What's the 411?

What's the 411?

Artist: Mary J. Blige
Label: Mca
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio Cassette
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 008811068141
EAN: 0008811068141
ASIN: B000002OMF

Release Date: 1992-07-28

What's the 411?

Related Categories:

General

| Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Contemporary R&B

| R&B | Styles | Music

General

| R&B | Styles | Music

General

| Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General

| Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Leave a Message - Tony Dofat
Reminisce
Real Love
You Remind Me
Intro Talk - Tony Dofat
Sweet Thing - Tony Dofat
Love No Limit
I Don't Want to Do Anything - Mary J. Blige, Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey
Slow Down
My Love
Changes I've Been Going Through
What's the 411? - Mary J. Blige, Grand Puba

Similar Items:

My Life
Share My World
Mary
No More Drama
Love & Life

Amazon.com

Perhaps the true test of a classic is this: something that's commonplace now but at the time appeared revolutionary. The notion that a female R&B singer could be as informed by the Real Roxanne as she was by Aretha Franklin, that she could give love to the streets and the roughnecks--while still delivering soul-drenched love songs that came from that wounded womanly space--was, in a word, groundbreaking. It was the sound of the New Jills, and of a new genre, aptly called hip-hop soul. Featuring production from a then-upstart Puffy, and a collection of songs that alternately swagger and seduce--"You Remind Me," "Real Love," "Reminisce"--What's the 411? may not be Blige's finest work (that honor may go to its moody follow-up, My Life). But its ghetto-fied grooves dominated the radio then, and they still sound fierce today, even with a slew of lesser imitators attempting to do what the rough and ready Blige did so effortlessly back in the day. --Amy Linden

Customer Reviews:

Great .......2007-05-12

Mary is my girl. This CD is a must have. I love it.

Where It All Started..................2007-01-17

When Mary J Blige was discovered in the early 90's, thanks to that Karaoke booth at the Galleria Mall in White Plains, NY, the question was how to market her talent to the Hip-Hop generation.

The end result being the standout What's The 411 album. This release did not skimp on the traditional R & B flavor that showed the world what Mary could do, but it also mixed in enough traces of Rap, and Hip-Hop
to ensure that she would not be passed over by the younger generation.

Real Love, Reminice, and Whats the 411? focused on contemporary stylings that lead to her title, 'The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul". However Mary also showed what she can deliver on her cover of the Chaka Kahn classic, Sweet Thing.

Love No Limit is another standout track, and although to many Mary did not "cross over" to mass appeal until her No More Drama CD, Love No Limit wound up on heavy rotation on NYC radio station HOT-97.
HOT-97 playing Mary J. in heavy rotation may not sound that earth-shattering, HOWEVER back then,
HOT-97 was still a Dance/Disco station. Many of the stations listeners commented that on the bridge to this song, Mary sounded like Donna Summer, judge it for yourself.

Ken

Mary defintely has the 411 on relationships........2006-12-08

I couldn't have put it any better than editorial reviewer Amy Linden, who in a reference to Mary's inspiration wrote: "...wounded womanly space"! Mary nailed it and I, like Amy, recognize it, from the all-too-late lament of the guy in the background refrain on the track "My Love", to the resounding affirmation present in the track, "Love is all we need"! If you can appreciate a little hurt mixed with some truth and soul, then add this one to your collection!

Trend Setting Debut from the Queen of HipHop Soul and R & B.......2006-11-25

Mary was the shiznit straight out the gate. She had all the girls from around the way sporting ponytails hanging out the back of their baseball caps. Musically, Mary was the second coming of Aretha Franklin. Her vocals on Love No Limit, Sweet Thing, Slow Down and others were jazzy, sexy, soulful and sultry. Puffy's production blends hiphop beats with R & B grooves successfully. Classic Joint. Check it Out!

"The 1st Breakthrough".......2006-06-14

Mary J. Blige's major debut WHAT'S THE 411 marked a change in R&B to a more hip-hop oriented sound. That isn't to say it isn't soulful because the point of hip-hop soul is to have soulful vocals against a hip-hop backdrop. WHAT'S THE 411 masters that concept and Mary J. Blige has honed an improved upon that concept through each successive album rarely taking backsteps along the journey.

This album is packed with some hits, songs that Mary will always be known for. "Reminisce" is a great track showcasing Blige's vocals (a combination between the sensibilities of hip-hop and Aretha, Gladys, Patti, etc...). "You Remind Me" is another Blige staples as well as "Sweet Thing" and "Love No Limit". Basically, this is a classic album that you don't get tired of listening over and over again and it is the "breakthrough" of Mary J. Blige. If WHATS THE 411? is the breakthrough, then THE BREAKTHROUGH is the affirmation and the point of arrival of the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul's status and function in the R&B world. In an R&B world where some of R&B new-found hip-hop sensibility has went in the adverse direction, Mary J. Blige keeps the soul of R&B alive. 5 stars for "The 1st Breakthrough".

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