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No More Drama
No More Drama
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Rap & Hip-Hop, R&B
 
Anyone who's purchased one of Mary J. Blige's albums understands that the "queen of hip-hop soul" would much rather push artistic envelopes than lick 'em. With No More Drama, her enlisting of hip-hop's finest beat-makers t...  more »

     
   
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CD Details

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Title: No More Drama
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 2
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Rap & Hip-Hop, R&B
Styles: Contemporary R&B, Soul
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 008811261627, 0008811284527, 0008811284626, 766488509120

Synopsis

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Anyone who's purchased one of Mary J. Blige's albums understands that the "queen of hip-hop soul" would much rather push artistic envelopes than lick 'em. With No More Drama, her enlisting of hip-hop's finest beat-makers to create lush musical soundscapes is nothing short of genius. On the Dr. Dre-produced "Family Affair," Blige implores the club set to "get crunk 'cause Mary's back" as she introduces some new slang to the hip-hop vernacular ("holleration"). "Steal Away" is a classic Neptunes-induced head-nodder in the "Love Is All We Need" vein, as Pharrell Williams chimes in a Curtis Mayfield-like falsetto. Those who like their R&B straight might be offended by the acoustic guitar solo by Lenny Kravitz on "PMS," or the album's title track, which samples the theme from The Young and the Restless soap opera. But listen to "Where I've Been" (a redemptive tale of Blige's not-so-rapid ascent from the 'hood, featuring guest raps from Eve) and the Missy Elliott-assisted "Never Been," and misgivings vanish. Whereas past Mary J. efforts were limited to tales of relationships gone awry, her outlook is more diverse and upbeat, while her scratchy, bluesy vocals have become more expansive, too. She raps on "Love," scats on "Beautiful Day," chats on the a cappella "Forever No More," and caps No More Drama with a string of uplifting ballads ("2 U," "In the Meantime"), neatly polishing off a release that will stand as one of the best of 2001. --Dalton Higgins

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CD Reviews

This album is a must buy! ,August 29, 2001, Birmingham, Al
Jamaal | Birmigham, AL USA | 08/29/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mary's new album "No More Drama" says it all because I've been through a lot of drama the past 3 yrs. and it helped me a lot the song "Family Affair" is off the hzzook and slammin' on the charts, radio & video airwaves, and into the stores by my dawg Mighty Mighty DR.
So if you go through a lot of drama you gotta cop this disc and track # 17 "Testimony" which talks about herself having a lot of
bad days, depression, not enough love from people, loneliness, just aout the same as the slammin' Jimmy Jam-Terry Lewis produced title cut, it embodies the portion of the CBS television soap opera Y&R(Young & The Restless theme).
Neptunes are also on this album after producing for Busta Rhymes, Ray J. Ludacris, Usher, Mystikal, NERDZ, Babyface, and among others, the track "Steal Away" should be the next single cause it expresses how Mary wants to have the "real love" back again & last but not least the track entitled "Where I've Been" is so so crunk cause it talks about how she (mary) was bron and raised back in the day listening to Michael Jackson records all of the time which is produced by Ruff Ryders own Swizz Beatz, but there are a few mishaps but still this album is worth buying than Juvenile's "Project English".
Go ahead and cop this album cause Mary's back you want be dissapponted after all the other R&B singers and we must say that we can't forget about the late Aaliyah Dana Haughton.
Love Jamaal Da hey!"
She Does it Again, YALL!!!
hardwear | Philadelphia, PA United States | 08/28/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"After 10 years in the game, Mary is still doin it! For her 5th studio album, Mary is taking it back to hip hop, and instead of crying over a man, she is celebrating life, Drama Free. NO MORE DRAMA- has all the elements for a tight Mary J. Blige album. For the ballad lovers, she has three tight ones: "2u", "In the Meantime", and "Fly Away". She got hip hop and dance tracks(YES!!), "Family Affair", "Keep it Movin", "Where I've Been", "Dance for Me", and two tight tracks, "LOVE"(She rappin again, and this time its tight!), where she's tellin her lover or anybody to show her some love or "stick it up in your mainframe". The other blazin hip hop song is "Steal Away" which was produced by the Neptunes. A duet between Mary and that Guy from the Neptunes, they are suggesting that they "steal away, leave for a day", escape the pressures of daily life and make love "all damn day"! She also has those woman anthems. "PMS" is definitely one of them. She goes there, and respectfully tells us guys to leave her alone, cause PMS has taken over. TIGHT! What makes the album distinct from the others is the Theme of No More Drama in her life. The title track, which uses the Theme song from "The Young and the Restless", Is like a deep breath of releif. "Testimony" and "Destiny" are the same. On "Destiny", Mary says "No Longer concerned with your opinion, over my life I have Dominion". Words to live by! This album is right up there with her classic "My Life" album. THere is little to no complaints about this album. She wants you to listen and learn, as well as shake ya booty. Even though "Sincerity" did not make the album like she promised two years ago, its aight. That song is old now, and to be honest, it would not even fit on this album. GO COP NO MORE DRAMA!!!!!!"
No More Drama for Mary, But Plenty for Us
doomsdayer520 | Pennsylvania | 03/04/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm mostly a rock fan who merely dabbles in current R&B (though I do collect classic funk and soul). So I'm hardly an expert, but I do know when people are good at what they do, and I feel that Mary J. Blige is one of the strongest and most talented artists working in R&B today. What sets Mary above the crowd here is the lyrics, as she doesn't bother with the usual romance and good time stuff, and lays down the law with sheer emotion and insight. The running theme in this album is how Mary has moved beyond her personal demons and has a new intelligent and experienced outlook on life, as you can see in the very strong lyrics in "Destiny," "Where I've Been, " the poem "Forever No More," and others. But the great lyrics don't need to carry the album, as Mary has racked up the best producers to keep the music moving as well. Faves include the hard charging "Love," the extra funky and reggae-ish groove in "Dance with Me," and "No More Drama" which is definitely dramatic and features the theme from The Young and the Restless. This is universally great soul that has no trouble breaking out of its boundaries."