Ranking The Best Mary J. Blige Albums

It’s hard to believe that Mary J. Blige has been a constant force in R&B for more than three decades now.

Well, maybe it’s not that hard. During that time, she’s been the voice behind some of the greatest anthems in R&B history.

Today, we’re looking back at Mary’s entire discography, ranking her catalog from worst to best. By the way, we’re strictly sticking to Mary’s studio albums, excluding her compilations, live albums and Christmas album.

She’s earned her crown as Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. These are the songs that defined her kingdom.

 

15. Gratitude (2024)

Soul In Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5

Read our review here

Edd said: Wellllll, I’m sorry to report that Mary J.’s most recent project is easily her worst to date. Although we acknowledge her as the queen of hip-hop soul, many of Mary’s more recent works have lacked those rap elements that made her a legend. Gratitude takes her back to basics by bookending the project with four songs that feature hip-hop production while also tying in familiar samples. Those mostly work OK. It’s the rest that fall short, along with with MJB’s less than inspired vocals. She often sounds very strained, and makes for a disappointingly weary project.

Forgotten favorites: “Need You More,” “Nobody But You”

14. Love & Life (2003)

Soul In Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5

Edd said: I’ve gotten a lot of grief over the years for my criticism of this one. I get the hype – it was promoted as the reunion of Mary and her former mentor Diddy, long before his name was attached to assault and baby oil memes. But what should have been a home run on paper didn’t translate in execution. There were a few decent songs here, they were just lost in a sea of endless interludes and mostly bland singles. It’s proof that you can’t always go home again.

Forgotten favorites: “It’s A Wrap”

13. Good Morning Gorgeous (2022)

Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Read our review here

Edd said: MJB’s GMG is truly a mixed bag. The first half of the album is pretty rough, filled with songs that feel like Temu versions of Mary’s earlier hits. The second half turns things around for the better, thanks to solid midtempos and lively cuts. It’s Mary at her best – fiery, fed up and fervent. Good Morning Gorgeous certainly has its issues, but the good outweighs the bad.

Forgotten favorites: “Failing in Love,” “Enough,” “Love Will Never”

12. Stronger With Each Tear (2009)

Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: MJB’s albums often read like a self-help book on wax, and her 2009 effort was no different. It was an all-around solid effort but lacked her trademark standout cuts. And I’m still kinda tripping over  “Kitchen,” where Mary warned ladies not to let other women rummage through your cabinets. That hood wisdom goes a long way. It’s a bit forgettable but its not without its wins.

Forgotten treasures: “Good Love,” “I Love U (Yes I Du),” “Said and Done”

 

11. Think Like A Man Too (2014)

Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read our review here

Edd said: It’s rare that you’ll see a lot of love for this project online, but if you’re a secret fan like me, you’ve come to the right place. The Think Like A Man Too soundtrack was essentially a Mary album in disguise – it’s all Mary, all the time. The tracks all very solid too, encompassing not only the scope of the movie but relationships in general. Like most of the albums on the second half of this list, its biggest sin is that it’s just not very memorable. But if you’re talking quality, it’s pretty good for a latter-day MJB release.

Forgotten favorites: “All Fun and Game,” “Kiss and Make Up,” “See That Boy Again”

 

10. Growing Pains (2007)

Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Growing Pains is another album that gets lost in the shuffle among Mary’s more prominent works, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a banger in its own right. Obviously, we all know (and probably are quite tired of) singles like “Just Fine” but it’s the album cuts that help this project shine. For example, the extremely bitter “Roses” is one of Mary’s most passionate songs. Mary’s at her best when her emotions are on her sleeve, and Growing Pains has all that hurt on full display.

Forgotten favorites: “Roses,” “Shake Down,” “If You Love Me?”

9. Strength of a Woman (2017)

Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read our review here

Edd said: Nobody sings about pain like MJB and due to a very messy public fallout with her husband, Mary’s got her groove back. Strength of a Woman isn’t just a big man-bashing party, though. Mary channels her sorrow into a redemption story, one that focuses as much on hurt as it does healing. It’s not QUITE the Mary J. of old, but it’s the closest we’ve gotten in years.

Forgotten favorites: “U + Me (Love Session),” “Thick of It,” “Love Yourself”

8. The London Sessions (2014)

Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Another underrated entry in MJB’s vast catalog, The London Sessions sees Mary traveling across the pond to embrace British soul. And man, the transition is seamless. There have been long been criticisms of MJB’s vocal abilities over the years, but many of these tracks feature some of her best vocal performances in years – maybe ever. Fans of Mary’s more hip-hop inspired work might not be moved by this overly soulful experience, but the album’s understated yet passionate themes are a big win.

