can look at my palm
And see the storm coming
Read the book of my life
And see I've overcome it
Just because the length of your hair ain't long
And they often criticize you for your skin tone
Wanna hold your head high
Cause you're a pretty woman
Get your runway stride home
And keep going
Girl live ya life
[Chorus]
I just wanna be myself
Don't sweat girl be yourself
Follow me
Follow me
Follow me
Girl be yourself
That's why I be myself
And I'm gonna love it
Let em get mad
They gonna hate anyway
Don't you get that?
Doesn't matter if you're going on with their plan
They'll never be happy
Cause they're not happy with themselves
Na na work what you got
I'm talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It's okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don't worry bout who's saying what
It's gonna be fine
Work what you got
Feelin' great because the light's on me
Celebrating the things that everyone told me
Would never happen but God has put his hands on me
And ain't a man alive could ever take it from me
Working with what I got I gotta keep on
Taking care of myself I wanna live long
Ain't never ashamed what life did to me
Wasn't afraid to change cause it was good for me
I wanna
[Chorus]
Na na work what you got
I'm talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It's okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don't worry bout who's saying what
It's gonna be fine
Work what you got
Work that
Work that
Work that
Girl don't hold back
You just be yourself
Na na work what you got
I'm talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It's okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don't worry bout who's saying what
It's gonna be fine
Work what you got
Work that
Work that
Work that
Girl don't hold back
You just be yourself
Work that thing out
Work that thing out
Work what you got
In Mary J. Blige's song "Work That," she encourages women to embrace their unique qualities and love themselves for who they are. She emphasizes the importance of being oneself and disregarding the criticisms and opinions of others. Throughout the lyrics, she shows empathy to women who are struggling with self-confidence, reminding them that it is okay to be different and that they are beautiful in their own way.
The song's message is clear; it encourages women to stop worrying about other people's opinion and focus on being true to themselves. Mary J. Blige celebrates the individual traits that make women special and unique, from hair length to skin tone, and encourages everyone to embrace their unique features. She reminds women that they should not be ashamed of their past or the struggles they have faced, which only make them stronger.
Overall, "Work That" is a song of empowerment, inspiration, and acceptance. It encourages women to ignore the negative voices, focus on loving and being themselves, and live their best lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Work your thing out
Keep working on being true to yourself
There's so many-a girls
There are a lot of girls who are afraid to show their true selves
I hear you been running
I heard you have been avoiding your true self
From the beautiful queen
From the confident, beautiful person that you could become
That you could be becoming
That you have the potential to become
You can look at my palm
You can see the struggles I've been through by looking at the lines in my palm
And see the storm coming
You can see the challenges that I have faced
Read the book of my life
You can learn about my life experiences
And see I've overcome it
And see that I have overcome those challenges
Just because the length of your hair ain't long
Just because your hair is short or not how others think it should be
And they often criticize you for your skin tone
And they often put you down for your skin color
Wanna hold your head high
You should be confident and proud of who you are
Cause you're a pretty woman
Because you are a beautiful woman
Get your runway stride home
Walk with confidence
And keep going
And don't let anyone bring you down
Girl live ya life
Live your life the way you want to
I just wanna be myself
I just want to be true to who I am
Don't sweat girl be yourself
Don't worry about what others think, just be yourself
Follow me
Follow my example by being confident in yourself
That's why I be myself
That's why I am true to who I am
And I'm gonna love it
And I'm going to love myself for who I am
Let em get mad
Let others get mad or upset
They gonna hate anyway
They are going to hate regardless
Doesn't matter if you're going on with their plan
It doesn't matter if you follow their plan or not
They'll never be happy
They will never be happy with themselves
Cause they're not happy with themselves
Because they are not true to themselves
Na na work what you got
Work with what you have
I'm talking bout things that I know
I'm talking about my personal experiences
It's okay show yourself some love
