Last night in Cleveland, Mary J. Blige got inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the Class of 2024.
Before she performed a mix of her songs with Ella Mai and Lucky Daye, Dr. Dre and Method Man introduced her at the ceremony. You can catch clips of “My Life” and “Family Affair” on Instagram.
Blige has been part of this tradition before; she inducted Solomon Burke in 2001 and Nina Simone after she passed away in 2018. During her speech, she declared, “The queen of hip-hop soul is a rock star.”
Dr. Dre had some powerful words about Blige: “Let’s face it, you don’t just listen to a Mary album. You feel that shit in your soul. Every single syllable, her emotional vocals capture the pain and culture, but her messages of resilience, of hope and light are a pathway towards healing. When you listen to Mary, we’re reminded we’re not alone in heartbreak.”
The happiness Blige talks about isn’t fake or pretending everything’s fine; it’s real happiness that knows life can be tough but chooses to smile anyway because things will get better. She said she’s building something lasting—something historical—and finally feels like the rock star she’s always meant to be: “I’m building for expansion… I am the queen of hip-hop — Soul is a rock star.”
I think fans really connect with how real she is about life’s ups and downs.
