Notes & Personnel Info |  | This version contains a P. Diddy/Mario Winans remix of the song, "No More Drama." | | Personnel includes: Mary J. Blige (vocals); Eve, P. Diddy, Pharrell Williams, Lenny Kravitz, Marshane Smith, Ja Rule, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot. | | Producers include: Bryan Peguero, Chucky Thompson, Dame Grease, Dr. Dre, Floyd Howard. | | "He Think I Don't Know" won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. | | Personnel: Mary J. Blige (vocals, background vocals); Ja Rule (vocals, rap vocals); Eve, Pharrell Williams (vocals); Common, Marshane Smith (rap vocals); John DuBois, Ell Lishinski, Mark Whitfield, Mike Scott (guitar); Lenny Kravitz (electric guitar); James "Big Jim" Wright (organ, background vocals); Eric Lorde, Camara Kambon (keyboards); J. Garfield, Mario Winans, Gerald Isaac (programming); Alexander Richbourg (drum programming); Jewelynn Green, David Hurst, LaTonia Wright Hughes, Montina Cooper, Tara Geter-Tillman, David Hughes, Lou Perez, Missy Elliott, Terri Robinson (background vocals). | | Audio Mixers: Mr. Leslie Braithwaite; Paul Loggins; Dr. Dre; Edwin "Eddie Ed" Ramos; Ken Duro; Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander ; Yuri Zwadluk; Mary J. Blige; Angela Piva; Serban Ghenea; Steve Hodge; Tony Maserati; Bruce Miller. | | Audio Remixers: Hitman; Mario Winans; Sean "Puffy" Combs. | | Recording information: Capricorn One Sound Studios, Bpt, CT; Chung King House Of MEtal, New York, NY; Crack House Studios, New York, NY; Cue Recording Studio, Falls Church, VA; Daddy's House, New York, NY; East Coast Flavor Recording Studio, Washington DC; Flyte Tyme studios, Edina, MN; Marvins Room, Los Angeles, CA; Mixed Impressions, New York, NY; Quad Recording Studio, New York, NY; Record One, Los Angeles, CA; Right Track Studio, New York, NY; Roxy Records, Miama, FL; Sony Music Studio, New York, NY; The Bomb Shelter Recording Studios; The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA. | | Photographer: Rod Spicer. | | Arranger: Gerald Isaac. | | From P Diddy to Lenny Kravitz, a plethora of producers and guest stars graces this updated, remix-added version of Mary J. Blige's 2001 NO MORE DRAMA, a situation usually signaling a dearth of creativity on behalf of the featured artist. Fortunately that's not the case here. Blige is fully in control, from a lyrical reworking of the '70s Al Green classic "Simply Beautiful" entitled "PMS," which could well become an anthem for women suffering from those disabling symptoms, to the Dr. Dre-produced "Family Affair," in which this classic R&B singer self-confidently modernizes her image for the J-Lo generation. | | "He Think I Don't Know" is vintage Blige, her roots firmly in late-'70s deep soul, while the autobiographical "Where I've Been" features Eve paying homage to a woman who's struggled through poverty and drug addiction and come out the other side a stronger person. This is a masterful effort that finds Mary J. Blige successfully updating her sound while retaining the musical depth that got her where she is today. | | Listeners of Mary J. Blige's seasoned and confident fifth studio release will have zero problems remembering the album's title, No More Drama. An urban-sounding vocal sample that sings, "Mary J. Blige, no more drama," plays throughout the length of the 17-track disc. This very well may be the first time such a tactic has been used in contemporary music; generally a vocal sample repeats throughout the course of only one song, but because the fare on No More Drama is so good, this recurring vocal sample is as subtle and congruent as a consistent drum hit. Blige has come a long way since 1992's breakthrough, What's the 411?, and that's made very clear on this solid disc. The singer/songwriter has blossomed into an all-out R&B diva -- with a hip-hop edge -- full of soul and command. Her songs on this recording exude the wisdom of a woman who's seen it all and has found her center. And she will no longer tolerate drama, pettiness, and overall crap. In 2001's crop of R&B singers, Blige's voice was truly inimitable. It is husky, strong, soulful, and full of maturity. Make no mistake, though, this lady can still flow like no one's business; just check out the bouncy album-opener, "Love." In fact, many of the record's cuts are standout moments. For instance, only Blige has the balls to write and pull off a song called "PMS," a soulful and bluesy number that describes, in detail, this condition inherent to the female experience. And while she also explores themes of love, Blige's disc is essentially a journey through her personal evolution and spirituality. The final cut, "Testimony," best summarizes the album's theme: finding what's real in life. And for Blige, that's self-love and God. To her credit, Blige has a killer instinct for penning lyrics that people can relate to and creating gritty, thick, and soul-infused R&B fare. (She does get some help on this disc from such R&B and hip-hop heavyweights as Missy Elliot, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis, among others.) Her music is more than heard, it is felt, and audiences would be hard-pressed to not surrender to her groove. Interestingly, many of Blige's peers sing about drama, but not this artist -- not anymore. [No More Drama was re-released in early 2002 with a handful of different tracks.] ~ Liana Jonas |
Engineer: Chris Ribando; Eric 'Ibo' Butler; Jason Goldstein; Michael "Wolf" Reaves; Milwaukee Buck; Rodd Fairall; Bill Importico; Yuri Zwadluk; Mauricio Iragorri; Ken Schubert; Matt Knobel; Michael Patterson; Steve Hodge; Brian Garten |
Musical Guests | | Eve | | Ja Rule | | P. Diddy | | Pharrell Williams | | Missy Elliott | | Lenny Kravitz |
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