My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1)
Production for the album took place during 2010 to 2011 at several recording studios in New York City and Los Angeles and was handled by a variety of musicians, including Jerry Duplessis, Danja, Eric Hudson, Tricky Stewart, Soundz, The Underdogs and others.Upon its release, My Life II earned generally positive reviews and debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart with first week sales of 156,000 copies.[3] By August 2010, the singer had already begun work on her tenth studio album, involving collaborators such as Swizz Beatz, Kanye West, The Underdogs, Jerry Duplessis, Arden Altino, Lil Ronnie, Jay-Z, Timbaland, Salaam Remi, Maxwell, Alicia Keys, Raphael Saadiq, Ester Dean, J.U.S.T.I.C.E.League, Johnta Austin, Eric Hudson, Q-Tip, Sean Garrett, DJ Premier, Gorilla Tek, Don Pooh, Ne-Yo, and Drumma Boy."[16] Finished in Los Angeles, New York City and Atlanta, Blige decided to name the album My Life II after going through a phase of self-knowledge following the release of The Breakthrough (2005).[54] Martyn Young of musicOMH called it "a wonderfully assured collection of classy R&B pop that can justifiably rank amongst her best work," and commented that its ballads "are never grandiose or overblown and Blige's perfectly poised vocals are genuinely affecting."[57] Rolling Stone writer Jody Rosen called Blige "admirably unfashionable, staying in her sweet spot of midtempo hip-hop soul," adding that "she can still make pain pleasurable."[58] Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian called it "a surprisingly robust return to form [...] elegant, refined and, for the most, part up-to-date," but also found it "far too long" and criticized the "listlessness and sentimentality" of its ballads.[59] Slant Magazine's Eric Henderson disliked Blige's "lapses into self-pity", but commended the "slow burn" of the album's second half as "her most credible adult-contemporary music since 1999's Mary."[63] AllMusic editor Andy Kellman stated, "Those who are hoping for something in the spirit of mid-'90s Blige might be disappointed and think of the title as a ploy, but those who expect a wide variety of material in terms of style and mood will get precisely that."[55] Los Angeles Times writer Mikael Wood stated, "She gets away with the dramatics because she makes them so easy to buy: No working soul singer depicts struggle (and its hard-won defeat) more believably than Blige does, even when armed with so-so material, as she often is here.Club stated, "What My Life II lacks in a single vision, though, it makes up for with consistently rousing performances from Blige, whose radiant voice has only grown fuller and bluesier with time."[67] Peter S. Scholtes of Spin complimented the "funky, mid-tempo beauties such as 'Irreversible,' 'Midnight Drive,' and 'Someone to Love Me (Naked)'" and stated, "Amid overwrought theatrical gestures, MJB still finds a slinky groove."[64] David Masciotra of PopMatters commented that "despite its flaws, [it] is an immensely enjoyable and impressive album," commending its "four song, mid-album set of soulful R&B" and "closing trio of ballads.
Studio albumMary J. BligeHip hop soulMatriarchGeffenProducerBrandon "BAM" AlexanderSean GarrettCalvin HarrisEric HudsonRodney JerkinsJim JonsinLil' RonnieRico LoveHarmony SamuelsStarGateTricky StewartMartin TerefeThe UnderdogsJerry WondaStronger with Each TearA Mary ChristmasSinglesMr. WrongDon't MindGeffen RecordsMatriarch RecordsMy Lifedark periodNew York CityLos AngelesJerry DuplessisSoundzBillboard 200Recording Industry Association of AmericaSomeone to Love Me (Naked)Adult R&B SongsMr. Wrong"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop SongsNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo or GroupThe Liberation TourD'AngeloTop R&B/Hip-Hop AlbumsOutstanding Female ArtistOutstanding Album41st NAACP Image AwardsSwizz BeatzKanye WestLil RonnieTimbalandSalaam RemiMaxwellAlicia KeysRaphael SaadiqEster DeanJ.U.S.T.I.C.E. LeagueJohnta AustinDJ PremierGorilla TekDrumma BoyMusic Saved My Life TourBusta RhymesGyptian2010 MTV Video Music AwardsWhat's the 411?Nicki MinajBlues & Soultechnofour-to-the-floorThe BreakthroughGood Morning AmericaDancing with the StarsPerez HiltonLater... with Jools HollandDaybreakBlack Girls Rock!TeenNick HALO AwardsAmerican Music AwardsMacy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeThe Today ShowChelsea LatelyCBS News Sunday MorningThe ViewOaklandAtlantaUnstagedAdam ShankmanFamily AffairWWE Tribute to the TroopsUSA Networkdigital downloadBillboardHot R&B/Hip Hop SongsRick RossAmerican IdolDirty MoneyLast Train to ParisLil WayneJerry "Wonder" DuplessissamplesThe Sweet InspirationsBillboard Music AwardsThe Living ProofThe HelpAdult ContemporaryAin't NobodyChaka KhanSwiss Singles ChartMetacriticAllMusicConsequenceThe Daily TelegraphEntertainment WeeklyThe GuardianLos Angeles TimesmusicOMHRolling StoneSlant Magazinemusic criticsnormalizedaverageBBC MusicJody RosenThe Independentadult-contemporaryThe A.V. Club