Share My World

Share My World
Studio album by Mary J. Blige
Released	April 22, 1997
Recorded	1996–1997
Studio	The Hit Factory (New York City) Battery Studios Chicago Trax The Chicago Recording Company (Chicago, Illinois) Flyte Time Studios (Edina, Minnesota) The Record Plant (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	R&B hip hop soul neo soul
Length	65:15
Label	MCA
Producer	Babyface Bryce Wilson George Pearson James Mtume Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Malik Pendleton Mary J. Blige (exec.) Poke & Tone Rodney Jerkins R. Kelly Steve Stoute (also exec.)
Mary J. Blige chronology
My Life (1994) Share My World (1997) The Tour (1998)
Singles from Share My World
"Love Is All We Need" Released: March 18, 1997 "I Can Love You" Released: May 6, 1997 (U.S. only) "Everything" Released: August 4, 1997 "Missing You" Released: October 2, 1997 (UK only) "Seven Days" Released: March 20, 1998

Share My World is the third studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige, released by MCA on April 22, 1997. The album became Blige’s first to open at number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart, it also became her first top-ten album in the United Kingdom, peaking at number eight on the UK Albums Chart. Moreover, it is her first album where she serves an executive producer, alongside Steve Stoute, who also sharing executive producer credits on the album. With guest appearances by hip hop and R&B stars such as Lil' Kim, Nas, The LOX, George Benson, Roy Ayers and R. Kelly, the album was released to generally positive to mixed reviews from most music critics, and earned Blige numerous accolades and nominations, including a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Album in 1998. It is certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for excess of three million copies sold in the US.^[1]

Background

Share My World marked several personal and professional changes in Blige’s life and career. Following the departure of label head Andre Harrell the year before, Blige defected from Uptown Records in favor of its MCA parent. Meanwhile, she severed professional ties with long-time producer, manager and mentor Sean “Puffy” Combs shortly before the production of Share My World began. His absence was filled with a bevy of high-profile producers, such as: Rodney Jerkins, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Babyface, Bryce Wilson and R. Kelly. The end result produced an album that was less entrenched in the Hip hop soul of her first two albums, and replaced with a style that was more aligned with Contemporary R&B.

During the making and run of 1994's My Life, Blige had reportedly experienced clinical depression, while also battling drug and alcohol addiction, and enduring an often turbulent relationship with K-Ci Hailey — all of which heavily influenced the dark mood of that album. In late 1996, however, Blige reportedly made a concerted effort to clean up her life and subsequently found herself in more positive frame of mind while recording Share My World, which influenced the albums noticeably lighter mood.

Release and reception

Commercial performance

For the Billboard issue dated May 10, 1997, Share My World debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with sales of 240,000 copies, marking Blige's first official number-one album on the Billboard 200 chart.^[2] The album had ended the four-week stint of Life After Death by The Notorious B.I.G., which was released posthumously after his death. Moreover, the album debuted at number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, marking Blige's third consecutive number-one album on the latter chart. Share My World has sold over 3 million copies in the United States alone, receiving a 3x Platinum certification on May 19, 1999.

In addition to debuting number one in the United States, the album also debuted in the top ten in the United Kingdom, peaking at number-eight on the UK Albums Chart, thus giving Blige her first top-ten album in that country. And on the Canadian Albums Chart, where the album reached number-four. It also reached number thirty-seven on the German Albums Chart.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Chicago Tribune	[4]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[5]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[6]
Rolling Stone	[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[8]
Spin	8/10[9]
USA Today	[10]
The Village Voice	A−[11]

Alex Henderson of AllMusic wrote in his review, "Her strongest and most confident effort up to that point, Share had much more character, personality, and honesty than most of the assembly line fare dominating urban radio in 1997. For all their slickness, emotive cuts like "Get to Know You Better," "Love Is All We Need," and "Keep Your Head" left no doubt that Blige was indeed a singer of depth and substance. Although high tech, the production of everyone from R. Kelly (with whom she duets on the inviting "It's On") and Babyface to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis doesn't come across as forced or robotic, but, in fact, is impressively organic."^[12] Ernest Hardy of Rolling Stone commended Blige's transition from sound to singing, writing that "On Share My World even Blige's harshest critics will have to concede that she's moved beyond sound to real singing. Listen to "Seven Days," "Missing You" and the already-classic "Not Gon' Cry" (also on the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack), and you hear Blige's signature ache married to newfound technique. There's shading, depth and control in her vocals now."^[13] Steve Jones of USA Today said the songs "run the usual gamut of love themes, but it's Blige's powerful, emotional deliveries and street sensibility that separate her from the competition."^[14] Village Voice critic Robert Christgau said "Blige is a diva for her own time. As befits her hip hop ethos, she's never soft if often vulnerable, and as befits her hip hop aesthetic, she plays her natural vocal cadences for melodic signature and sometimes hook. She redefines the New York accent for the '90s. And she's taken two straight follow-ups to the next level."^[11]

Jonathan Bernstein from Entertainment Weekly was more critical, finding Share My World "uneven" and the songwriting "meandering and half finished."^[15] Tom Moon later wrote in The Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004) that the record displayed "Blige's hit-song savvy but fewer memorable performances" than previous albums.^[8]

Accolades and nominations

Throughout late 1997, and onto early 1998 Share My World became a critical and commercial success. On July 1, 1997, nearly three months after the album's release, Share My World was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of one million copies in the US.^[1] Five months later, on November 17, 1997, the album received a 2x Platinum certification by the RIAA, for two million copies sold in the US alone.^[1] On January 26, 1998, the album won the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album at the 25th annual ceremony.^[16] The following month, it was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 40th Grammy Awards, losing to Baduizm by Erykah Badu.^[17] Blige also received additional nominations such as an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Female Artist, and two Soul Train Music Award nominations for Best R&B/Soul Single, Female (for the single "Everything") and a nomination for Best R&B/Soul Album, Female, losing both to Erykah Badu in both categories. In addition, Blige won a second award for the album at the Soul Train Lady of Soul awards, where she picked up an award for Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year (solo).^[18]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro"	Poke & Tone, Rich Nice	Poke & Tone, Rich Nice	1:24
2.	"I Can Love You" ((featuring Lil' Kim))	Mary J. Blige, Kimberly Jones, Carlos Broady, Nashiem Myrick	Rodney Jerkins	4:46
3.	"Love Is All We Need" ((featuring Nas))	Blige, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Nasir Jones, Rick James	Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis	4:14
4.	"Round and Round"	Blige, Poke, DJ Premier, Shawn Carter	Poke & Tone, George “Golden Fingers” Pearson (co)	4:24
5.	"Share My World (Interlude)"	Poke & Tone, Rich Nice	Poke & Tone, Rich Nice	0:30
6.	"Share My World"	Blige, R. Jerkins	Rodney Jerkins	5:07
7.	"Seven Days" ((featuring George Benson))	Malik Pendleton	Malik Pendleton	5:09
8.	"It’s On (duet with R. Kelly)"	R. Kelly	R. Kelly	4:42
9.	"Thank You Lord (Interlude)"	Kelly Price, R. Jerkins	Rodney Jerkins	0:44
10.	"Missing You"	Babyface	Babyface	4:16
11.	"Everything"	J. Harris III, T. Lewis, Hachidai Nakamura, Rokusuke Ei, James Brown, Linda D. Creed, Thomas R. Bell, John Starks, Fred Wesley	Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis	4:59
12.	"Keep Your Head"	Blige, L. Blige-DaCosta	Poke & Tone, George “Golden Fingers” Pearson	3:48
13.	"Can’t Get You Off My Mind" ((featuring The LOX))	Blige, R. Jerkins, Jason Phillips, Sean Jacobs, David Styles	Rodney Jerkins	4:39
14.	"Get to Know You Better"	Bryce Wilson	Bryce Wilson	4:32
15.	"Searching" ((featuring Roy Ayers))	Blige, L. Blige-DaCosta, Xenos DaCosta, R. Jerkins, Fred Jerkins, Roy Ayers	Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins	5:05
16.	"Our Love"	Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancy	James Mtume	5:21
17.	"Not Gon' Cry"	Babyface	Babyface	4:55

UK Bonus Track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
18.	"(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman"	Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler	James Mtume	2:57

Sample credits

• "Everything" contains a sample of "You Are Everything" as performed by The Stylistics; "The Payback" as performed by James Brown; "Sukiyaki" as performed by A Taste of Honey.
• "Get to Know You Better" contains an interpolation of "My Cherie Amour" as performed by Stevie Wonder.^[19]
• "I Can Love You" contains a sample of "Queen Bitch" as performed by Lil' Kim.
• "Love Is All We Need" contains a sample of "Moonchild" as performed by Rick James.
• "Round and Round" contains a sample of "Go Back Home" as performed by Allen Toussaint.

Personnel

Credits for Share My World adapted from Allmusic.^[20]

Musicians

Roy Ayers – Vibraphone George Benson – Guitar Gene Bianco – String Arrangements, String Conductor, String Contractor LaTonya Blige-DaCosta – Vocals (Background) Mary J. Blige – Executive Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background) Darryl Brown – Bass Mary Brown – Vocals (Background) Michael "Dino" Campbell – Guitar Mike Campbell – Guitar Lafayette Carthon, Jr. – Keyboards Minio Class – Fender Rhodes DJ Do It All – Scratching Nathan East – Bass Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds – Arranger, Drum Programming, Keyboards, Musician, Producer Basil Fearrington – Bass

Michael Jordan – Guitar R. Kelly – Instrumentation, Mixing, Multi Instruments, Performer, Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background) Lil' Kim – Rap The LOX – Rap Josh Milan – Keyboards Ed Moore – Guitar Ed Tree Moore – Guitar James Mussen – Drums Nas – Rap Dunn Pearson, Jr. – Keyboards Malik Pendleton – Mixing, Multi Instruments, Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background) Mike Scott – Guitar Shanice – Vocals (Background) Abdulhameed Zuhri – Guitar

