Mary J. Blige asserts herself with Strength of a Woman: 'Allow me to reintroduce myself'
Mary J. Blige wants attendees at her Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit to walk away feeling “an overload of happiness.”
The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, never less than frank, is determined to help women feel empowered and elevated, mindsets she struggled with since the 1992 release of her debut album, “What’s the 411?,” as she navigated a male-dominated industry.
More than three decades later, Blige, 53, is a bona fide icon with nine Grammy Awards, 42 singles as a lead artist, album sales north of 50 million and upcoming induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
She’s no longer worried about asserting her muscle.
“There is no one restraining us,” she says. “There is still a lot of male-dominated stuff when it comes to hip-hop, but as strong women in hip-hop we have the power to do whatever we want to do and that’s the difference now. Women are breaking out.”
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Who is performing at Strength of a Woman festival?
Her third annual Strength of a Woman event takes place May 10-12. After debut years in Atlanta, the weekend of concerts and panels will be staged in New York, a point of pride for the Yonkers native.
“I’ve always wanted it here,” she says. “The first two festivals were amazing in Atlanta and I love it there. For business purposes I was told Atlanta was a better home, but I finally said, ‘Let me put my foot down and bring it home.’”
Among the scheduled events is a pair of sold-out Friday night concerts from Robert Glasper at the Blue Note Jazz Club and a free all-day summit Saturday with speakers including Taraji P. Henson, Angie Martinez, Larenz Tate, Method Man and Blige (register for tickets at soawfestival.com). On Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Blige will take the stage on a bill that also offers 50 Cent, Jill Scott, Fat Joe and Jadakiss, among others (tickets can be purchased via ticketmaster.com).
Since the event is being held over Mother’s Day weekend, Blige has curated a Sunday brunch at the Brooklyn Chop House Times Square, which she will host, and a Sunday evening concert from The Clark Sisters at Brooklyn Paramount. Visit soawfestival.com for tickets to both celebrations.
“I’m on a search for everyone’s mother I can think of. We’re paying tribute to the mothers of hip-hop who have given us great hip-hop artists. They birthed Method Man, Jay-Z, Nas … these people mean a lot to us and people never pay homage to their mothers,” Blige says, adding that short films, flowers and general acknowledgements are on the program. “It will be a big deal.”
Mary J. Blige is working on a new album
In addition to the months spent planning and organizing the festival, Blige is working on her 15th studio album to follow 2022’s well-regarded “Good Morning, Gorgeous,” which was nominated for a 2023 album of the year Grammy and landed in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
“It’s fun,” Blige says of her new material. “I’m in a whole other space I’ve never been in before. I’m in a place where I’m not afraid to celebrate the fruits of my labor. I earned the right to do that. I don’t give a (expletive). It’s going to be hip-hop soul at its finest, amazing R&B at its finest. Just great songs at their finest.”
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The woman who ingrained hits such as “Real Love,” “Family Affair,” “Not Gon’ Cry” and “Be Without You” into music culture will undoubtedly continue to trumpet her message of strength, whether through speaking or song, because it is her mission.
“A lot of people knew me when I was insecure and didn’t know or love myself enough to have boundaries,” Blige says, referencing her recent Instagram post where she stated she “burns bridges as needed.” “But allow me to reintroduce myself. The old Mary wasn’t sure about herself, was afraid to lose people and all of that other (stuff). Now I don’t care about losing people. If you’re someone not healthy for me, you’ve got to go.”