MUSIC REVIEWS
Mary J Blige - The Breakthrough
David Allun Jones
Taking a cue from the Rugrats, Mary J is “all growed up” on her seventh studio album, The Breakthrough, a strong portrait of a reinvigorated woman who has denounced all the drama and “hateration” and finally found the real love she was once searching for. First hinted at on 2001’s No More Drama, the happily married Blige has learned not to dwell on the negative anymore. Now she’s become more comfortable in her own skin, rocking a robust sense of confidence and self-awareness, alongside expert production, that makes The Breakthrough an exciting transition into the next phase of her career.
Taking into consideration the way her audience depended on her teary-eyed tales of heartache and struggle, Blige is now intent on leading those same listeners down a more positive path, encouraging them to pursue a life they’re more deserving of. The idea of Mary J moving away from the material she became adored for is a hard pill to swallow for some, but as she notes on the personal “Take Me As I Am”, this is going to be her if liked or not. It’s a brave decision that proves that “the Queen of Hip Hop Soul” is concerned more with the message than album sales.
Most of the album finds Mary J celebrating the ecstasy of discovering your soul mate (“No One Will Do”, “Be Without You”), but also acknowledging that work from both partners must be done to keep things right. On “Baggage”, Blige apologizes for her hot-cold responses, admitting “nobody has ever treated me this way/ Please be patient with me cause I want you to stay/ But I got all this baggage with me”. Elsewhere, Blige offers advice, playing counselor as she explains the importance of breaking past life’s challenges.
Just because her perspective on life has changed, though, doesn’t mean she no longer carries the impassioned grit that is her signature. Matter of fact, she sounds more spirited than ever. Once famous for her often off-key delivery, Blige seems to have taken some voice lessons during down time. She’s hitting high notes like never before without being pitchy and going off on unsure riffs. Her widened range is brought to full effect on the up-tempo “Can’t Hide From Luv” and delivered with excellent precision on the soulful testimony of “I Found My Everything” in which there are moments that you nearly mistake her for Aretha Franklin. Adding to those elevated skills is a fun homage to What’s The 411 with a reprisal of her rapping skills. Under the alter ego Brook, Mary J spits rhymes with a old school cadence that screams amateur, but it’s a neat trick that shakes things up a little. Hey, if Bobby Brown could get away with rapping, why can’t Mary?
The Hallmark sentiment wouldn’t be as effective if lain over corny MOR orchestrations, so even if all the earnestness gets annoying, The Breakthrough is handled by top-notch producers who understand the hip hop-soul sound. Creative spins off of the classic hip hop break “Champ” and somber piano loop of Jay Z’s “Dead Presidents” work just as well as sped up samples from Nina Simone and The O’Jays giving Blige a sound base that’s contemporary without losing it’s timeless appeal. But Blige isn’t all about the kids, with moments of pure soul (thanks to input from Raphael Saadiq) or polished R&B bliss (“Be Without You” puts Blige in Mariah territory) creeping in for more of a mature balance.
Not everyone will appreciate the loss of the pained woman that brought us My Life, but they’re the ones who should listen to the album the most. No longer willing to languish away in the cycle of defeat, Blige arises from her former shell and emerges as an empowering force of nature on The Breakthrough.
