The Breakthrough CD

MUSIC

R&B / SOUL

SOUL

Song Listing

Disc 1

Song Title

1. No One Will Do ~ Mary J. Blige

2. Enough Cryin ~ Mary J. Blige

3. About You ~ Mary J. Blige

4. Be Without You ~ Mary J. Blige

5. Gonna Breakthrough ~ Mary J. Blige

6. Good Woman Down ~ Mary J. Blige

7. Take Me As I Am ~ Mary J. Blige

8. Baggage ~ Mary J. Blige

9. Can't Hide from Luv ~ Mary J. Blige

10. MJB Da MVP ~ Mary J. Blige

11. Can't Get Enough ~ Mary J. Blige

12. Ain't Really Love ~ Mary J. Blige

13. I Found My Everything ~ Mary J. Blige

14. Father In You ~ Mary J. Blige

15. Alone ~ Mary J. Blige

16. One ~ Mary J. Blige

After her somewhat lukewarm 2003 release LOVE & LIFE, Mary J. Blige returns to her rightful place as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul with 2005's THE BREAKTHROUGH. Blige enlisted a host of guest producers to contribute tracks to THE BREAKTHROUGH, and the result is one of her strongest and most varied albums. As usual, the sound is a mixture of smooth, urban contemporary and hip-hop edge, but Blige nails it with tracks like the pulsing "Enough Cryin'" (with its rich, multi-layered vocals) and the breezy "Can't Hide From Luv" featuring a guest spot by Jay-Z.

The album's lead-off single, "Be Without You," a bittersweet slow jam, is representative of the album's themes, which focus on feelings of strength and weakness in love. But whether waxing romantic ("Can't Get Enough") or detailing the travails of the heart ("Baggage"), Blige lays down elastic R&B vocal lines that are second to none. Even a seemingly unlikely duet with Bono and U2 on "One" comes across beautifully, adding a new dimension to that familiar tune.

Album Notes and Credits

Notes & Personnel Info
	Personnel: Mary J. Blige (vocals); Dave Young, will.i.am, Brook (vocals); Jay-Z (rap vocals); Bryan-Michael Cox (various instruments); Raphael Saadiq (guitar, bass guitar); Craig Brockman (keyboards); U2.
	After her somewhat lukewarm 2003 release LOVE & LIFE, Mary J. Blige returns to her rightful place as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul with 2005's THE BREAKTHROUGH. Blige enlisted a host of guest producers to contribute tracks to THE BREAKTHROUGH, and the result is one of her strongest and most varied albums. As usual, the sound is a mixture of smooth, urban contemporary and hip-hop edge, but Blige nails it with tracks like the pulsing "Enough Cryin'" (with its rich, multi-layered vocals) and the breezy "Can't Hide From Luv" featuring a guest spot by Jay-Z.
	The album's lead-off single, "Be Without You," a bittersweet slow jam, is representative of the album's themes, which focus on feelings of strength and weakness in love. But whether waxing romantic ("Can't Get Enough") or detailing the travails of the heart ("Baggage"), Blige lays down elastic R&B vocal lines that are second to none. Even a seemingly unlikely duet with Bono and U2 on "One" comes across beautifully, adding a new dimension to that familiar tune.
Producer: Rodney Jerkins
Musical Guests
	U2
	Will.I.Am
	Jay-Z
	Raphael Saadiq

Compilation Appearances

	Waiting To Exhale
	Vol. 1-Traffic Jams (Explicit Version)
	Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
	Notorious K.I.M. (Explicit Version)
	Flesh Of My Flesh-Blood Of My Blood (Explicit Version)
	One Night Only
	How High (Explicit Version)
	Nu Nation Project
	Mtv Unplugged (Explicit Version) (Live)
	Electric Circus (Explicit Version)
	Street Dreams (Explicit Version)
	Still Ghetto (Explicit Version)
	Documentary (Explicit Version)
	Classic Moments
	Island Def Jam Recording Presents 1 (Explicit Version)
	Duets: The Final Chapter (Explicit Version)
	Todd Smith(vinyl) 0306
	Blood Money (Clean Version)
	2007 Grammy Nominees
	Brown Sugar
	Curtis (Explicit Version)
	Curtis
	Carnival Vol II Memoirs Of An Immigrant
	Now That's What I Call Music Vol 27
	Twenty Five
	Essence Music Festival Volume 1
	Call and Response
	Last Kiss(Explicit Version)
	Back On My Bs(Limited Edition)(Explicit Version)
	Soulbook
	Go:best Of Common(Explicit Version)
	Go:best Of Common
	Q Soul Bossa Nostra
	Npr Discover Songs:soul Revival
	Man On The Moon 2:Legend Of Mr. Rager
	Gospelflava.com Presents Something On
	Double Play
	Man On The Moon II:legend Of Mr. Rage
	Essence Music Festival Volume 4 The C
	Help (Ost)
	We The Best Forever(Explicit Version)
	We The Best Forever
	Playlist:very Best Of Wyclef Jean
	Rock Of Ages (Ost)
	Dreams And Nightmares(Explicit Version)
	Dreams And Nightmares
	Show (Explicit Version)
	Release Therapy (Explicit Version)
	Lost & Found
	On My Radio

Associated Artists and Works

	Father MC
	Method Man
	Smooth Jazz All Stars
	The Smooth Jazz All Stars

Technical Info

	Release Date : 12/20/2005
	Original Release Date : 2005
	Catalog ID : 0005722
	Label : Geffen
	Number of Discs : 1
	Studio/Live : Studio
	Mono/Stereo : Stereo
	SPAR Code : n/a
	UPC : 00602498871102

Professional Reviews

Entertainment Weekly (p.78)
- "[The albums'] sprawl of conflicted emotions feels true to her fierce, prickly personality." -- Grade: B

Mojo (Publisher)
(p.93)
- 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]his new album reveals a still intense and enthralling grittiness to her performances..."

BloomReach Content

The Breakthrough (2005) - Grammy Winner!

Product Details: