No More Drama

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No More Drama
No More Drama cover
Studio album by Mary J. Blige
Released August 28, 2001
Recorded 2000-2001
Genre Hip hop, soul, R&B
Length 1:11:50
Label MCA Records
Producer Mary J. Blige, Rockwilder, Dr. Dre, The Neptunes, Gerald Isaac, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Missy Elliott, Rich Harrison, Irv Gotti, Swizz Beatz, Chucky Thompson, Kiyamma Griffin, Ron Lawrence
Professional reviews
Mary J. Blige chronology
Mary
(1999)		 No More Drama
(2001)		 Love & Life
(2003)
Alternate covers
2002 Re Release

No More Drama is soul/hip-hop soul artist Mary J. Blige's critically acclaimed fifth album. The album was released on August 28, 2001 in America. The album is certified 2X Platinum. According to Billboard Magazine December 2007 issue No More Drama has sold over 3.2 million in the United State alone.

Contents

[edit] Genesis of the album

The inspiration for No More Drama came largely from Blige's confusion and hectic life. As she attested to in various media interviews and at her live shows, she suffered through depression and paranoia in the years leading to the release of No More Drama. The title itself is a statement of catharsis and acceptance; Blige will "accept no more drama." It was also around this time that she finally quit alcohol.

Stylistically, the album diverged from Blige's typically blues-soaked R&B into the hip-hop beats and influences that had made her debut, What's the 411?, a hit. This is especially evident in the first single, the bouncy club anthem "Family Affair". Rapper Eve appears on the track "Where I've Been" as well, and urban influences can be heard throughout the album.

The first single was supposed to be a song called "Rock Steady" featuring a rap from Jay-Z and Lenny Kravitz on guitar. The song was leaked to mixtapes months before the album was scheduled to be released and subsequently did not make the final cut on the album. [1]

[edit] Reception

No More Drama was released to relative positive reviews. Though many reviewers claimed it was a daring accomplishment, many disliked the prevailing light-hearted urban feel of some of the tracks. The album was well-received by the public, debuting at #2 on the Billboard album chart, and staying in the top hundred of that chart for several months off the strength of "Family Affair," which peaked at #1 for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the early fall of 2001.

The second single from the album, "Dance for Me" was remixed for single release with rapper rapper Common adding guest vocals to the track. "Dance For Me" was only was released in some parts of Europe and was not issued in the U.S. The single became Blige's second top twenty hit from the album in the UK.

While the third single "No More Drama" climbed the charts, Blige earned two Grammy nominations.Family Affair was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and the album No More Drama was nominated for Best R&B Album, although Blige lost to newcomer Alicia Keys in both categories.

In the hopes of maximizing profits, MCA Records re-released No More Drama with four new tracks: "Rainy Dayz" featuring rapper Ja Rule; a remix of "No More Drama" featuring P.Diddy and R&B singer Mario Winans; the single version of "Dance for Me" with rapper Common; and the record "He Think I Don't Know," for which she won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

[edit] Track listing

[edit] 2001 release

  1. "Love"
  2. "Family Affair"
  3. "Steal Away" (featuring Pharrell Williams)
  4. "Crazy Games"
  5. "PMS"
  6. "No More Drama"
  7. "Keep It Moving"
  8. "Destiny"
  9. "Where I've Been" (featuring Eve)
  10. "Beautiful Day"
  11. "Dance For Me"
  12. "Flying Away"
  13. "Never Been"
  14. "2U"
  15. "In The Meantime"
  16. "Forever No More [Poem]"
  17. "Testimony"
  18. "Checkin' For Me" (Bonus Track on UK version.)

[edit] 2002 repackaging

  1. "Love"
  2. "Family Affair"
  3. "Steal Away" (featuring Pharrell Williams)
  4. "He Think I Don't Know"
  5. "PMS"
  6. "No More Drama"
  7. "Rainy Dayz" (featuring Ja Rule)
  8. "Where I've Been" (featuring Eve)
  9. "Beautiful Day"
  10. "Dance For Me [Remix]" (featuring Common)
  11. "No More Drama [P. Diddy/Mario Winans Remix]" (featuring P. Diddy)
  12. "Flying Away"
  13. "Never Been"
  14. "2U"
  15. "In The Meantime"
  16. "Forever No More [Poem]"
  17. "Testimony"
  18. "Girl From Yesterday" (UK bonus track)

[edit] Singles

  • "Family Affair" (2001) — R&B: #1, US: #1, UK: #8, GER: #12
  • "Dance for Me" [2] (2002) — UK: #13
  • "No More Drama" (2002) — R&B: #16, US: #15, UK: #9
  • "Rainy Dayz" (2002) — R&B: #8, US: #12, UK: #17
  • "He Think I Don't Know" [3] (2002) — Dance: #15

[edit] References and notes

  1. ^ Blige May Cut Leaked Jay-Z/Kravitz Track From Album. MTV News.
  2. ^ UK only release
  3. ^ "He Think I Don't Know" released to promote remix album Dance for Me, and only to urban and dance radio.


v • d • e
Mary J. Blige
Studio albums
What's the 411? (1992) • My Life (1994) • Share My World (1997) • Mary (1999) •No More Drama (2001) • Love & Life (2003) • The Breakthrough (2005) • Growing Pains (2007)
Other albums
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