Love, life and Mary J. Blige

P. Diddy once more takes on the producing chores for Mary J. Blige’s new album Love & Life. Take note that some 10 years ago, it was also the former Puff Daddy, who steered the unknown Mary through a blend of hip-hop and R&B which has since become the favored concept for female soul artists from her first hit tune What’s the 411.

Aside from P. Diddy, Mary is also back with other famous friends in tow. Jay Z is in the Love & Life Intro. Method Man is featured in Love @ 1st Sight and Eve joins the fun in Not Today. Dr. Dre, who produced Mary’s number one single Family Affair two years ago, is also back as producer of Not Today. She has also invited a new very special one, 50 Cent. The year’s most sensational hip hop discovery joins Mary in Let Me Be the 1.

P. Diddy has not lost his touch. The album is as slick and smooth and trendy as his stylish wardrobe. Mary, whose powerful vocals have never sounded better, floats from one cut to another, a bouncy romantic in Ooh! and Let Me Be the 1, a woman talking about her life in Finally Made It and an ecstatic lover in Love @ 1st Sight. The roles she takes on vary all over the 19-cut collection but Mary’s singing and I must add, rapping, never falters.

She shares control of the entire production with P. Diddy and their interaction is just magnificent. There is not one false move. Nothing in the music will cause even non-hip hop listeners to fidget or want to move to the next cut. All they’ll want to do is smile and move into the groove. Every cut is perfection. But then what else can you expect from a superstar album? Why, even Mary’s musings work like a dream here.

Life & Love is all about Mary, her rise from the projects of New York, her failed loves, the heady early days of success and the woman she has now become. I thought No More Drama was excellent but this new album brings on new highs. Enjoy.

The other cuts included are: Don’t Go, When We, Willing & Waiting, Friends, Press On, Feel Like Making Love, It’s a Wrap, Message in Our Music, All My Love, Special Part of Me, Ultimate Relationship and Didn’t Mean.

MTV Europe Awards nominees

Ex ‘N Sync heartthrob Justin Timberlake is the top choice at this year’s MTV Europe Awards with five nominations. He is in the running for Best Song, Best Male, Best Album, Best Pop and Best New Act. The event will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland on Nov. 6. Christina Aguilera who has four nominations, will host the ceremony.

The nominees are:

Best Group: Coldplay, Evanescence, Metallica, Radiohead and The White Stripes.

Best Song: Crazy in Love by Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, Beautiful by Christina Aguilera, Bring Me to Life by Evanescence, Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake and Get Busy by Sean Paul.

Best Female: Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Pink.

Best Male: Craig David, Eminem, Justin Timberlake, Robbie Williams and Sean Paul.

Best Hip Hop: 50 Cent, Eminem, Jay-Z, Missy Elliott and Nelly.

Best New Act: 50 Cent, Evanescence, Good Charlotte, Justin Timberlake and Sean Paul.

Best R& B: Ashanti, Beyonce, Craig David, Jennifer Lopez and Mary J. Blige.

Best Album: Get Rich or Die Tryin’ by 50 Cent, Stripped by Christina Aguilera, Justified by Justin Timberlake, Escapology by Robbie Williams and Elephant by The White Stripes.

Best Dance: Junior Senior, Moby, Panjabi MC, Paul Oakenfold and The Chemical Brothers.

Best Rock: Good Charlotte, Linkin Park, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The White Stripes.

Best Pop: Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Kylie Minogue, Pink and Robbie Williams.

Best Video: Work It by Missy Elliott, Go with the Flow by Queens of the Stone Age, Untitled 1 by Sigur Ros, Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes and An Eye for an Eye by Unkle.

The Web Award to the best artist site on the worldwide web: goldfrapp.co.uk; juniorsenior.com; madonna.com; marilynmanson.com; gotsa.com.

Just a note. Please do not think you have not been keeping track of today’s music because some of the names and titles nominated are not familiar. This is the MTV Europe Awards and there are some nominees from European countries that are not available locally.