Mary Jane Blige ( /ˈblaɪʒ/; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and occasional rapper and actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige started her musical career in 1992, releasing her debut album, What's the 411? on MCA Records and Uptown. With her tenth album, My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1) (2011), she had ten consecutive albums debut in the top 10 on the Billboard 200. Blige's work has defined the course of R&B/Hip-Hop music. My Life, in particular, is considered among the greatest albums ever recorded according to Rolling Stone (279/500), Time, and Vibe. For her part in combining hip hop and soul in the early 1990s and its subsequent commercial success, Blige received the World Music Awards "Legends Award". In 2007 the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers awarded her its "Voice of Music" Award. ASCAP official Jeanie Weems stated that "[Blige's] music has been the voice of inspiration to women worldwide in both struggle and triumph." That same year,
Mary J. Blige has learned a valuable lesson about running a charity since her foundation was slapped with a $250,000 lawsuit -- telling TMZ, she let dumbasses handle her finances ... and now she's… READ MORE >
Mary J. Blige's charity is more TAKE than give ... this according to a bank which claims it lent the foundation $250,000 ... but only got $400 back. TMZ has learned ... the Mary J. Blige and Steve… READ MORE >
Mary J. Blige says she never signed off on the controversial fried chicken ad that she shot for Burger King -- at least not the version that was blasted on the Internet.Mary J. tells TMZ, “I… READ MORE >
![Mary J. Blige and Toni Braxton -- Rocking Out to Bell Biv Devoe [VIDEO]](http://ll-media.tmz.com/2012/01/28/0128-mary-j-toni-braxton-video-ex-248x127.jpg)
No one can resist getting down on the dance floor when Bell Biv Devoe starts performing "Poison" -- not even Mary J. Blige and Toni Braxton!It all went down at a birthday party last night for… READ MORE >
Here's a first look at R+B diva Mary J. Blige as Justice Charlier in the new movie musical "Rock of Ages" (left) -- and '70s duo Peaches & Herb (right).Reunited.We're just sayin'. READ MORE >
Music divas Mary J. Blige, 39, and Ashanti, 30, got sassy at the same event in NYC this week.Question is ... READ MORE >
Here's R&B diva Mary J. Blige chatting on the phone in NYC on Sunday (left) -- and teen pop phenom Justin Bieber at some event last month (right).Both have recorded songs with Ludacris.We're… READ MORE >
