Brown Sista

Unlike Janet Jackson and Sade, Mary J. Blige is not known for taking long breaks in between albums. The singer, who released her last album “Growing Pains” less than two years ago, is now ready to release another and the lead track from that album has reportedly been leaked to the net. Produced by Rodney ‘Darkchild” Jerkins and featuring rapper Drake, “The One” showcases a somewhat new sound for Mary, but is so far not getting very good reviews from fans who aren’t feeling the singer’s use of auto-tune.
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R n’ B icon, Mary J. Blige, is throwing her hat once again into the acting ring. Last appearing in Prison Song, a 2001 film in which she played the mother of rapper Q-Tip, Mary will now take on the starring role in Tyler Perry’s new film, I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Mary will play the role of a nightclub singer/manager, which means we will probably get a few soundtrack singles from the singer as well. Mary will join an already talented line-up, as Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson and soul diva herself, Gladys Knight, have already been cast.

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Singers Mary J. Blige and Musiq Soulchild braved the iffy New York City weather yesterday to film the video for their new single, If You Leave. The song appears on Musiq’s new album, On My Radio, which is due to be released on December 2nd. If You Leave will serve as the second single from Musiq’s CD and takes him back to his roots after releasing the controversial “Radio” as his first single. As for Mary, this video and single keeps her working after her latest CD, Growing Pains, was abandoned by her record label. Mary stays busy however with her Love Soul tour which continues throughout the month and has Robin Thicke and Mary’s own artist, Dave young, on the under card.
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Singer Mary J. Blige and her husband Kendu Isaacs were spotted over the weekend vacationing in Saint Tropez. The singer, who is about to go back on on tour in September, is taking it easy before embarking on the European leg of her solo world tour, which is due to last through January. Rumor has it Mary has also been asked to make a cameo in Keyshia Cole’s video for the remake of Mary’s 1994 hit single, I Love You. Rapper Lil Wayne, who will be remaking the song along with Keyshia, spilled the beans in an interview with SEMTEX TV in Amsterdam a few weeks ago. No word yet when the single and video will debut, but it will be interesting to see how Keyshia, who has been compared to Mary on numerous occasions, sounds remaking a Mary classic.
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Singer Mary J. Blige is being sued. The Drama Family Entertainment Company filed a two million dollar claim against the singer Tuesday in a federal court in New York City. The lawsuit accuses Blige of copyright infringement, claiming her tune “Work It,” from her latest album, Growing Pains, was created by a producer who worked for them at the time. The song was featured with a silhouette of Mary dancing in an iPod commercial, though Apple was not named in the suit.
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Mary J. Blige has a certain distaste for this country’s favorite pastime, American Idol. But she won’t admit it outright. “I haven’t really watched it since Ruben [Studdard] won,” the singer tells me after cutting her workout short and grabbing the phone at her New Jersey home for our interview. But whether she likes it or not, she does think the juggernaut show does the contestants a huge disservice. “Honestly, it’s not giving most of them a real chance to become an artist for the rest of their lives,” she explains. “They are on national TV every night. They have automatic fame. All of the greatest artists had to struggle for their success.”
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Singer Mary J. Blige was shopping at the Diane von Furstenberg store in New York’s Meatpacking District when a woman at the counter appeared to be in distress over a dress she couldn’t afford. “The girl had a dress on hold (lay-a-way) that she loved, and the bill was $900. She thought it was only $500, and she couldn’t afford it,” a witness told the New York Post’s Page Six.” That’s when Blige swooped in with her Gucci pocketbook and told the saleswoman: “Go get the girl. I want to pay for the balance on the dress,” the witness recounted. The customer at first turned down Blige’s offer but eventually agreed after the singer said: “I know what it’s like to want something and not be able to have it. I insist.” The woman wanted to send her a check for the balance, but Blige said, “Just enjoy it. I’m blessed, so let me do this.” Mary may be the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, but kudos to her for remembering what it was like before she wore the crown.
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Mary J Blige, Eric Dane and Russell Simmons each have designed a limited edition Ernst Benz watch to benefit Chrysalis, the nonprofit association that helps men and women transition from poverty. The collection, dubbed Time for Change, will offer a numbered series of 24 watches per designer in honor of Chrysalis’ 24th anniversary. Renderings of the watches will be unveiled on May 31 at the 7th Annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball in Los Angeles on Saturday. Fifty percent of the proceeds from each watch sold — which range from $4,000 to $22,000 — will go to Chrysalis. Several watches also will be auctioned off on eBay in June, while the remainder will hit stores in the fall.