VIA PRESS RELEASE | UMe’s Urban Legends, the label imprint and cross-platform initiative devoted to the curation and celebration of over three decades of urban catalog music and culture, and Soul In The Horn, an innovative digital movement that seeks to bridge cultural gaps by bringing together a diverse cross-section of creative talents, have teamed up to create an extraordinary one-of-a-kind 3-D experience for ardent Mary J. Blige fans that celebrates the November 29 anniversary of My Life, one of the most critically acclaimed and important R&B albums of all time.
Over the past few days, 500 randomly selected superfans from her newsletter and website, ages 21+, received an invitation to dive into a dynamic online environment full of rare content via mobile or desktop that mirrors virtual reality. Custom-built so fans can interact with one another as well as with digital concierges designed to guide them on-demand throughout the journey, UMe’s Urban Legends and Soul In The Horn provide VIP access to My Life music, performances, visuals and more.
Mary J. Blige, the legendary singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist and honorary Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, will re-release her acclaimed 1994 sophomore album, My Life, on November 20 via Geffen/UMe. The album will be released in three physical forms: a 2CD, a standard weight black double vinyl, and a triple vinyl edition in translucent blue with a lenticular cover, including bonus tracks featuring LL Cool J, and Smif ‘N Wessun. The 3LP edition will also be available digitally which will also feature commentary by Mary J. Blige on the original album tracks. From her No. 57 hit “You Bring Me Joy” to her No. 22 version of Rose Royce’s 1976 soul classic “I’m Going Down,” My Life was one of Blige’s most creatively vital works to date.
Bringing fans into My Life through an immersive digital experience fittingly celebrates an iconic artist and her groundbreaking album. In addition to basics such as emojis, chats and avatars to spur conversations, the journey starts in the studio and continues through to the stage allowing for 360 panning and immersive audio as visitors move through the virtual space easily navigated on mobile or desktop devices. For additional guidance, fans may enlist the on-demand help of a concierge. The experience is scaled so that as one moves closer to or away from the action, video and sound increase and decrease proportionately.
Once inside, fans discover a great room that allows for roaming from one area to another solo or with other fans. Areas include a studio environment where fans can listen to My Life with track-by-track commentary from Mary J. Blige as she discusses each song and what it means to her; a digital closet with deep dives into Blige’s fashion statements and iconic looks; a special merchandise corner showcasing the Mary J. Blige Sun Goddess wine brand, and another area, a digital merch table, brings fans to the Mary J. Blige online store. A stylish lounge invites fans to sit back and watch rarely seen interviews with Mary J. Blige. There’s even a main stage where, as the headlining performer, Mary J. Blige takes the stage in filmed performances and videos. Fans can post about their experiences using #MJBMYLife.
“Welcome To My Life” brings an innovative artist and one of her most significant projects to some of her most dedicated fans via an innovative platform in an era when at-home entertainment is more important than ever. In time, Blige became a global symbol of female empowerment and perseverance, but on My Life, she lay her soul bare to brilliant ends. For those who want to relive Blige’s embattled masterpiece, now’s the chance to rediscover My Life.