It's okay to love yourself
Don't worry bout who's saying what
Don't worry about what others are saying
It's gonna be fine
Everything will be alright
Feelin' great because the light's on me
Feeling great because I am confident and happy with myself
Celebrating the things that everyone told me
Celebrating the things I accomplished that others said I couldn't do
Would never happen but God has put his hands on me
Things that people thought would never happen but God made it possible
And ain't a man alive could ever take it from me
And no one can take my accomplishments away from me
Working with what I got I gotta keep on
I have to keep working with what I have
Taking care of myself I wanna live long
I want to take care of myself so I can live a long and happy life
Ain't never ashamed what life did to me
I am not ashamed of what life has thrown my way
Wasn't afraid to change cause it was good for me
I wasn't afraid of changing because it was the best thing for me
Work that
Work hard to make your dreams come true
Girl don't hold back
Don't hold back from being your true self
Na na work what you got
Work with what you have
Work that thing out
Work hard to achieve your goals
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARY J. BLIGE, SEAN GARRETT, THERON OTIS FEEMSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
nana hachiko
Work your thing out
Work your thing out
Work your thing out
Work your thing out
There's so many-a girls
I hear you been running
From the beautiful queen
That you could be becoming
You can look at my palm
And see the storm coming
Read the book of my life
And see I've overcome it
Just because the length of your hair ain't long
And they often criticize you for your skin tone
Wanna hold your head high
Cause you're a pretty woman
Get your runway stride home
And keep going
Girl live ya life
I just wanna be myself
Don't sweat girl be yourself
Follow me
Follow me
Follow me
Girl be yourself
That's why I be myself
And I'm gonna love it
Let em get mad
They gonna hate anyway
Don't you get that?
Doesn't matter if you're going on with their plan
They'll never be happy
Cause they're not happy with themselves
Na na work what you got
I'm talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It's okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don't worry bout who's saying what
It's gonna be fine
Work what you got
Feelin' great because the light's on me
Celebrating the things that everyone told me
Would never happen but God has put his hands on me
And ain't a man alive could ever take it from me
Working with what I got I gotta keep on
Taking care of myself I wanna live long
Ain't never ashamed what life did to me
Wasn't afraid to change cause it was good for me
I wanna
I just wanna be myself
Don't sweat girl be yourself
Follow me
Follow me
Follow me
Girl be yourself
That's why I be myself
And I'm gonna love it
Na na work what you got
I'm talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It's okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don't worry bout who's saying what
It's gonna be fine
Work what you got
Work that
Work that
Work that
Girl don't hold back
You just be yourself
Na na work what you got
I'm talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It's okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don't worry bout who's saying what
It's gonna be fine
Work what you got
Work that
Work that
Work that
Girl don't hold back
You just be yourself
Work that thing out
Work that thing out
Work what you got
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Mary J. Blige / Sean Garrett / Theron Otis Feemster
Work That lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Chris _TexasBama
From the "Growing Pains" album, the song "Work That" by Mary J Blige may not be as popular as some of the club banger hits from one of the best eras in R&B and hip hop. However, the song should absolutely be commended for it's catchy beat and more importantly the lyrics! A tribute to the modern day independent woman, particularly the powerhouse diva always on the grind, if I had to sum into one word it would be: BOSS. Reading the lyrics posted below, you can see why this was a perfect song choice VP-elect Kamala! 🎉🇺🇸 #workthat#gokamala
Lyrics to "Work That"
Work your thing out
Work your thing out
Work your thing out
Work your thing out
There's so many-a girls
I hear you been running
From the beautiful queen
That you could be becoming
You can look at my palm
And see the storm coming
Read the book of my life
And see I've overcome it
Just because the length of your hair ain't long
And they often criticize you for your skin tone
Wanna hold your head high
Cause you're a pretty woman
Get your runway stride home
And keep going
Girl live ya life
I just wanna be myself
Don't sweat girl be yourself
Follow me
Follow me
Follow me
Girl be yourself
That's why I be myself
And I'm gonna love it
Let em get mad
They gonna hate anyway
Don't you get that?
