Mary J. Blige has admitted she was in a “dark place” before releasing her album My Life.
The R&B star has reflected on how her 1994 album My Life, which featured songs such as Be Happy and Mary Jane, changed her career and life.
“That album is so important, because it was so pivotal for when it came time for me to choose,” Blige told Billboard in a recent interview. “I was in a dark place where I didn’t wanna live, and I was begging people to love me and stay with me. Now, I’m not begging anyone to love and stay with me.”
The music icon explained that she has since learned to “love” herself.
“I love myself. I found my real love. My true love is myself and I,” she shared. “That’s why when it was time for me to choose the My Life album, I chose my life.”
The 53-year-old continued, “I chose my life and my fans when it was time to make that turn because I didn’t want to off myself and take half my fanbase with me. That didn’t seem right. I always had a conscious and a spiritual grounding. That’s what made me choose.”
Blige’s career has continued to skyrocket since the release of My Life. She has won a total of 88 awards for her music and acting, including nine Grammys.
The singer was also announced as an inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year.
