NEW MUSIC: MARY J. BLIGE

Here is a new song entitled "Said and Done" from the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige, produced by Ryan Leslie. The track is dope, like an updated classic Mary joint circa 1994. The bass-driven, heavily synthesized cosmic beat sounds like typical Ryan Leslie, but it works for Mary. Her vocals are very in sync with the track and the song-writing is decent.

There is no word if this song is a single or an actual track slated to appear on Mary's ninth studio album "Stronger," due out in November. I hope this song makes the album but from the material Mary has put out thus far I don't get the direction of the album. "The One," "Stronger," "Good Love," and this track are all different musically which leads me to believe that this new LP is going to allude to "No More Drama," which had a similar potpourri sound.

Mary is one of my favorites but I can honestly say I'm not overly excited or anxious to hear her new project anymore. I was really hoping that the overall concept of her album was vintage soul, then when she came out with "One," i was confused for a second but then receptive because I figured the album was going to give me a "What's the 411" vibe. However, "Good Love" and "Stronger" were big disappointments. I feel as though "Stronger" should not be included on the album because it's Pop, and i wanna hear Mary raw not polished. And now "Said and Done" just confuses me. Believe me, I like the song and think its hot but I just know I don't want to hear a Mary album with a bunch of random songs that are sort of cohesively put together after sly sequencing.