Mary J. Blige Recalls Needing "To Get Out" Of Rough Bronx Neighborhood

BY Erika Marie 2.7K Views
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Mary J. Blige, My Life
In her new documentary, the Grammy-winning singer described her childhood neighborhood as being "like a prison."

We'll soon receive an intimate look into Mary J. Blige's personal life thanks to a new documentary, and more has been revealed about what fans can expect. We previously reported on Mary J. Blige's My Life, a documentary that will arrive on Amazon Prime Video at the end of the month. The singer recently shared its trailer and inside, Blige speaks candidly about creating her 1994 classic album, My Life, and the real-life struggles she was facing at the time.

“‘My Life’ is probably my darkest album at one of the darkest times I’ve had," she said in the trailer. "Most of the time I was just depressed and didn’t want to live. I had it all inside and I was able to sing it and write it, and I didn’t know that so many people felt the same way.”

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The 50-year-old Bronx native also speaks about her childhood and how music helped her navigate. She's previously shared that when she was five years old, he was molested, and she also revealed that her parents often fought before divorcing. “The only thing, I think, that kept us guided was the music," she said in the documentary.

"It just saved you. In the neighborhood we lived in, it’s like prison," she added. "There was a lot wrong, and it was a lot. I needed to get out. That’s why I had that pen.”

Tune in to Amazon Prime Video on June 25 to see more from Mary J. Blige's My Life.

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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