Product Description

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: BLIGE,MARY J.
Title: WHAT'S THE 411?
Street Release Date: 07/28/1992
Domestic
Genre: SOUL/R & B

Track Listing

1. Leave a Message - Tony Dofat
2. Reminisce
3. Real Love
4. You Remind Me
5. Intro Talk - Tony Dofat
6. Sweet Thing - Tony Dofat
7. Love No Limit
8. I Don't Want to Do Anything - Mary J. Blige, Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey
9. Slow Down
10. My Love
11. Changes I've Been Going Through
12. What's the 411? - Mary J. Blige, Grand Puba

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7015 in Music
• Brand: BLIGE,MARY J.
• Released on: 1992-07-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.com
Perhaps the true test of a classic is this: something that's commonplace now but at the time appeared revolutionary. The notion that a female R&B singer could be as informed by the Real Roxanne as she was by Aretha Franklin, that she could give love to the streets and the roughnecks--while still delivering soul-drenched love songs that came from that wounded womanly space--was, in a word, groundbreaking. It was the sound of the New Jills, and of a new genre, aptly called hip-hop soul. Featuring production from a then-upstart Puffy, and a collection of songs that alternately swagger and seduce--"You Remind Me," "Real Love," "Reminisce"--What's the 411? may not be Blige's finest work (that honor may go to its moody follow-up, My Life). But its ghetto-fied grooves dominated the radio then, and they still sound fierce today, even with a slew of lesser imitators attempting to do what the rough and ready Blige did so effortlessly back in the day. --Amy Linden

Customer Reviews

"The 1st Breakthrough"
Mary J. Blige's major debut WHAT'S THE 411 marked a change in R&B to a more hip-hop oriented sound. That isn't to say it isn't soulful because the point of hip-hop soul is to have soulful vocals against a hip-hop backdrop. WHAT'S THE 411 masters that concept and Mary J. Blige has honed an improved upon that concept through each successive album rarely taking backsteps along the journey.

This album is packed with some hits, songs that Mary will always be known for. "Reminisce" is a great track showcasing Blige's vocals (a combination between the sensibilities of hip-hop and Aretha, Gladys, Patti, etc...). "You Remind Me" is another Blige staples as well as "Sweet Thing" and "Love No Limit". Basically, this is a classic album that you don't get tired of listening over and over again and it is the "breakthrough" of Mary J. Blige. If WHATS THE 411? is the breakthrough, then THE BREAKTHROUGH is the affirmation and the point of arrival of the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul's status and function in the R&B world. In an R&B world where some of R&B new-found hip-hop sensibility has went in the adverse direction, Mary J. Blige keeps the soul of R&B alive. 5 stars for "The 1st Breakthrough".

Once I heard "You Remind Me" and I've been hooked ever since.
I fell in love with this album the first time I heard it, even though "Real Love" was her first single into this world. Mary was on a mission that decade. Coming straight out of Yonkers in her tight jeans, and combat boots, carrying her amazing voice ready to take aim at our hearts.

Believe it or not, there was a time when Sean "Puffy" Combs really added a lot to the music world. On this album, Puffy was doing what he does (did?) best, producing an up and coming artist. He took Mary's outstanding smooth and sexy voice and produced an amazing R&B record with some hip hop influences (witness the Notorious BIG making a small guest appearance).

Mary is a artistic female singers in R&B history. In this album there are absolutely no weak tracks, and the ones that are average are still good. This of course comes with the irresistible "Real Love", a decent cover of "Sweet Thing" and the tantalizing, emotional duet with K-Ci of Jodeci, "I Don't Want To Do Anything".


Who would of guess this was just a warm-up for what was still yet to come from one of the premier singers of the 90's. For those of you who don't know why Mary is the Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul then pick this up and find out why. Even her "My Life" and "Share My World" albums are equally good.

Continue what you do best Mary.

What's The 411?
In anticipation of Mary's new joint, I had a Mary-athon - not to compare one album to the next but just to appreciate where she started as an artist and how she's grown & evolved to now. I actually didn't buy this album until after I'd purchased & fell in love with 'My Life'.

Back in 1992, Mary took the r&b world by storm with this release. NOBODY was doing music that so successfully mixed hip hop beats with such a soulful voice and rightfully almost every single released soared up the top 10 charts of r&b music.

Listening to it again was cool and I noticed that songs I loved then, I still love now and the good thing about these particular singles is that they sound TIMELESS - they're not specific to the 90's. The standout tracks to me are: REMINISCE, REAL LOVE, YOU REMIND ME & LOVE NO LIMIT.

Tracks that I haven't really listened to consistently but upon this listen really sounded great to me are: I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING & SLOW DOWN. Her cover of SWEET THING gets an honorable mention but really doesn't quite come up to the level of Chaka Khan's original but it is a nice shout out.

Overall I'd give the disc an B+ rating because there's only 2 tracks that I consider filler and they are even great to listen to because of the beats the 7 songs I mentioned are truly enjoyable to listen to even now, 13 years after they were released. So if you're curious about the beginnings of the 'Queen of Hip Hop/Soul' and enjoy this genre of music, I'd highly recommend you getting this disc.