On this day in 1999, Mary J. Blige’s fourth studio album, ‘Mary’ was released.

The singles from the album included ‘As’ with George Michael, ‘All That I Can Say’, ‘Deep Inside’, ‘Give Me You’, and ‘Your Child’.
The album also included collaborations with Aretha Franklin, K-Ci (of K-Ci & JoJo) and Jadakiss.

‘Mary’ peaked at #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and #2 on the Billboard 200 in the US, where it was certified double Platinum (last certified in October 2000). It also peaked at #5 in the UK.
The album won a Soul Train Music Award for ‘Best R&B/Soul Album, Female’, and a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for ‘Solo R&B/Soul Album of the Year’.

Music Videos:
Today also marks the 16th anniversary of Mary’s ‘Take Me As I Am’ from the album, ‘The Breakthrough’. The single peaked at #3 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.