Posted on 04/22/2008
A stroke of genius is not complicated. It can be just common sense. For turntable stallion, J. Period, compiling a mixtape of Mary J. Blige classic cuts, exclusive remixes, and interview excerpts was an obvious must-do. Yet, for long time fans of the R&B diva, The Best of Mary J. Blige is pure brilliance.


A walloping three discs long, The Best of Mary J. Blige mixtape starts from the summer of 1992. That was when Mary's debut, What's the 411, was background music on every around the way girl's answering machine. It was the beginning of the queen of Hip-Hop Soul's sixteen year reign in pop music. The mixtape's near 150 tracks speaks to Mary's comfortable position as the voice of the American black girl lost. Even MC Lyte, Alicia Keys, and Lauryn Hill, icons in their own right, provide the mixtape with homage-paying drops.  

Far from a market driven greatest hits project, J. Period's boasts of an all inclusive track selection. Old school gems like "What's the 411" and "Mary Jane" spin alongside newer cuts like "Family Affair" and "Be Without You." No matter how old the song, J. Period injects it with a shot of mesmeric unfamiliarity. "What's the 411" is blessed with a monologue from Grand Puba and "Mary Jane" jumps off with Uncle L's rhyme about shorties in the club "ready to ride like stallions."

J. Period is not playing fair with this release. Add Mary J. Blige, a cast of notable contemporary, and a greatest hits format that knows no track limits, and the product is an automatic winner. Good thing J. Period isn't the only one who knows it.

- Sidik Fofana