What's the 411?

by Mary J. Blige

Overview

With this cutting-edge debut, Mary J. Blige became the reigning queen of her own hybrid category: hip-hop soul. The eloquence and evocativeness that comes through in her voice, could be neither borrowed nor fabricated, making What's the 411? one of the decade's most explosive, coming-out displays of pure singing prowess. "Real Love" and the gospel-thrusted "Sweet Thing" (the primary reason for all her Chaka Kahn comparisons) are and will remain timeless slices of soul even after their trendiness has worn off, and "You Remind Me" and the duet with Jodeci's K-Ci ("I Don't Want to Do Anything") are nearly as affecting in their own right. It's nevertheless unclear how much of the hip-hop swagger in her soul was a genuine expression of Blige's own vision or that of her admittedly fine collaborators (Svengali Sean "Puffy" Combs, R&B producers Dave Hall and DeVante Swing, rap beatsmith Tony Dofat, rapper Grand Puba). Certainly the singer comes across as street-savvy and tough -- "real," in the lingo of the day -- and even tries her hand at rhyming on the title track, but never again would her records lean this heavily on the sonic tricks of the rap trade. In retrospect, it is easier to place the album into the context of her career and, as such, to pinpoint the occasions when it runs wide of the rails. For instance, the synthesizer-heavy backdrops ("Reminisce," "Love No Limit") are sometimes flatter or more plastic than either the songs or Blige's passionate performances deserve, while the answering-machine skits, much-copied in the wake of What's the 411?, haven't worn well as either stand-alone tracks or conceptual segues. In fact, those who prefer their soul more stirring, heart-on-sleeve, or close to the bone would likely find her fluid, powerfully vulnerable next recording (My Life) or one of the consistently strong subsequent efforts that followed it more to their liking. For broad appeal and historical importance, though, What's the 411? is an inarguably paramount and trailblazing achievement. ~ Stanton Swihart

Product Details

Release Date:	07/28/1992
Label:	Mca
UPC:	0008811068127

Tracks

1. Leave a Message
2. Reminisce
3. Real Love
4. You Remind Me
5. Intro Talk
6. Sweet Thing
7. Love No Limit
8. I Don't Want to Do Anything
9. Slow Down
10. My Love
11. Changes I've Been Going Through
12. What's the 411?

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mary J. Blige   Primary Artist,Vocals,Lead Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Tony Dofat   Primary Artist,Vocals
Grand Puba   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Vocal Harmony
Redman   Guest Artist
Erick Sermon   Guest Artist
Terri Robinson   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
DeVante Swing   Guest Artist,Keyboards,Multi Instruments
Billy Lawrence   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Craig Mack   Guest Artist
C.L. Smooth   Guest Artist
Martin Lawrence   Guest Artist
The Notorious B.I.G.   Guest Artist
Busta Rhymes   Guest Artist,Vocals
Heavy D   Guest Artist
Sean Combs   Co-Producer,Vocals
Jamie Brown   Vocals
Kurt Juice   Vocals
Andre Harrell   Vocals
Dave "Jam" Hall   Drums,Keyboards
Mark C. Rooney   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Christopher Williams   Vocals
L.A. Reid   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Ohio Players   Vocals
Tabitha Brace   Vocals (Background)
DJ Red Alert   Vocals
Darryl Pearson   Multi Instruments
DJ Clark Kent   Vocals
CL Smooth   Vocals
Eric Shurman   Vocals
Maceo   Vocals
Little Shawn   Vocals
Mark Morales   Drum Machine

Technical Credits

Tony Dofat   Composer,Producer,Performer
Chaka Khan   Composer
Mark C. Rooney   Arranger,Producer,Vocal Arrangement
Kenny "G-Love" Greene   Composer
Mike Fonda   Engineer,Recording
Eric Milteer   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Grant Austin   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Bryan McGurn   Mixing Assistant
Gordon Picket   Programming
Joseph E. Keeley   Composer
Dave "Jam" Hall   Composer,Producer
Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey   Performer
Kenny Greene   Composer
L.A. Reid   Composer,Producer
Busta Rhymes   Composer
Darryl Pearson   Composer
Grand Puba   Performer
Tony Maiden   Composer
Tony Maserati   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
"Fresh" Gordon Pickett   Drum Programming
Bob Mitchell   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Steve Ett   Mixing,Recording
Andy Grassi   Engineer,Recording,Mixing Assistant
Steven Ett   Engineer
Joel "JoJo" Hailey   Composer
DeVante Swing   Composer,Producer
David Kennedy   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Rod Hui   Mixing
Mark Morales   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Drum Programming,Vocal Arrangement
Van Morrison   Composer
Sean Combs   Mixing,Composer,Producer