Mary J. Blige is an iconic R&B superstar who has experimented with numerous musical styles. When Blige was first signed to Uptown Records in 1989, she not only became the youngest artist to be signed to the record, but also the first female. Blige hit the scene as a trailblazer and continued to do so throughout her career. This singer/songwriter is known for her unprecedented soul and hip hop combinations in the early 1990s and is often credited with spearheading the genre. She draws heavy influenced from soul artists like Aretha Franklin and Anita Baker. Blige also took her her talents to the silver screen, appearing in both films and movies, while remaining deeply rooted in her music.
