If you were to ask me who one of my favourite artists of all time is, in my top 5 is the Queen of Hip Hop Soul – Mary J Blige. 

I have loved Mary J since her debut album ‘What’s the 411?’ was released in 1992. I had recently moved to London and it seemed that everyone was bumping the album from their cars, it was played everywhere and for good reason. It’s such a strong album and still gets regularly played. 

This blog is very overdue as I actually went to see Mary J back in in July 2025 with one of my fabulous friends who had invited me to go with her to Mary J’s show in Manchester, with support from none other than  Soul II Soul. Talk about a heavyweight line up! It was too good an opportunity to turn down to hang out with Rachel, and also see two of my fave artists. 

I last saw Mary J back in 2003 on my 30th birthday where she performed at Wembley. She is an incredible performer, when she sings you hear so much raw and powerful emotion in her voice, I bawled my eyes out in 2003 and I’m not ashamed to admit that I shed a few tears in her Manchester show. Her first two albums marks a very dark period of my life and they were the soundtracks to a lot of pain, emotional & physical abuse. I think this is why so many women identify with Mary J, like her, some of us have experienced abusive relationships and been broken to a point where we lose our identity, become shadows of ourselves and doubt who we are, and who we can be. Mary J wears her heart on her sleeve and pours her love, heartache and pain into her songs – trauma must find an outlet and I’m glad Mary J found hers, she’s been through so much. She is the epitome of female empowerment, we get knocked down in life and we have to find a way back, to rebuild ourselves, stand up again and turn the tide from surviving to thriving – whatever that takes. 

When we arrived at the venue, Soul II Soul were already on stage. I’ve always had mad love for Jazzie B. ‘Back to Life’ and ‘Keep on Movin’ are such huge iconic tracks of the 90s, the album ‘Club Classics Vol. One’ is another of those albums that you would hear everywhere in the mid 90s. My favourite Soul II Soul track is ‘Fairplay’, featuring the beautiful vocals of Rose Windross, that tune still gives me shivers. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately for me, they didn’t perform that song, if they had, I think my brain would have exploded. 

Mary J has such an amazing back catalogue. From what I could remember of her show she sang the following and more: 

  1. Reminisce 
  2. Love without a limit 
  3. Mary Jane (All night long)
  4. U remind me 
  5. Rain 
  6. I love you
  7. Wanna be happy 
  8. Be without you
  9. Real Love 
  10. You are my everything 
  11. Good morning gorgeous 
  12. I’m going down 
  13. Not gon’ cry
  14. My Life See what I see 
  15. No drama 
  16. I can love you
  17. You bring me joy
  18. I’m fine 
  19. Family Affair 

I have to give props to Mary J for her amazing costume changes – she always looks fricking fabulous! Thank you for an amazing night, may you always continue to shine and inspire.