Mary J. Blige, Ne-Yo, Mario

It’s tough to describe to you 21st century youngsters how astoundingly cool Mary J. Blige was when she dropped What’s the 411? in 1992. Instantly, she was the idol of millions of church girls who could sing – and their pals, who wanted to be church girls who sang. And “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By,” her Grammy-winning duet with Method Man, was played at more turn-of-the-century weddings than you could count. 2017’s Strength of a Woman is a damn fine divorce album, if you’re in need of such. It’s the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, people – if she decides to tour, you go.– Joe Gross