Blige has the distinction of being the first to fully seize the narrative possibilities of rap: Her tough-girl persona and streetwise lyrics give even the sweet songs of her 1992 debut What’s the 411? a gritty undertone and a realism missing from much of the devotional love songs ruling the cha... 

 Blige's vocal skills shine more completely on 1994's My Life, which finds Sean Combs guiding her into more conventional R&B-ballad territory. Blige sings of hard times, men who hurt her, and struggles she's known. 

 The success of her first two projects enabled Blige to call the shots on Share My World. She moved even further toward the R&B mainstream by hiring Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Babyface, and others to produce. 

 Mary's songs include a beautiful duet with Lauryn Hill, “All That I Can Say,” and two smart appropriations: “Deep Inside” interpolates Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets,” while “Time” borrows portions of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise” and Al Green’s “I’m Gla... 

 By the time Blige returned with No More Drama in 2001, her neo-soul approach had helped artists such as Macy Gray become stars. Sensing the potential for burnout, Blige makes the music more assertive. 

 Blige's reunion with P. Diddy, Love and Life, doesn't quite hark back to the pair's enduring What's the 411?, but is a feast of contrasts. 

 The Breakthrough went multi-platinum, thanks to a huge cast of songwriters and producers (will.i.am, Cool and Dre), its solidly hip-hop-flavor, and a succession of beautiful, from-the-gut ballads. 

 A good hits compilation. 

 Growing Pains was similar in style to Breakthrough and nearly as strong, with empowerent anthems like "Work That."  

 With a list of collaborators including Ryan Leslie, Polow Tha Don and Ne-Yo, Stronger With Each Tear had upbeat songs and crisp, digital production that echoed much radio-friendly R&B in 2009.