Forgotten favorites: “Whole Damn Year,” “Doubt,” “When You’re Gone”

 

7. No More Drama (2002)

Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: For the sake of argument, I’m going with the superior 2002 re-release over the 2001 original (but let’s just forget the “Waterfalls” knockoff “Rainy Dayz” never existed, OK?). This album marked a turning point for Mary, who symbolically left behind the heartbreak and misery that defined her early career to transition into a voice for progress and growth. Mary sounds especially rejuvenated over these upbeat tracks, proving that she can be more than misery, she can be a motivator. This is when Mary went from victim to controlling her own destiny.

Forgotten favorites: “Steal Away,” “He Think I Don’t Know,” “Dance for Me”

 

6. My Life II … The Journey Continues (Act 1) (2011)

Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read our review here

Edd said: For my money, this is Mary J Blige’s most underrated release. Now, I get it, sequel albums usually tend to suck – but not this time. Taking a cue from the heartbroken girl portrayed in her classic My Life album, My Life II conjured memories of that bygone era but with reworked themes of redemption, complete with more dynamic production. These songs are just as angry but come from a place of maturity. No, it’s not as good as My Life – very few albums can boast that – but it’s a perfect picture of growth.

Forgotten favorites: “No Condition,” “Love A Woman,” “Don’t Mind”

 

5. Mary (1999)

Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: In 1999, Mary backed away from the hip-hop samples that made her career to embrace a more traditional R&B sound. The result was Mary, her most soulful and stirring album to date. It was a very bold move to step away from the hard-hitting sound that defined her career but the risk paid off. It’s become a very beloved release over the years and I get the hype, but its highs don’t peak as highly as others later on this list. Still, in my eyes, this is the album that solidified Mary as the true Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.

Forgotten favorites: “No Happy Holiday,” “Sexy,” “Give Me You”

 

4. The Breakthrough (2005)

Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Don’t call it a comeback – unless you want to. I won’t be mad. After Love & Life fizzled, Mary’s star started to dim and her career began to sputter. Never doubt the queen. The Breakthrough was an aptly named album, reestablishing Mary as one of R&B’s preeminent voices while recapturing the magic of her earlier works. It pulled on nostalgia’s strings much more effectively than Love & Life could ever do. From massive hit singles to smoldering album cuts (“Alone” is still something special) MJB was still capable of captivating audiences 15 years after her debut. Impressive.

Forgotten favorites: “Can’t Hide From Luv,” MJB da MVP,” “Alone”

 

3. What’s the 411? (1992)

Soul In Stereo rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: It’s easy to take this record for granted today, but take it from a guy who watched this project take over the world in real time –What’s the 411 established a new blueprint for women in R&B. MJB’s mix of hip-hop and R&B was a game changer for the industry. Her songs were rugged and gritty – fellas weren’t afraid to rock to them, yet the lyrics and themes spoke to a generation of girls and women. It was the start of a legendary career and changed the world of R&B forever.

Forgotten treasures: “Slow Down,” “Changes I’ve Been Going Through,” “I Don’t Want To Do Anything”

 

2. Share My World (1997)

Soul In Stereo rating: 5 stars out of 5

Edd said: I may be in the minority but here me out – Share My World is MJB’s most complete work. From top to bottom, it’s an air-tight collection of R&B. Mary was truly in her prime here, crafting ballads that were just as strong as radio-friendly singles. The tracklist reads like a greatest-hits record on its own, and both the singles and album cuts have lived on in R&B infamy. Only one thing that keeps it from gaining the No. 1 spot – it lacks the legendary impact of its predecessor.

Forgotten treasures: “Share My World,” “It’s On,” “Can’t Get You Off My Mind”

 

1. My Life (1994)

Soul In Stereo rating: 5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Yep, I’m sure you weren’t shocked by No. 1, and who can blame you? This album is No. 1 for a reason. My Life is one of the most iconic albums in R&B history, arguably THE signature album of R&B’s glory days in the 1990s. A generation of women felt Mary’s pain and lived vicariously through her vocals. Many of the lyrics ache with pain, the production weeps alongside her and the impact of its themes of heartbreak made a lasting mark on the industry. It’s not just the greatest album Mary J gave us, it’s one of the greatest gifts R&B has ever received.

Forgotten treasures: “You Gotta Believe,” “I Never Wanna Live Without You,” “Be With You,” “Don’t Go”

How would you rank Mary’s catalog? Speak out in the comments