Production

Dionne Alexander – Hair Stylist Bilal Allah – Sequencing Lyndell Fraser – Engineer Kyle Bess – Assistant Engineer, Mixing, Mixing Assistant Bob "Bassy" Bob Brackmann – Mixing Chris Brickley – Engineer Trey Fratt – Assistant Engineer Ben Garrison – Engineer Jon Gass – Mixing Stephen George – Engineer, Mixing, Programming Brad Gilderman – Engineer Kenny J. Gravillis – Art Direction, Design Steve Hodge – Engineer, Mixing Jimmy Jam – Arranger, Instrumentation, Multi Instruments, Musical Associate, Producer Fred Jerkins III – Mixing, Multi Instruments, Producer Rodney Jerkins – Arranger, Drum Arrangements, Drum Programming, Instrumentation, Introduction, Mixing, Multi Instruments, Musician, Producer, Rap, Vocals Derek Khan – Stylist Jeff Lane – Assistant Engineer Ken Lewis – Engineer, Mixing Terry Lewis – Arranger, Instrumentation, Multi Instruments, Musical Associate, Producer Ron Lowe – Assistant Engineer Tony Maserati – Engineer, Mixing Mr Lee – Programming James Mtume – Keyboards, Producer

Rich Nice – Arranger, Narrator, Producer Appolon "Chap" Noel – Assistant, Assistant Engineer, Engineer Nzínga – Make-Up One Drop Scott – Arranger, Drum Programming George R. "Golden Fingers" Pearson – Keyboards, Producer Angela Piva – Engineer, Mixing Poke – Arranger, Drum Programming, Producer Poke & Tone – Arranger, Drum Programming Herb Powers – Mastering David Radin – Sequencing Dexter Simmons – Engineer, Mixing Ivy Skoff – Production Assistant, Production Coordination Xavier Smith – Assistant, Assistant Engineer, Mixing, Mixing Assistant Steve Stoute – Executive Producer, Sequencing Greg Thompson – Assistant Engineer Ed Tinley – Assistant, Assistant Engineer, Engineer Tizone – Mixing Tone – Arranger, Drum Programming, Producer Richard Travali – Engineer, Mixing Tom Vercillo – Engineer, Mixing Randy Walker – MIDI, MIDI Programming, Programming Kevin Westenberg – Photography Bryce Wilson – Keyboards, Producer

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[21]	71
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[22]	4
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[23]	11
French Albums (SNEP)[24]	31
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[25]	37
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[26]	27
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27]	90
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[28]	8
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[29]	41
UK Albums (OCC)[30]	8
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[31]	1
US Billboard 200[32]	1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[33]	1

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Canada (Music Canada)[34]	Platinum	100,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[35]	Gold	100,000^^
United States (RIAA)[36]	3× Platinum	3,000,000^^
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

|}

Chart precession and succession

See also

• List of number-one albums of 1997 (U.S.)
• List of number-one R&B albums of 1997 (U.S.)

References

2. "Mary J. Blige's Share My World Tops Album Chart". MTV. Viacom International Inc. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
3. Allmusic review
4. Kot, Greg (April 25, 1997). "Share My World (MCA)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
5. Larkin, Colin (2011). "Mary J. Blige". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0857125958.
6. Entertainment Weekly review
7. Hardy, Ernest (April 25, 1997). "Mary J. Blige: Share My World : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
8. Moon, Tom (2004). "Mary J. Blige". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. pp. 83–4. ISBN 0743201698.
9. Robson, Britt (June 1997). "Records". Spin. p. 118. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
10. USA Today review
11. Christgau, Robert (November 4, 1997). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
19. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/59727/Mary-J.-Blige-Get-to-Know-You-Better-Stevie-Wonder-My-Cherie-Amour/
20. Credits: Share My World. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2011-01-17.
21. "Australiancharts.com – Mary J. Blige – My Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
22. "Top RPM Albums: Issue {{{chartid}}}." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
23. "Dutchcharts.nl – Mary J. Blige – My Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
24. "Lescharts.com – Mary J. Blige – My Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
25. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
26. "Charts.org.nz – Mary J. Blige – My Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
27. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
28. "Swedishcharts.com – Mary J. Blige – My Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
29. "Swisscharts.com – Mary J. Blige – My Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
30. "Mary J. Blige | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved 2016-09-03.
31. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
32. "Mary J. Blige – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Mary J. Blige. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
33. "Mary J. Blige – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Mary J. Blige. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
34. "Canadian album certifications – Mary J. Blige – Share My World". Music Canada.
35. "British album certifications – Mary J. Blige – Share My World". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Share My World in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
36. "American album certifications – Mary J. Blige – Share My World". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

External links

• Share My World at Discogs