All About Mary J. Blige - Strong, Educated Queen of Hip Hop

It's almost hard to believe the Mary J. Blige we see today was a drug and alcohol addict. She went to Henley-on-Klip in South Africa in January of this year to take part in Oprah Winfrey's $40 million all girl school opening. She got to be with stars such as Sidney Poitier, Spike Lee and Tina Turner. "They saved my life and they don't even know it." Mary said.

Gone is the negative attitude that she once had. Mary J. Blige sees herself as "...a proud black woman." She also says, "...right now, I'm a black, educated woman who wants more out of life, and you can hear it in my music." The queen of hip hop soul has seven albums to her credit and 34 million internationally sold. Her songs "My Life", "No More Drama", "Your Child", are real life lessons and therapy for anyone going through dark times that she herself has suffered.

As with any life changing turning point, Mary had to let a lot of her fans go. The type of fans who enjoyed hearing her songs of darkness and pain that she has gone through. She still hears the voices of those negative people in her head. "What those fans don't know is that I suffered the most," she said. "When I was miserable, dying, and damn near ready to kill myself, I had access to money and fame, but it didn't make me happy. I had to risk losing those fans in order to save myself."

When all those so-called friends and fans abandoned her, she found real love with producer Kendu Isaacs. They have been married for three years. Mary also treasures her deepening relationship with God. After Aaliyah, her good friend died and the horrific tragedy of 9/11, she went to God in 2001. It was only through him was she able to deal with her past.

Mary today is still recording music, and even doing television and movies. One thing I like about her is that she is stubbornly wise. When her album Love and Life came out in 2003, it didn't do so well. She defied her record companies wishes and made a greatest hits album that released The Breakthrough last year that went multi platinum. She did her greatest hits album in December, when 'she' wanted to. It's called Reflections(A Retrospective).

Mary Modestly says that she doesn't have the perfect voice, and cannot save the world, she has to focus on saving herself. "I'm trying to be an example for my people as well, but I want them to understand that Mary J. Blige is still trying to get it together" she said. That's the best anyone can do, and that's alright with us.