Happy Birthday, Mary J. Blige! Catch Up With Some Flawless Vintage Photos Of The Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul
7th Annual Soul Train Music Awards
Mary J. Blige during 7th Annual Soul Train Music Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)
Super Bowl XXXVI - Pre-Show Press Conference - Backstage
Mary J. Blige and Marc Anthony during Super Bowl XXXVI - Pre-Show Press Conference - Backstage at The Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)
M.A.C. Viva Glam Party
Lil' Kim and Mary J. Blige during M.A.C. Viva Glam Party at Tuscan Steak Restaurant in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Rock the Vote Party
Mary J. Blige during Rock the Vote Party at House of Blues in West Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)
Mary J. Blige
14-7-1999 Amsterdam
Mary J. Blige, soul singer.
Copyright Paul Bergen
MTV Europe Music Awards 2001 - Press Room
Mary J. Blige during MTV Europe Music Awards 2001 - Press Room at Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany. (Photo by Tony Barson Archive/WireImage)
Mary J Blige On Stage
American R&B and pop singer Mary J. Blige performs onstage, Chicago, Illinois, August 3, 2000. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
1999 MTV VMA's Press Room
Mary J. Blige and Lil' Kim during 1999 MTV VMA's Press Room at Lincoln Center in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
Houston & Blige At The Beacon Theater
Pop/R&B Diva WHITNEY HOUSTON (right, 1963-2012) performing with MARY J. BLIGE at "Divas Live--An Honors Concert for VH1 Save the Music" at the Beacon Theater, New York City, Tuesday, 13 April 1999.
CREDIT: Photo by Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images
Tony Bennet at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles
Mary J. Blige during Tony Bennet at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)
Fox Billboard Awards 1994-Backstage
Mary J. Blige during Fox Billboard Awards 1994-Backstage at Universal Amphitheater in Universal City, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
Paul Natkin Archive
Mary J. Blige on 10/13/95 in Chicago, Il. (Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage)
KMEL All Star Jam 1998 - Mountain View CA
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - AUGUST 29: Mary J. Blige performs as part of the KMEL All Star Jam 1998 at Shoreline Amphitheatre on August 29, 1998 in Mountain View, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
Donna Karen Store Opening
Mary J. Blige during Donna Karen Store Opening at Donna Karen Store in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Steve Eichner/WireImage)
MTV20: Live and Almost Legal - Rehearsal
Method Man and Mary J. Blige perform at rehearsals (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)
Jay-Z Unplugged
Mary J. Blige during Jay-Z performs on MTV's "Unplugged" at the MTV studios in Times Square at MTV studios-Times Square in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
City of Hope Spirit of Life Dinner Honoring Edgar Bronfman Jr. - Show
Mary J. Blige & Smokey Robinson during City of Hope Spirit of Life Dinner Honoring Edgar Bronfman Jr. - Show at Universal Studios Backlot in Universal City, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)
2001 MTV Video Music Awards - Audience and Backstage
Mary J. Blige, Nelly, & Macy Gray during 2001 MTV Video Music Awards - Audience and Backstage at The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)
My VH-1 Music Awards 2001 - Show
Mary J. Blige & Sting perform at the My VH-1 Music Awards 2001 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)
2001 Billboard Music Awards - Show
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Gwen Stefani and Mary J. Blige gather to sing a remake of Marvin Gaye's "Whats Going On" as the finale of the 2001 Billboard Awards at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. (Photo by M. Caulfield/WireImage)
Can we get it crunk up in this dancery, please? Today marks the 43rd birthday of the one and only Mary J. Blige, the Queen of Hip Hop Soul and one of most important artistic voices of the last three decades.
Mary J. burst onto the scene WAY back in 1992—has it really been that long?!?—with her landmark, triple-platinum LP, What's The 411?, and her talent and hard work has enabled her to stay at the top of the game for going on 22 years now. Along the way, Blige has earned 9 Grammy Awards, recorded 8 platinum albums, and been recognized as the most successful female R&B artists of the last 25 years. She's also gone through a number of unforgettable styles over the years, some of the most FLAWLESS of which we have collected in the gallery for you above.
HBD MJB!
[Photo: Getty Images]