What's the 411?
| Mary J. Blige
What's the 411?
What's the 411 is the debut album by American recording artist Mary J. Blige, released on July 28, 1992 by Uptown Records and MCA Records. Upon being signed to the Uptown label, she began working with record producer Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs who took over executive producer duties on the project and consulted additional musicians such as DeVante Swing, Tony Dofat, Dave Hall, Mark Morales and Mark "Cory" Rooney to record with Blige. What's the 411 contains a range of contemporary genres, and the songs are a mix of hip hop soul, contemporary early-1990s R&B and new jack swing.-Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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BBC
Mary's sweet, soulful vocals sung over Puff Daddy's rough, jagged, hip-hop beats made for a winning combination that remains one of Blige's finest albums.
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All Music
An inarguably paramount and trailblazing achievement.
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Albumism
Proved to be an elite album in a very strong year for R&B, while serving as the catalyst for Blige, who would go on to be rightfully dubbed the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.
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The Young Folks
It reminded people that she can rap just as well as she can sing. It left people wanting more of her unique style.
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Udiscovermusic
A promising 21-year old R&B singer who created the blueprint for contemporary R&B today. Puff came with the sound. He came with the hip-hop and Mary came with the soul.
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Idolator
A personal manifesto translated into a multi-platinum hit.
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Vibe
Arguably one of the most necessary albums for every teen and twenty-something of that time.
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NBC News
In 1992, she may have asked ‘What’s the 411?’ but with an unmatched musical legacy, Mary J. Blige surely gave the answer — and then some.
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Soul Culture
She brought something new to the table with her rugged girl persona and descriptive lyrical content.
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Complex
Stood as a shining example of what a little soulful grace and a little hip-hop swagger could do for each other,
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Slacker
An inarguably paramount and trailblazing achievement.
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Napster
Among the first to perfectly fuse hip-hop beats with soothing soul vocalism.
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Fat Beats
Mary was praised for combining hip hop and soul music, subsequently earning her the title "Queen of Hip Hop Soul".
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EW
One of the most accomplished fusions of soul values and hip-hop to date. Blige is a new-jill comer with her eyes on the prize.
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CD Universe
The notion that a female R&B singer could be as informed by the Real Roxanne as she was by Aretha Franklin.
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All CD Covers
A pure classic.
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Musician's Friend
Blige's strong, soulful voice. She was also praised for combining hip hop and soul music.
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Rap-Up
The album also catapulted Mary into the throne as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.
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Lipstick Alley
She has crossed most genres, including pop and rock and is considered the Aretha Franklin of our generation.
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Saint Heron
Mary’s strong soulful vocals compelled you to feel every word she sang.
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FYE
The eloquence and evocativeness that comes through in her voice, could be neither borrowed nor fabricated.
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Medium
A place where a strong female presence with hip-hop swagger and a voice that could seductively boom from the heavens. Enter Mary J. Blige.
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The Shadow League
We’ve been rocking with Mary J. Blige’s "What’s The 411?" for one simple reason. She got it goin’ on!
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Dusty Groove
Mary comes on here with a fresh new vision in female soul.
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Turntable Lab
This record should be a staple in any party rocker’s crate.
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CC Music
It received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who noted Blige's strong, soulful voice.
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