Mary J. Blige is eyeing a fourth-quarter release date for one of the three albums she teased last year. The new album, the global R&B icon’s 14th overall, will serve as her Republic Records debut.
In a recent interview with The Los Angeles Times to promote her new show Power Book II: The Ghost, Blige shared that fans can expect the follow-up to Strength of Woman in stores and on preferred streaming platforms “this fall or winter.”
“It’s about life, love, struggle, but mostly triumph,” Blige told Greg Braxton of The L.A. Times. “Because I’m learning how to rejoice in the valleys and the droughts.”
When Blige discussed the context surrounding her forthcoming music projects in February 2019, she told Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos, “It reflects all of our lives as women that are bosses and know that they can say they’re bosses right now.”
Since her last studio album in 2017, Blige has issued a few standalone tracks, including the disco-etched “Only Love,” the Nas-assisted banger “Thriving,” the heart-rendering “Know,” and the emotional score “Can’t Be Life” from the horror-thriller Body Cam.
Blige has also been seen in the studio working with a diverse group of songwriters and producers, from DJ Camper (Brandy, Tamar Braxton) to Blush Writes (K. Michelle, Chris Brown) to Prince Charlez (Rihanna, Beyoncé), and Murda Beatz (Migos, Drake), who is known for his trap production.
Read more details and predictions on Blige’s future albums here.
November 20 will see the re-release of Blige’s most personal album to date, My Life. The expanded edition of the groundbreaking album comes on the heels of its 25th anniversary last November.
A new documentary on Blige that coincides with the celebration of her Grammy-nominated sophomore album is on its way. The untitled film is spearheaded by Amazon Studios and Entertainment One, with Blige and Sean “Diddy” Combs serving as executive producers.
As we await the new album, revisit some of her most underrated songs here.
