The Breakthrough
By the time Mary J. Blige released 2005\'s *The Breakthrough*, she had already cemented herself as an undeniable legend—the reigning queen of hip-hop soul for over a decade. She began her career working closely with Diddy, who executive-produced her first two albums, and the pair reunited for 2003\'s *Love & Life*. When that album was unable to reconjure the magic of old, *The Breakthrough* found the singer collaborating with a who\'s who of producers: Raphael Saadiq, 9th Wonder, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, and will.i.am, among a slew of others. The result was a triumphant collection of songs that subtly ushered Blige into a decidedly more adult era of her R&B powers. Songs like \"Enough Cryin\" (produced by Rodney Jerkins and Sean Garrett), \"Take Me As I Am,\" and the smash single \"Be Without You\" (courtesy of Bryan-Michael Cox) harkened to the wounded balladeering of old with a new grown-and-sexy bent. Netting seven Grammy nominations, the album remains one of her most celebrated.