In his recent tribute to Mary J. Blige’s fifth studio album No More Drama in conjunction with its 15th anniversary, Albumism’s Brandon Ousley contends that “The stunning beauty of Blige’s genius is her courage to delve into the depths of her soul to reveal such woes of her painful past while inspiring others to reconcile their pain, through changing the narrative of their realities.” And as evidenced by her new ballad “Thick of It,” what was true about Blige’s songcraft then is still true today, some 25-plus years into her recording career.
A preview of her forthcoming album Strength of a Woman due later this year and co-written by fellow soul siren Jazmine Sullivan, “Thick of It” couples Blige’s signature emotional wallop with an irresistible, beat-driven groove. In an official statement, Blige explains, “This song is so personal it's almost painful to let it out. I don't hold back though, it's not who I am and there's no way I am going to start changing now. We all deal with love and the emotions that we get tangled up in, and we gotta survive, grow and remain honest to our best selves."
Stream “Thick of It” below and stay tuned for more information about Blige’s thirteenth studio album in stores soon. Also be sure to catch her on tour currently with Maxwell.
DOWNLOAD Mary J. Blige’s “Think of It” via iTunes
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