Mary J. Blige - Reflections (A Retrospective) [2LP Clear White]

Reflections (A Retrospective) gathers the songs that crowned Mary J. Blige the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, pressed here across two LPs of clear white vinyl.

Her first greatest hits collection arrived in 2006 on the heels of The Breakthrough and traces a career that began with the street-smart soul of the early nineties. Rather than a simple victory lap, it opens with four new recordings, among them the single that gave the set its forward-looking spirit and a warm duet with John Legend.

Then come the classics. Real Love still bumps with that irresistible blend of hip hop beats and gospel-trained vocals that defined her early sound, and Not Gon' Cry is Babyface's devastating breakup ballad, sung with a fury that never tips into self-pity. Family Affair, built on a Dr. Dre groove, remains one of the most joyous dance-floor anthems of its decade, while No More Drama turns personal pain into a cathartic declaration of freedom.

Through every era, Blige's voice is the constant, raw and powerful, always sounding like she has lived every word she sings.

Longtime fans will find their favorite chapters here, and newcomers get a compact, emotional history of modern R&B told by one of its greatest voices.