What's the 411?

What's the 411? is the debut album by soul singer Mary J. Blige, released July 28, 1992 (see 1992 in music). The album's then-nearly unique blend of hip hop and soul have made it a pivotal album in the development, and perhaps the very first example of, nu soul. The album was an unexpected crossover success at a time when soul albums were unpopular as hip hop and grunge music dominated the charts; its success was buoyed by early chart success for "You Remind Me" and "Real Love".

What's the 411? peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and topped the Top Hip Hop/R&B Albums chart. "You Remind Me" and What's the 411? were certified gold by the RIAA in August and September of 1992, respectively. One month later, What's the 411? was certified platinum and a month after that, "Real Love" was ceritified gold. In February of 1993, What's the 411? was certified two times platinum.

Track listing

1. "Leave a Message" (with Tony Dofat)
2. "Reminisce" (Greene/Hall)
3. "Real Love" (Morales/Reid)
4. "You Remind Me" (Hall/Milteer)
5. "Intro Talk" (with Tony Dofat)
6. "Sweet Thing" (with Tony Dofat, cover of Chaka Khan)
7. "Love No Limit" (Greene/Hall)
8. "I Don't Want to Do Anything" (with K-Ci of Jodeci)
9. "Slow Down" (Keeley/Morales/Reid)
10. "My Love" (Greene/Hall)
11. "Changes I've Been Going Through" (Combs/Morales/Reid)
12. "What's the 411?" (with Grand Puba)

Personnel

• Christopher Williams
• Little Shawn
• Grand Puba - Vocals (bckgr), Harmony Vocals, Performer
• Billy Lawrence - Vocals (bckgr)
• Mary J. Blige - Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
• Tabitha Brace - Vocals (bckgr)
• Busta Rhymes - Vocals
• Sean "Puffy" Combs - Producer
• Tony Dofat - Producer, Performer
• Steven Ett - Engineer
• Mike Fonda - Engineer
• Andre Harrell
• David Kennedy - Engineer
• Clark Kent
• Tony Maserati - Engineer
• Mark Morales - Producer, Drum Machine
• Darryl Pearson - Multi Instruments
• Gordon Picket - Programming
• L.A. Reid - Keyboards, Vocals (bckgr), Producer
• Terri Robinson - Vocals (bckgr)
• C.L. Smooth
• DeVante Swing - Keyboards, Multi Instruments, Producer
• Jamie Brown
• Andy Grassi - Engineer
• Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey - Harmony Vocals, Performer
• Kurt Juice
• Dave Hall - Drums, Keyboards, Producer

Charting singles

 1992      Reminisce                       The Billboard Hot 100             No. 57
 1992   You Remind Me                   The Billboard Hot 100             No. 29
 1992   Real Love                       Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks  No. 1
 1992   You Remind Me                   Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks  No. 1
 1992   You Remind Me                   Rhythmic Top 40                   No. 23
 1992   Real Love                       Top 40 Mainstream                 No. 8
 1992   Real Love                       Hot Dance Music/Club Play         No. 36
 1992   You Remind Me                   Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles SalesNo. 7
 1993   Love No Limit                   The Billboard Hot 100             No. 44
 1993   Reminisce                       Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks  No. 6
 1993   I Don't Want to Do Anything     Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks  No. 86
 1993   Love No Limit                   Rhythmic Top 40                   No. 15
 1993   Reminisce                       Rhythmic Top 40                   No. 34
 1993   Love No Limit                   Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles SalesNo. 7
 1993   Reminisce                       Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles SalesNo. 5
 1994   My Love                         Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks  No. 23