Gratitude

Mary J. Blige’s 15th studio album arrived at a moment when the R&B diva was embracing her legacy as a new Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Thirty years after she released her 1994 masterpiece *My Life*—when it felt as if she were singing for her life—she had survived all the drama and made it to her place in the sunshine as a certified legend with nothing left to prove. And Blige is in a state of appreciation on *Gratitude*, which feels like a much-deserved victory lap. The celebratory vibe is set on “Breathing,” on which she’s inhaling “fresh air, good news.” It’s a throwback bop featuring Fabolous, part of a guest-rapper roster including Jadakiss (“Need You More”), Fat Joe (“God’s Child”), and A$AP Ferg (“I Got Plans”). While the nostalgic feels are real, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul isn’t resting on her crown. At 53, Mary is still here to rock the party—and keep it raw about relationships (see “Don’t Fuck Up”)—in her thigh-high boots.