Strength of a Woman (album)

Strength of a Woman is the thirteenth studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. It was released on April 28, 2017, by Capitol Records.[2] The album serves as the follow-up to her twelfth studio album The London Sessions (2014). Strength of a Woman is predominantly a R&B and hip hop soul album. Blige worked with producers and songwriters such as DJ Camper, Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge, Hit-Boy, Jazmine Sullivan, Lamb, Bigg D, Neff-U, Kaytranada, and BadBadNotGood on the album. It also features guest appearances by Kanye West, Quavo, DJ Khaled, Missy Elliott, Prince Charlez, Kaytranada, and BadBadNotGood.

Strength of a Woman
Studio album by Mary J. Blige
Released	April 28, 2017
Studio	Marvin's Room (Hollywood) Henson (Los Angeles) Chalice (Los Angeles)
Genre	R&B[1]
Length	57:42
Label	Capitol
Producer	[BadBadNotGood]] Bigg D DJ Camper Hit-Boy Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge Kaytranada Lamb Neff-U Teddy Riley William Tyler
Mary J. Blige chronology
The London Sessions (2014) Strength of a Woman (2017)
Singles from Strength of a Woman
"Thick of It" Released: October 7, 2016 "U + Me (Love Lesson)" Released: February 17, 2017 "Love Yourself" Released: March 30, 2017 "Set Me Free" Released: July 19, 2017

The album debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 78,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. It attained international charting and produced five official singles: "Thick of It", "U + Me (Love Lesson)", "Love Yourself" featuring Kanye West, "Set Me Free", and "Glow Up" featuring Quavo, DJ Khaled, and Missy Elliott, with the former two singles peaking atop the US Adult R&B Songs chart. Upon its release, Strength of a Woman received generally positive reviews from music critics. Blige embarked on the Strength of a Woman Tour in support of the album from April 2, 2017 to September 9, 2017.

Singles

"Thick of It" was released as the lead single on October 7, 2016. The song topped the US Adult R&B Songs chart for a record-breaking 16 consecutive weeks.[3] Its music video, directed by Dennis Leupold, premiered on November 7, 2016 on her YouTube account. "U + Me (Love Lesson)" was released on February 17, 2017 and also topped the US Adult R&B Songs Chart.[4] "Love Yourself" was released as the third single on March 30, 2017.[5] The music video for the official remix of "Love Yourself" featuring Harlem rapper ASAP Rocky premiered via Complex on May 26, 2017.[6] It was directed by Taj and was shot in Los Angeles and New York City.[6] "Set Me Free" was released as the fourth official single on July 19, 2017.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	74/100[7]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[8]
Clash	7/10[9]
Exclaim!	8/10[10]
The Guardian	[11]
The Independent	[12]
The New York Times	positive[13]
Pitchfork	7.7/10[14]

Strength of a Woman received generally positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 74, based on seven reviews.[7] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times gave the album a positive review, stating that, "the album moves like a forest fire: ruthless, wide-ranging, and blunt."[13] Matt Bauer of Exclaim! praised the lyrics, and called it Blige's best work in over a decade, but criticizing songs such as "Glow Up", and "Smile".[10] In a positive review, Julianne Shepherd of Pitchfork considered the album a relief from Blige's previous album, The London Sessions, along with Blige sticking to what makes her unique.[14] In a positive review, Andy Kellman of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 stars, calling some of the songs clichéd, however, praising the anthems on the album.[8] Kate Hutchinson of The Guardian gave a mixed review of the album, criticizing the song "Glow Up", calling it too similar to other artists such as Rihanna, and Beyoncé. Despite these complaints, she praised the anthems included on the album.[11] In another mixed review, Andy Gill of The Independent found the album using a generic R&B theme, however, stating that some songs included on the album are able to do it well, such as "Set Me Free".[12]

Commercial performance

Strength of a Woman debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 on the issue dated ending May 20, 2017, with 78,000 album-equivalent units, (including 72,000 standard copies) in its first week.[15] It became Blige's highest-charting album since 2009's Stronger with Each Tear, her tenth top five entry, and thirteenth top ten album on the chart. The album marked a significant spike of sales for the singer, whose previous release The London Sessions (2014) had opened at number nine, with first week sales of 55,000 copies.[15] The album also debuted at number two on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number one on the Top R&B Albums charts, respectively.[16]

