No More Drama [US Bonus Tracks]

1	Love 2:46
2	Family Affair 4:25
3	Steal Away 4:26
4	He Think I Don't Know 5:37
5	PMS 4:51
6	No More Drama 5:26
7	Rainy Dayz / Ja Rule 4:36
8	Where I've Been / Eve 4:33
9	Beautiful Day 3:34
10	Dance for Me / Common 3:24
11	No More Drama / Puff Daddy P. Diddy/Mario Winans Remix 4:05
12	Flying Away 4:59
13	Never Been 4:03
14	2 U 4:45
15	In the Meantime 4:14
16	Forever No More - Poem 1:41
17	Testimony 4:58

Barnes & Noble

Since Mary J. Blige, the queen of hip-hop soul, made her debut with the 1992 urban music classic What's the 411?, she's been a poster child for dramaholics everywhere. Blige's self-destructive tendencies -- her tumultuous love affair with Jodeci's K-Ci Hailey, her rumored heavy drinking, and her overall bad attitude -- made for good water-cooler banter early in her career, but it's that inner turmoil that makes her music so compelling. With her fifth studio disc, No More Drama, however, Blige has undergone a miraculous transformation. No longer is she yearning to "Be Happy," as she did so painstakingly on 1994's soul-searching My Life. On Drama's bass-heavy, mid-tempo groove "Destiny," Blige proclaims that she's "finally happy" and ready to broaden her horizons. And that upbeat mood permeates the disc. From the funky, Dr. Dre-produced first single, "Family Affair," where MJB orders partygoers to stop the "hateration" and start the "holleration," to the comical blues number "PMS" (featuring guitar licks by Lenny Kravitz), where she jokingly sings, "My lower back is aching and my clothes don't fit/Now ain't that a bitch," Blige's spirits seem elevated, and her vocals sound more inspired than they did on 1999's cathartic Mary. The entire disc, which boasts production by Swizz Beatz, the Neptunes, and Missy Elliott, is exceptional, but it's the title track that makes the most lasting impression. Over a sample of the piano-heavy theme to the soap opera The Young & the Restless, Blige proclaims, "No one's gonna make me hurt again," before the song climaxes with a gospel choir chanting, "No more drama." Amen to that, Sister Mary! Exorcising one's demons never sounded better. And the remix disc boasts bonus tracks featuring rappers P. Diddy ("No More Drama" remix), Ja Rule ("Rainy Dayz") , and Common ("Dance For Me" remix). Tracy E. Hopkins

All Music Guide

Listeners of Mary J. Blige's seasoned and confident fifth studio release will have zero problems remembering the album's title, No More Drama. An urban-sounding vocal sample that sings, "Mary J. Blige, no more drama," plays throughout the length of the 17-track disc. This very well may be the first time such a tactic has been used in contemporary music; generally a vocal sample repeats throughout the course of only one song, but because the fare on No More Drama is so good, this recurring vocal sample is as subtle and congruent as a consistent drum hit. Blige has come a long way since 1992's breakthrough, What's the 411?, and that's made very clear on this solid disc. The singer/songwriter has blossomed into an all-out R&B diva -- with a hip-hop edge -- full of soul and command. Her songs on this recording exude the wisdom of a woman who's seen it all and has found her center. And she will no longer tolerate drama, pettiness, and overall crap. In 2001's crop of R&B singers, Blige's voice was truly inimitable. It is husky, strong, soulful, and full of maturity. Make no mistake, though, this lady can still flow like no one's business; just check out the bouncy album-opener, "Love." In fact, many of the record's cuts are standout moments. For instance, only Blige has the balls to write and pull off a song called "PMS," a soulful and bluesy number that describes, in detail, this condition inherent to the female experience. And while she also explores themes of love, Blige's disc is essentially a journey through her personal evolution and spirituality. The final cut, "Testimony," best summarizes the album's theme: finding what's real in life. And for Blige, that's self-love and God. To her credit, Blige has a killer instinct for penning lyrics that people can relate to and creating gritty, thick, and soul-infused R&B fare. (She does get some help on this disc from such R&B and hip-hop heavyweights as Missy Elliot, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis, among others.) Her music is more than heard, it is felt, and audiences would be hard-pressed to not surrender to her groove. Interestingly, many of Blige's peers sing about drama, but not this artist -- not anymore. [No More Drama was re-released in early 2002 with a handful of different tracks.] Liana Jonas