Mary J. Blige got a lot to get off of her chest. And, with her latest album, Strength of a Woman, she doesn’t hold back. Strength of a Woman is Mary J. Blige’s first album since 2014. The 14-track project is packed with emotions from heartbreak and the after effects of finding herself again. The album features Kanye West (“Love Yourself”), Quavo, DJ Khaled, and the Missy Elliott-assisted “Glow Up.” Mary talked to NPR about the album and how working on songs got her through this tumultuous time. “It was hard because of the pain, but it was good to get it out,” she said. “It made me cry, and then I had to go sing it and cry and get through it. But I believe that there’s a purpose for me here on this earth, and I think it’s so I can live and become these things so people can heal from them. I don’t mind the pain. I don’t mind it all, because it hurts so good. It hurts so good.” Mary’s life has been the recent headline news with her pending divorce from her longtime husband Kendu Isaacs. During several press runs, the Queen of Hip Hop Soul expressed her disdain for Kendu’s rumored cheating, his excessive amount requested for alimony, and how she’s moving forward with life. Mary will also share her story in a VH1 documentary, “The Making of: Strength of a Woman,” which airs May 2. Preview the album below via Apple Music:
