Description
Mary J Blige – Herstory, Vol. 1 – Compact Disc
Mary J. Blige’s Herstory, Vol. 1 is a career-spanning compilation released in October 2002 through MCA Records, arriving at a moment when she had already established herself as the defining voice of contemporary R&B in the 1990s. The title is intentional: it frames the collection not just as a greatest hits package, but as a statement about her role in shaping modern R&B from the hip-hop soul era forward.
The album compiles key tracks from her first six studio albums, beginning with her 1992 debut What’s the 411? and moving through My Life, Share My World, and into the early 2000s. It includes foundational singles such as “Real Love,” “You Remind Me,” “Be Happy,” “Not Gon’ Cry,” “Share My World,” “Everything,” “I’m Goin’ Down,” and “Family Affair.” The sequencing reflects the arc of her career: early gritty, hip-hop-infused R&B gives way to more polished late-’90s soul and early-2000s crossover pop success.
Herstory, Vol. 1 also contains new material recorded specifically for the compilation, including “Rainy Dayz” (featuring Ja Rule) and “Dance for Me” (featuring Common). “Rainy Dayz” became a significant single and extended the life of the project beyond simple catalog packaging, helping the album perform strongly at retail. The compilation debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 and went on to achieve multi-platinum certification in the United States.
From a catalog perspective, Herstory, Vol. 1 captures the period when Mary J. Blige earned the title “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.” It documents the blend of raw emotional delivery and hip-hop production that distinguished her from traditional R&B vocalists of the time. For listeners exploring her discography on CD, it functions as a concise but substantial overview of her first decade of impact—balancing chart hits, signature album cuts, and transitional moments that illustrate how her sound evolved from street-oriented R&B to mainstream global success.
‘From her debut that established her as Queen of 90’s R&B, American singer/songwriter, actress, and philanthropist Mary J. Blige has reigned as a trailblazer and icon for women everywhere, proving that she could be as tough as the bad boys but with a fathoms-deep emotional reservoir of soul that touched hearts. Incredibly, until now there has been no collection of her epoch-defining ’90’s hits as they were heard at the time via remixes with guest appearances from Notorious BIG, Craig Mack & Puffy among others.’
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Mary J. Blige – You Remind Me
Mary J. Blige Featuring Notorious B.I.G. – Real Love (Hip-Hop Remix)
Mary J. Blige – Reminisce (Bad Boy Remix)
Mary J. Blige – Love No Limit (Puff Daddy Mix)
Mary J. Blige – You Don’t Have To Worry (Remix Main With Rap)
Mary J. Blige – What’s The 411?
Mary J. Blige Featuring Notorious B.I.G. & K-Ci – What’s The 411? (Remix)
Mary J. Blige – Be Happy
Mary J. Blige Featuring LL Cool J – Mary Jane (All Night Long) (Remix)
Mary J. Blige Featuring Smif N’ Wesson – I Love You (Remix)
Mary J. Blige – I’m Goin’ Down
Mary J. Blige – You Bring Me Joy
Mary J. Blige Featuring Method Man – I’ll Be There For You / You’re All I Need To Get By (Puff Daddy Mix)
Mary J. Blige – Everyday It Rains
Mary J. Blige – Love Is All We Need
Jay-Z Featuring Mary J. Blige – Can’t Knock The Hustle
