Describing Blige’s tone as “raspy” and “ghetto gutter”, a raw, unfiltered sound that reflected the agony of project life that needed to be heard. We hear extensively from the late legendary music executive Andre Harrell, founder of Uptown Records, who first discovered Blige, as well as Sean “Diddy” Combs who helped to develop her talent. Much of the documentary is a meditation on pain and self belief. This fusion of roughness with her smooth vocals kick-started the popularity of rap songs accompanied by R&B sounds – a staple in many chart topping hits today. Iconic pieces from bright biker jackets to the caps and baggy jeans that characterised the Real Love video, Blige became one of the key figures to pioneer the ‘ghetto fabulous’ aesthetic. As young women of colour who were shunned by most fashion houses, famed stylist Misa Hylton describes creating custom looks for Blige. An around-the-way girl who had seen struggle, who had had to fight, and who was unapologetically Black this authenticity had an impact on both the fashion and the sound of Hip Hop and R&B itself. The perceived marketability of black female artists revolved around being more soft and soulful, yet Blige was anything but. This affinity is contextualised by further examination of the music industry at the time Blige entered. Footage from meet and greets illustrates the reverence of her fans as each woman vividly recalls when they first saw Blige and how much it meant to see someone whose life experience seemed to mirror their own. While her music is popular with people of all ages and backgrounds, her resonance with Black women, in particular, is undeniable. The dominant narrative Roth highlights is Blige’s connection to her fans. Against her better judgement, she dared to let herself dream of a life lived in the light – free of the turmoil that existed both externally and internally. She recounts the moment she heard the sultry sounds of Roy Ayers 1976 hit Everybody Loves The Sunshine. Growing up in the Schlobohm housing projects in Yonkers, New York, Blige grew up hardened by her surroundings, witnessing abuse, particularly against women, and relied on drinking from a young age to stem the pain. Blige’s My Life, an emotional documentary, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth, that sees Blige and other famous faces revisit the demons that inspired the record, and celebrate her journey to success.īlige describes much of her life as being defined by sunshine. Now, for the 25th anniversary of the album’s release, Amazon Prime releases Mary J. A trailblazing album that seemed to lay bare Bilge’s soul. In 1994, after exploding onto the scene in 1991 with What’s The 411, Blige followed up with My Life. Blige is one of the undisputed first ladies of Hip Hop and RnB. With a career spanning three decades, thirteen studio albums and a wealth of awards, Mary J.

Mary j blige my life in the sunshine