On her third album, Mary J. Blige steers away from much of the gritty hip hop soul of her first two CDs in favor of slightly polished r&b. In the case of "Share My World," that's not necessarily a bad thing. Here, she hooks up with a handful of the most popular producers in the business (R.Kelly, Jam and Lewis, Rodney Jerkins, and Babyface) and the results make up a pretty strong release. The Queen of Hip Hop Soul teams up with Queen Bee Lil' Kim on the infectious "I Can Love You," with production from Rodney Jerkins. Jam and Lewis, who are known for their work with Janet, give the sample-heavy but effective numbers "Love Is All We Need," and the excellent "Everything," which samples "You Are Everything" by the Stylistics. R. Kelly's one-groove-fits-all approach to production compliments Blige nicely in the duet "It's On," and we're also treated to the ballad "Missing You," which is unmistakably Babyface. And speaking of Babyface, he's also represented on the disc's closer, "Not Gon' Cry," which already appeared on the soundtrack to "Waiting to Exhale." "Share My World" proves that you can polish your sound without sounding like you're desperate for crossover appeal. Whether she does gritty hip hop or radio-friendly r&b, she's still the Queen of Hip Hop Soul.

With "Share My World", Mary J continues her reign as the undisputed Queen of Hip Hop. The absence of Puff Daddy is recognizable, as the samples on this album are toned down. With new producers like Babyface, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Rodney Jerkins, Malik Pendleton, and not to mention the tracks that she herself cowrote, Mary conquers the hip hop world once again. As on "My Life" the pain is still there, but what makes this one differen't is that Mary sings more maturely on this album. Stand out cuts are the title track, "I Can Love You", "Seven Days", "Everything"... Although it doesn't live up to her previous efforts (at times it sounds like its overproduced), the best of Mary J. Blige is DEFINITELY on this album.

Peace El-715

My God, this album has flown under the radar as one of the best of all-time. Yeah a lot of people are like Whats the 411? is her best album, even more are like My Life was her best album...NO!...Share My World is the best album that MJB has EVER made no doubt about it. When people talk about the best R&B albums, this album never gets mentioned and its sad because this album is one of the few albums you can listen to beginning to end without skipping a track.

Best Tracks:

I Can Love You

Love Is All We Need f. Nas

Share My World

Seven Days

Its On f. R.Kelly

Everyting

Can't Get You Off My Mind

Searching

But on the real, every song is hot!

I have to agree with the others, this is one of her better albums. I remember when I got the tape, it was bootlegged, lmao. Did I just admit that? Yeah, I did oh well. But, anyway the tracks that stood out for me where "Can't Get You Off My Mind," "Share My World," "Searching," and " I Can Love You." I love this album it takes you back to a special place and the ballads are hitting close to home. I finally bought this album on CD yesterday and am glad I bought it.

This is Mary at her best, next to "My Life."

Big ups to Mary from getting away from Puff during this time too.

Kmecca

"Share My World" was the first Blige album that I really noticed. Though I had purchased the "What's the 411" remix album, as well as the single "You Bring Me Joy" from the "My Life" album, I hadn't totally become a fan until the release of Mary's third album in 1997.

And what an album it is!!!

Blige's talented array of producers (Rodney Jenkins, Jam and Lewis, Babyface, and the ubiquitous R. Kelly, among others), gave the singer some of the strongest songs of her burgeoning career. They understood that the singer was the undisputed spokesperson of song for her generations, as well as one that possesses a style and personna that appeals to an older audience.

Highlights on the superior album include "I Can Love You," "Love is All WE Need," the title cut, the masterful "Seven Days," "It's On," "Missing You," "Everything," "Not Gon' Cry" (also found on the "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack), and a dead-on-the-money remake of Natalie Cole's "Our Love."

Eight years may have passed since this album's release but it is still as contemporary (and, in some ways, better) as most of the music topping the charts today.

Only equalled by Mary's new album "The Breakthrough"!