THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
359-Method Man featuring Mary J. Blige-I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By.
1995-Number 10 single.
Best Bit-At 0.34. This song is often cited as the hybrid of what is now known as ‘Thug Loved’ duets.
Mary J. Blige was born Mary Jane Blige on January 11th, 1971, in New York City, United States, She is a singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and entrepreneur. It can be argued that Mary J. Bidge has been an innovator, not once but twice. He debut Album ‘What’s the 411?’ released in 1992, is an early example of a ‘Soul’ singer combining ‘Soul Music’ with ‘Hip-Hop’ music, leading to Blige being named the ‘Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.’ She is also credited through this song with matching female vocals alongside a Rap artist. This matching of the genres would go on to dominate the music charts around the world, and still plays a big part today. The discography of Mary J. Blige includes 15 studio Albums released between 1992-2024, and 83 singles released within the same time period, there are also nine official compilation Albums, one soundtrack Album, and two live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, she has had 17 top 40 singles as the lead artist, and a further five as a featured artist, with ‘Family Affair,’ from 2001, peaking the highest at Number 1, with ‘I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By’ making Number 3. In the UK, Mary J. Blige has had 27 top 40 singles as the lead artist, and a further six as a featured artist, with ‘One,’ with U2, peaking the highest at Number 2 in 2006.
Method Man (see also best songs 166) was born Clifford Smith Jr. on March 2nd, 1971, in Hempstead, New York, United States, he is a rapper, music producer and actor, he took his stage name from the 1979 Hong Kong martial arts film called ‘Method Man.’He is best known as a founding member of the American ‘Hip-Hop’ group the ‘Wu-Tang Clan,’ who are one of the most influential Hip-Hop acts of all time. Method Man has appeared in 45 films between 1996-2024, and has an extensive list of television appearances as well. With the ‘Wu-Tang Clan’ he has participated on all of their seven studio Albums between 1993-2015, he has also released two studio Albums, one soundtrack Album, one Mixtape Album, and 13 singles with his fellow Wu-Tang Clan band mate Redman, between 1999-2016. The solo discography of Method Man includes seven studio Albums released between 1994-2022, and 34 singles released between 1994-2023. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, his only top 40 hit as the lead artist is ‘I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By,’ which made Number 3, he has also charted once as a featured artist on ‘Love @ 1st Sight,’ by Mary J. Blige, which reached Number 22 in 2003. In the UK, Method Man has had five top 40 hits, with ‘Hit ‘Em High (The Monstars’ Anthem’) with B-Real, Coolio, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes, charting the highest at Number 8 in 1996.
I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By’ was first issued as ‘All I Need,’ on Method Man’s debut solo studio Album called ‘Tical,’ in November 1994, as the third and final single released from the Album. Method Man was the first member of the ‘Wu-Tang Clan’ to release a solo Album, which was produced by fellow ‘Wu-Tang Clan band member ‘RZA.’ When Mary J. Blige added her vocal, the song received two remixes, the Album version, which was added as a bonus track to ‘Tical,’ and the video version, both of which were both produced by ‘RZA,’ The radio version was produced by Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs, (see also best songs 955) and the American music producers and songwriters Trackmasters. In a 2012 interview, Jean Claude ‘Poke’ Olivier, who is one half of the production team the Trackmasters claimed that they were the actual producers behind the ‘Puff Daddy’ remix, but were never properly credited for it. The Trackmasters claim that they were only credited as session musicians for programming the drums, while Combs was credited as the producer.
‘I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By’ samples the Nickolas Ashford (1042-2011) and Valerie Simpson written song ‘You’re All I Need to Get By,’ originally recorded by Marvin Gaye (1939-1984) and Tammi Terrell (1945-1970) in 1968, which reached Number 7 on Billboard in America, and Number 19 in the UK. Ashford & Simpson (see also best songs 703-359-228 and 28) both receive the songwriting credits, along with Method Man, and RZA.
‘I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By’ is an example of ‘Hip-hop soul,’ which was a term coined by Sean ‘Puffy Combs, during the promotion of ‘What’s the 411?,’ the 1992 debut Album by Mary J. Blige, who was promoted by the record company as the ‘Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.’ The Album was primarily produced by Combs, and was filled with mid-tempo ‘R&B’ ballads sung, over ‘Hip-Hop beats, and samples. ‘Hip-hop soul’ evolved from a previous ‘R&B’ sub-genre, ‘New Jack Swing,’ (see also best songs 809) which had incorporated ‘Hip-Hop’ influences into ‘R&B’ music. By contrast, ‘Hip hop soul’ is, as described in ‘The Encyclopedia of African American Music,’ ‘Quite literally soul singing over ‘Hip Hop’ grooves.’
‘I got a love Jones for your body, and your skin tone. Five minutes alone, I’m already got the bone. Plus I love the fact you got a mind of your own, no need to shop around, you got the good stuff at home.’