CLEVELAND, Ohio – The “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” Mary J. Blige has arrived.
The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee landed in Cleveland on Saturday night, scoring the exalted status at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to the delight of all in attendance.
The nine-time Grammy winner, actress and entrepreneur is credited with influencing the “marriage” of hip hop and R&B. When she signed with Uptown Records in 1989, she became the label’s youngest (and first female artist.
She singlehandedly created a new genre with her album, “What’s the 411?” and lent her muscular voice to messages of resilience, hope and healing. Dr. Dre said that Blige made sure listeners knew “they were not alone in heartbreak” and soothed them “by letting us know there is another day.”
Blige was inducted by Dr. Dre and Method Man and while the former was tripped up by the teleprompter operator, the duo made an emphatic case for Blige’s coronation. “Stand for the Queen!” the duo shouted.
Method Man extolled her personal power and intelligence, “an artist of the very highest order and always knows what she’s doing. There are not enough superlatives to say about her.”
Blige’s artistic roots can be traced all the way back through fellow inductees teamed up with The Roots for her hits “My Life,” “No Limit,” “Be Happy” and “Family Affair” which she did solo.
Her superstar performance was sexy, sultry and soaring – she could deliver vocally in any genre –very much hinted at what’s to come in 2025 for her and her fans. The Yonkers, New York native will be hitting the road next year, touring to support her upcoming 15th studio album.
The “For My Fans Tour,” which will see support from R&B giants Ne-Yo and Mario and no doubt, it will be powered by the electricity she unleashed in Cleveland on Saturday.
“I need some water!” the winded Blige said after her performance.
“Thank you so much. This is a lot… and I’m grateful,” she added, thanking her mother for instilling a resilience, a work ethic and strength that she might not otherwise have. She also thanked extended family and two lifelong friends – Dre and Method, who flanked her – for their unwavering support.
“Friendship is about winning together,” Blige said, tearfully thanking her “Tri-Star Team” of pals who supported her through divorce. “Talent requires a team to be terrific and awesome. When you stop exchanging, you become stagnant.”
She teared up again.
“And to my fans, y’all endured blood sweat and tears with me and helped me heal like I helped you,” Blige said. “None of this would be possible without… your diehard love and loyalty, if you didn’t cheer for me. There are no words to express what you did for me.”
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