Mary J. Blige is getting ready to release her 15th studio album.
The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul plans to release her first album of new material in two years in the fall, People reports.
“It’s going to be out soon, probably the end of September, early October,” Blige told Ilana Kaplan of the publication.
This new album development comes after Blige revealed early in 2024 that she would be releasing a new project later this year.
The title of Blige’s impending full-length has not been confirmed yet; however, the Grammy winner did reveal that more music will be released ahead of the upcoming set.
“But there’ll be two singles out before then,” Blige said.
Blige has already released the single “Breathing,” featuring Fabolous, on Aug. 16 via Mary Jane Productions/300 Entertainment. An accompanying video was also released on the same day.
In the same interview, Blige shared the inspiration behind the S.Dot-produced track. “The story behind the track is what I’m doing finally, which is living, breathing, enjoying my life and celebrating the happiness and freedom I have that life brings,” she explained.
“I finally get to exhale and inhale and then exhale and enjoy life, enjoy love.”
In terms of what Mary J. Blige’s new album will offer musically, she is certain that it will not follow the current trends.
Blige said, “Everybody that’s out there, I don’t look at what they’re doing and do what they’re doing. I do what Mary J. Blige does, and that’s it.”
Blige mentioned in Audacy Check In with Big Tigger of Atlanta’s V-103 earlier this year that her next album will lean more toward hip-hop soul.
The legendary singer and songwriter also hinted to People in a separate interview this year that her next project may be her final. “It’s probably my last studio album,” Blige said.
Blige did not provide any additional confirmation of this assertion in her recent interview, but she did explain the thematic direction for her next full-length release.
“The overall theme is enjoying life and understanding that, again, life is what inspires me, whether I take the good with the bad. I look at every lesson as a blessing and I understand that I’m not the only one on the earth going through things. I celebrate my triumph, and I work through my hard times,” Blige shared.
“So, the album is going to be fun in that perspective. There’ll be things that are real and serious, but you’ll be able to dance to it or sing to it. There’s a bunch of different things — ballads, world music. There’s some good sh*t on here.”
In 2023, Blige released the single “Still Believe in Love” featuring Vado. It spent eight weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
It’s unclear whether this nostalgic song will appear on a project, as Blige previously noted that it is a standalone track.
Blige’s next project will follow 2022’s Good Morning Gorgeous. The album, which was later reissued as a deluxe edition, includes the title track, a No. 1 hit produced by D’Mile and H.E.R., as well as the top-five “Here With Me” featuring Anderson .Paak.
The expanded version also features collaborations with Usher, Ne-Yo, Dave East, DJ Khaled, Remy Ma, Moneybagg Yo, and more.
Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe) marked a comeback in Grammy nominations for Blige, with six nods, including Album of the Year and Best R&B Album.
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Mary J. Blige will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Oct. 19. The ceremony will take place at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
The event will be streamed live on Disney+ and later broadcast on ABC. It will also be available on Hulu on Sunday, Oct. 20.
Blige is scheduled to perform as part of the induction into the performer category.
“I’m performing. There’s people performing with me. I don’t want to say who right now, but you’ll find out. But it’s going to be a good time,” Blige noted.
READ MORE: Mary J. Blige’s Albums, Ranked
READ MORE: Mary J. Blige’s 30 Best Songs, Ranked