Track listing

Strength of a Woman – Standard edition[2][17]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Love Yourself" (featuring Kanye West)	Mary J. Blige Kanye West Charles Hinshaw David D. Brown Darhyl Camper, Jr. I. Andrews	DJ Camper	4:58
2.	"Thick of It"	Blige Camper Jr. Jazmine Sullivan John Goodison Phil Wainman	DJ Camper	4:01
3.	"Set Me Free"	Blige Camper Jr. Sullivan Hinshaw	DJ Camper	3:29
4.	"It's Me"	Blige Priscilla Renea Hamilton Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge Richard Butler Dwayne Nesmith Tremaine Neverson	B.A.M.	4:30
5.	"Glow Up" (featuring Quavo, DJ Khaled and Missy Elliott)	Blige Camper Jr. Sullivan Khaled Khaled Quavious Marshall Melissa Elliott	DJ Camper	4:05
6.	"U + Me (Love Lesson)"	Blige Hodge Hinshaw Brown	B.A.M.	4:57
7.	"Indestructible"	Blige Hodge Davion Farris Eric Dawkins Elese Teyonie Russell	B.A.M.	4:43
8.	"Thank You"	Blige Camper Jr. Sullivan	DJ Camper	4:05
9.	"Survivor"	Hodge Tyler Farris Dave Hoddell Spike Hoddell	B.A.M. William Tyler (co.)	4:44
10.	"Find the Love"	Blige Cainon Lamb Derrick Baker Vincent Berry II Cortni Elisa Jordan	Lamb Bigg D	3:23
11.	"Smile" (featuring Prince Charlez)	Blige Theron Feemster Hinshaw	Neff-U	3:42
12.	"Telling the Truth" (featuring Kaytranada)	Blige Louis Celestin Ashton Simmonds Matthew Tavares Chester Hansen Alexander Sowinski	Kaytranada BadBadNotGood	3:57
13.	"Strength of a Woman"	Blige Hodge Benjamin Wright Farris Dawkins	B.A.M. Teddy Riley (add.)	3:49
14.	"Hello Father"	Blige Wright Chauncey Hollis	Hit-Boy	3:19

Strength of a Woman – US Target edition[18]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Love Yourself" (featuring Kanye West)			4:58
2.	"Thick of It"			4:01
3.	"Set Me Free"			3:29
4.	"It's Me"			4:30
5.	"Glow Up" (featuring Quavo, DJ Khaled and Missy Elliott)			4:05
6.	"The Naked Truth"	Blige Hodge	B.A.M.	3:39
7.	"U + Me (Love Lesson)"			4:56
8.	"Indestructible"			4:43
9.	"Thank You"			4:05
10.	"Survivor"			4:44
11.	"Find the Love"			3:23
12.	"Smile" (featuring Prince Charlez)			3:42
13.	"Telling the Truth" (featuring Kaytranada)			3:57
14.	"Strength of a Woman"			3:49
15.	"Love in the Middle"	Blige Hodge	B.A.M.	3:27
16.	"Hello Father"			3:19

Personnel

Credits for Strength of a Woman adapted from AllMusic.[19]

• Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – conductor, harp arrangement, soloist, string arrangements
• Derrick Baker – composition
• Derrick "Bigg D" Baker – guitar
• Vincent Berry – composition
• Alison Bjorkedal – harp
• Mary J. Blige – composition, executive production, vocals
• David D. Brown – composition, production, backing vocals
• Gerry Brown – string engineering
• Marshall Bryant – engineering
• Caroline Buckman – viola
• Richard Butler – composition
• Daniel Caesar – backing vocals
• Darhyl "DJ" Camper Jr. – composition, drums, fender rhodes, organ, piano, production
• Paul Cartwright – violin
• Louis Celestin – composition
• Louis Kevin Celestin – drums, percussion, synthesizer bass
• Maddox Chhim – assistance
• Thomas Cullison – assistance
• Eric Dawkins – composition
• Ayanna Depas – assistance
• DJ Khaled – vocals
• Aaron Draper – percussion
• Missy Elliott – composition, vocals
• Davion Farris – composition, engineering
• Theron Feemster – composition, production
• Eddie "A&R Eddie" Fourcell – A&R
• Vanessa Freebairn-Smith – cello
• Michael Frenke – engineering
• Yesseh Furaha-Ali – alto sax
• John Goodison – composition
• Eric Gorfain – violin
• Cameron Graham – engineering
• Chester Hansen – composition, synthesizer
• Jaymz Hardy-Martin III – engineering, mixing, vocal mixing
• Charles Hinshaw – composition
• Dave Hoddell – composition
• Spike Hoddell – composition
• Brandon Hodge – composition
• Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge – composition, production
• Chauncey Hollis – composition
• Jean-Marie Horvat – mixing
• Elizabeth Isik – A&R
• Peter Jacobson – cello
• Hotae Alexander Jang – string engineering
• Jaycen Joshua – mixing
• Cortni Elisa Jordan – composition
• Leah Katz – viola
• Kaytranada – vocals
• David Kim – assistance, mixing assistance
• Steven "Q-Beatz" Kubie – programming
• Marisa Kuney – violin
• Dave Kutch – mastering
• Cainon Lamb – composition
• Songa Lee – violin
• Dennis Leupold – photography
• Timothy Loo – cello
• Quavious Marshall – composition
• Lucia Micarelli – violin
• David Nakaji – assistance
• Dwayne Nesmith – composition
• Jon Nettlesbey – assistance
• Tremaine Neverson – composition
• Prince Charlez – vocals
• Quavo – vocals
• Dexter Randall – assistance
• Frank Rein – trombone
• Priscilla Renea – composition
• Teddy Riley – production
• Elese Teyonie Russell – composition
• Stuart Schenk – mixing
• Ashton Simmonds – composition
• Mary Kathleen Sloan – violin
• Alexander Sowinski – clapping, composition, piano
• Dexter Story – contractor
• Jazmine Sullivan – composition, backing vocals
• Jenny Takamatsu – violin
• Matthew Tavares – composition, engineering
• Gavin Taylor – art direction, design
• Thomas Lea – viola
• Sergio "Sergical" Tsai – engineering
• William Tyler – composition
• Ina Veli – violin
• Phil Wainman – composition
• Kanye West – composition, vocals
• Eric Whatley – bass
• Chris Woods – violin
• Kevin Woods – flugelhorn, trumpet
• Benjamin Wright – composition, horn arrangements, string arrangements

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2017) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] 100 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[21] 112 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[22] 90 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[23] 22 French Albums (SNEP)[24] 177 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 63 UK Albums (OCC)[26] 54 UK R&B Albums (OCC)[27] 3 US Billboard 200[28] 3 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[29] 2

Year-end charts Chart (2017) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[30] 78

References

1. "WCW: Mary J. Bilge Returns With "The Strength of a Woman"". Cabrera, Esther. April 26, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
2. "Strength of a Woman". iTunes. Apple (DE). Retrieved March 31, 2017.
3. Mendizabal, Amaya (3 November 2016). "Mary J. Blige's 'Thick of It' Has Fastest Climb to No. 1 in over 20 Years on Adult R&B Songs". Billboard.
4. "Mary J. Blige Releases "U + Me (Love Lesson)" [New Music]". 2017-02-21. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
5. "Love Yourself". Google Play Music. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
6. "ASAP Rocky Joins Mary J. Blige In The "Love Yourself" Video". The Fader. May 26, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
7. "Strength of a Woman by Mary J. Blige Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. April 28, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
8. Kellman, Andy. "Strength of a Woman – Mary J. Blige – AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
9. Kalia, Ammar (April 28, 2017). "Mary J Blige - Strength Of A Woman". Clash. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
10. Bauer, Matt (April 27, 2017). "Mary J. Blige Strength Of A Woman". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
11. Hutchinson, Kate (April 27, 2017). "Mary J Blige: Strength of a Woman review – R&B star conjures some of her old magic". The Guardian. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
12. Gill, Andy (May 3, 2017). "Album reviews: Kasabian, Blondie, Mary J Blige, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds". The Independent. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
13. Caramanica, Jon (April 26, 2017). "For Mary J. Blige, Pain Leads to Beauty". The New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
14. Shepherd, Julianne (May 1, 2017). "Mary J. Blige: Strength of a Woman Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
15. Caulfield, Keith (May 8, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.' No. 1 for Third Week on Billboard 200, Gorillaz Bow at No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
16. "Mary J. Blige's 'Strength of a Woman' Tops R&B Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
17. Stutz, Colin (March 29, 2017). "Mary J. Blige's 'Strength of a Woman' Track List Features Kanye West, Missy Elliott, DJ Khaled & More". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
18. Mary J Blige – Strength of a Woman (CD, Album) at Discogs
20. "ARIA Chart Watch #419". auspOp. May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
21. "Ultratop.be – Mary J Blige – Strength of a Woman" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
22. "Ultratop.be – Mary J Blige – Strength of a Woman" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
23. "Billboard Canadian Albums". FYIMusicNews. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
24. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums – SNEP (Week 18, 2017)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
25. "Swisscharts.com – Mary J Blige – Strength of a Woman". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
26. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
27. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
28. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
29. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
30. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2020.