"Real Love" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige from her debut studio album, What's the 411? (1992). Based on real life experiences, it was written and produced by Cory Rooney and Mark Morales, and samples Audio Two's 1987 song "Top Billin'". The song was issued as the album's second single on July 28, 1992 by Uptown and MCA. It became Blige's first top-10 hit, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic charts and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 4, 1992. Marcus Raboy directed the song's music video. Rolling Stone included "Real Love" in their list of "500 Best Songs of All Time" in 2021 at number 327.[3]In an retrospective review, Daryl McIntosh from Albumism noted that "the sped-up baseline" of Audio Two's "Top Billin'", "provided the perfect head-nodding cadence for Blige's soulful exploration of her Mr. Right."[5] Stanton Swihart from AllMusic stated that songs like "Real Love" "are and will remain timeless slices of soul even after their trendiness has worn off".[6] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan described it as an "upbeat love song that the young Blige revels in singing". He added that "it still gets a rousing response when she dusts it off during gigs."[7] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said that "it's not commercial enough to be a major hit".[8] Chris Roberts from Melody Maker felt that Blige "oozes out that yumsome breed of smoky pop-funk" on the track.[9] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update viewed it as "En Vogue-ish".[10] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel felt the beat made the song "listenable enough".
Blige and her work have influenced several recording artists, including Beyoncé,[149] Adele,[150][151] Taylor Swift,[152] Layton Greene,[153] Cheryl,[154] Teyana Taylor,[155] Keke Palmer,[156] Jess Glynne,[157] Sam Smith,[158] Summer Walker,[159] Rihanna,[160] Keyshia Cole[161] and Alexandra Burke.[162]
As an actress, Blige received the Breakthrough Performance Award at the 2018 Palm Springs International Film Festival for her role in Mudbound.
In 2020, Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian female Vice President-elect on a major party, walked out to "Work That" at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, campaign events (including her own presidential campaign), and her victory speech.
