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The Gospel According to Mary: Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Will Now Take Your Questions


Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige graces the cover of ESSENCE's October issue (for the tenth time!) in a piece where she talks about her latest album, "Stronger;" her role in Tyler Perry's new movie, "I Can Do Bad All By Myself;" her foundation to help young women, the Foundation For the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN); and the 15th anniversary of her album "My Life." In honor of the album's milestone, ESSENCE asked its readers what they would like to ask Mary J. by posting more than 100 questions on Twitter and ESSENCE.com. Find out what burning questions Mary J.'s fans asked—and how she answered each of them from the heart.


Do you feel any pressure to keep pumping out hits because of the younger artists?—Angie Kyles, Los Angeles
MARY J. BLIGE: I feel no pressure. I pump out hits for my fans. They just want to hear from me. I don't compete with the young generation, I learn from them. I listen to what they're saying, so I can get a little bit of that, so we can cross, so we can have an understanding and hear each other.

When I listen to your music I can't help but feel the emotion, whether it is joy, pain, anger or bitterness. How do you control and channel your emotions to give us these great performances?—Adina Oubre, New Orleans
Every lyric in my songs is real to me, so I channel the words and the feelings. Whatever those different songs are, they really are relatable to me. And then the fans give me the energy back, because they're basically saying, "It's us too Mary," so I just take it to the next level.

I always wondered why, and I'm not hating on Faith Evans (I love her too), but were you to be the First Lady of Bad Boy?Erica Neal,Columbus, Ohio
If I wasn't signed to MCA, it could have been me, which I believe Puff would have wanted. But I understand Puff is a businessman, so he had to go get his First Lady, which I understand. It took me a couple of years to understand, but you know, after a while I was like, "Oh, okay. He had to do that," because he didn't have a female artist over there.

Will you ever sing "I Don't Want to Do Anything Else" [her duet with Jodeci's K-Ci] live again? Angela Ervin—Greensboro, North Carolina
No. I mean, if I sing it with someone else, yes.

Do you feel any pressure to keep pumping out hits because of the younger artists?Angie Kyles, Los Angeles
I feel no pressure to pump out hits because of the young artists. I pump out hits for my fans. They just want to hear from me. I don't compete with the young generation. I learn from them, I listen to what they're saying, so I can get a little bit of that, so we can cross, so we can have an understanding and hear each other.

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RT @essenceonline: The Gospel According to Mary: Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Will Now Take Your Questions The Gospel According to Mary: Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Will Now Take Your Questions @essenceonline
Hi Mary, my name is Mary too, I\'m a songwriter in Atlanta GA and I have a great song for you, I promise you\'ll love it, but most of all we your fans will love hearing you sing it. how do I get in contact with your people to set something up. I had to use a email to post this message so please email me and I\'ll send you the lyrics, keep doing what you\'re doing you are our queen.
Posted at 10/23/2009 4:29 PM by Mary Simmons
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why r u guy hatin on Mary, she has done nothing to u. if u dont like her music just dont like it, u dont have to critizie the Lady. Mary has been an inspiration to alot of people like me. Mary deserves to be on the cover of which ever magazine she desires, she deserves it. Yall just leave the QUEEN OF HIP HOP SOUL ALONE......GET A LIFE
Posted at 9/30/2009 2:04 PM by NATALIE TIMMONS
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Hello Mary, I am 62yrs old woman. When I first heard your music, it was okay. You were going thru some changes but when you came out two years ago with your new cd(s). Your music was outstanding. I respected you more. Your music has so much meaning to life. I have been buying your cds for the last two years.Keep up the good work. Beyonce is okay but you do not have to show any thing but what your heart is telling you what to do. May God Be with you. PS. You did an outstanding job in Tyler Perry movie. You need to get more movie jobs.(smile)
Posted at 9/29/2009 12:18 AM by Shirley
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I have been a fan of Mary's from the jump we love you down here in the A! She got me through my 20's and I still jam to her now in my 30's. My 7 year old thinks her style is awesome. Fan for life!!!!
Posted at 9/17/2009 1:26 PM by SherritaAtlanta
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DemocracyNow is a website and a TV station that deal with real issues.
Posted at 9/15/2009 9:11 AM by qqqqqqqq
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