Mary J. Blige Share My World

3 Stars (out of 5) - "...she's moved beyond sound to real singing....There's shading, depth and control in her vocals....she's consolidating power by proving herself on more traditional R&B terms..."
8 (out of 10) - "..Blige still sings like she has scars that will never heal. Her tone and phrasing contain a fight-or-flight intensity that's both brazen and vulnerable....Like no diva since Aretha Franklin, Blige seems to command a song on sheer impulse and willpower..."
"...having made an uneven album packed with career-peak performances, she is the only example of a hip-hop soul practitioner attempting to make a record that's more than a product placement opportunity for Lexus and Cristal..." - Rating: B+
"...a testament to the power of musical progression and personal perseverance. After years of honing the skill necessary to balance street savvy beats and cerebral songwriting, Mary J. is one artist that can say she's gone to new, higher ground..."
"...Mary has allowed everyone to gaze into her eyes and become enchanted with her ghetto princess....This album shows that Mary's grown vocally....SHARE MY WORLD is an oral version of Alvin Ailey, raw and distinctly Black..."
"...Imagine Lauryn Hill cured of her karaoke obsession...or L'il Kim after a spell in reform school and the globe-topping potential of SHARE MY WORLD becomes clear: Mary's is not a minority appeal....respect all around...."