Album: What's the 411?

Introduction
"What's the 411?" is the launching studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige, launched on July 28, 1992, by Uptown Records and MCA Records. The album marked the start of what would become a famous career for the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, mixing her powerful, emotive voice with contemporary R&B and hip-hop elements. The blend of these genres earned Blige important praise and business success, as "What's the 411?" peaked at number six on the United States Billboard 200 chart and primary on the Top R&B/ Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album went on to be certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with over 3.4 million copies sold.

Production and Collaborations
The executive manufacturer of "What's the 411?" was visionary music executive Andre Harrell, founder of Uptown Records. The album was co-produced by Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, who was an intern at Uptown Records at the time, and Dave Hall. The production of the album consisted of a mix of soulful ballads and uptempo tracks, accompanied by samples from timeless hip-hop songs, which created a revolutionary and influential sound.

The album likewise included cooperations with a number of popular hip-hop and R&B artists. Especially, rap artist Grand Puba was featured on the hit single "What's the 411?" and legendary rapper Notorious B.I.G. made an early profession look on the remix of "Real Love". In addition, R&B singer-songwriters Christopher Williams and Jodeci made guest appearances on the album's tracks "I Don't Want to Do Anything" and "You Remind Me", respectively.

Strike Singles and Critical Reception
"What's the 411?" produced numerous hit songs that caused its industrial success. The lead single "You Remind Me" reached primary on the United States Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other effective songs consisted of "Real Love", which peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop Songs chart, and "Love No Limit", which reached number 5 on the Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Upon its release, "What's the 411?" gotten vital praise from music critics due to Blige's singing prowess and the smooth blending of R&B and hip-hop aspects. Her distinct style earned her the title "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul", and the album greatly affected future R&B and hip-hop artists who would include samples and work together with rappers in their music.

Legacy and Impact
Nearly 3 years since its release, "What's the 411?" remains a considerable album in both the R&B and hip-hop genres. Blige's ability to balance raw feelings in her emotional ballads with the energy and mindset of hip-hop in her uptempo tracks was groundbreaking for its time. This paved the way for future artists such as Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, and Janelle Monáe, who would later emulate Blige's design by seamlessly blending R&B and hip-hop aspects in their music.

In addition to its business success and influence on future artists, "What's the 411?" increased the exposure and effect of woman artists in both the R&B and hip-hop scenes and strengthened Blige's location as an icon and pioneer in the music industry. With an impactful debut album like "What's the 411?", it's no surprise that Mary J. Blige has actually delighted in a long and illustrious profession that has withstood over the past three decades.