Doesn't matter if you're going on with their plan
They'll never be happy
Cause they're not happy with themselves
Na na work what you got
I'm talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It's okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don't worry bout who's saying what
It's gonna be fine
Work what you got
Feelin' great because the light's on me
Celebrating the things that everyone told me
Would never happen but God has put his hands on me
And ain't a man alive could ever take it from me
Working with what I got I gotta keep on
Taking care of myself I wanna live long
Ain't never ashamed what life did to me
Wasn't afraid to change cause it was good for me
I wanna
I just wanna be myself
Don't sweat girl be yourself
Follow me
Follow me
Follow me
Girl be yourself
That's why I be myself
And I'm gonna love it
Na na work what you got
I'm talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It's okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don't worry bout who's saying what
It's gonna be fine
Work what you got
Work that
Work that
Work that
Girl don't hold back
You just be yourself
Na na work what you got
I'm talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It's okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don't worry bout who's saying what
It's gonna be fine
Work what you got
Work that
Work that
Work that
Monkey Bubbles
Work your thing out
Work your thing out
Work your thing out
Work your thing out
Theres so many-a girls
I hear you been running
From the beautiful queen
That you could be becoming
You can look at my palm
And see the storm coming
Read the book of my life
And see I've overcome it
Just because the length of your hair ain't long
And they often criticize you for your skin tone
Wanna hold your head high
Cause you're a pretty woman
Get your runway stride home
And keep going
Girl live ya life
I just wanna be myself
Don't sweat girl be yourself
Follow me
Follow me
Follow me
Girl be yourself
That's why I be myself
And I'm gonna love it
Let em get mad
They gonna hate anyway
Don't you get that?
Doesn't matter if you're going on with their plan
They'll never be happy
Cause they're not happy with themselves
Na na work what you got
I'm talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It's okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don't worry bout who's saying what
It's gonna be fine
Work what you got
Feelin great because the light's on me
Celebrating the things that everyone told me
Would never happen but God has put his hands on me
And aint a man alive could ever take it from me
Working with what I got I gotta keep on
Taking care of myself I wanna live long
Aint never ashamed what life did to me
Wasn't afraid to change cause it was good for me
I wanna...
I just wanna be myself
Don't sweat girl be yourself
Follow me
Follow me
Follow me
Girl be yourself
That's why I be myself
And I'm gonna love it
Let em get mad
They gonna hate anyway
Don't you get that?
Doesn't matter if you're going on with their plan
They'll never be happy
Cause they're not happy with themselves
Na na work what you got
I'm talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It's okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don't worry bout who's saying what
It's gonna be fine
Work what you got
Work that
Work that
Work that
Girl don't hold back
You just be yourself [3x]
Na na work what you got
I'm talking bout things that I know
Na na work what you got
It's okay show yourself some love
Na na work what you got
Don't worry bout who's saying what
It's gonna be fine
Work what you got
Work that
Work that
Work that
Girl don't hold back
You just be yourself
Work that thing out
Work that thing out
Work what you got
Leslie Sinclair
She couldn’t have picked a better song.... wow! She brought me back.
Andre Jones
Love it. Mary J at her brilliant best. Infectiously catchy tune with profound lyrics. Brilliant!
Ka'Tina Stoddard
“ Feelin' great because the light's on me
Celebrating the things that everyone told me
Would never happen but God has put his hands on me
And ain't a man alive could ever take it from me
Working with what I got I gotta keep on
Taking care of myself I wanna live long
Ain't never ashamed what life did to me” These lyrics fit her election speech perfectly ‼️ She gives US hope that we can if we believe. All things are possible with God. Support this Black Queen. Work That Kamala😘
Sherine Lewis
, work that girl 😀👍
cats meow
Thanks 🎉
Alistair Greaves
Make America Play Mary J Blige Again!
Courtney Jasmine
😊😊😊😊
Sonya Edwards
Absolutely😍
Quila Miller
This song uplifts my soul & spirit!! Forever grateful to the Queen for this one!! I cry every time I hear this song! 🙌🏾😭💫👑
Denise Dunn
Love this song and video!!