Mary J. Blige

Released: September 28, 1998

Featuring: Nas DMX

Songwriter: Mary J. Blige Nas DMX Kenny Kornegay

Producer: Kenny Kornegay

[Verse 1: DMX]
Uh.. Uh
Now there's two ways we can do this, keep it real or front
I know you got what I need and I got what you want
And the hunt for soulmates is all over for us
We could go away where nobody would know it was us
Leave behind all the fuss, the studios, the pictures
No autographs, just laughs when I'm wit ya
I know what it's like when they know you now
But bark it at the dog baby, and I'll hold you down

[Verse 2: Mary J. Blige]
Time and time and time again
I knew that our love had to end
But now it's gone so very far
That I can make a brand new start
I thought that we were meant to be
Be one big family
But I was weak and loved you still
No matter what you did, I could forgive

[Hook]
All I need is sincerity
All I need is sincerity

[Verse 3: Mary J. Blige]
Thinking 'bout you all the time
Never seemed to cross my mind
How you could take the time to kill
Everything our love had built
I never knew how you could hide
Every time you told a lie
But now I know why you're so cold
But I don't understand

[Bridge]
Now that you set me free
I truly think that we
Could find love separately
I need sincerity
One thing, I'm not as weak
I'll always stand alone
But my heart is not made of stone
So I'll go on

[Hook]

[Verse 4: Nas]
Chipped tooth don
Nasty, blue ice timbs on
Screw it face, half moon part, my tattoos dark
On a scale of tough criminals, nothing to call me
I'm a rare individual, young and I'm bossy
Guess it come from a rough life, cuffed at night
Letting off hot lead that bust from iron pipes
I'm the type that have to shed blood
Pray to the ghost of dead thugs, dead blocks that spread drugs
Fled from the cops 'till when my first joint dropped
I'm still wit my hood, Hollow Point still in the Glock
But I've been shitted on by these high class hoes
Even these chickens did me wrong, I was just getting on
So I turned cold, giving 'em hard dick and straight to the hole
Like Rod Strickland, it was taking it's toll
I needed someone I could hold in my darkest hours
A strong couple is a blessing and the heart is the power
Give me someone I could trust, not just a hotty to bone
Does she love Escobar, or love Nasir Jones?
Let me know so I could cop her the stones
What's clear to me, it's sincerity
Somebody I could call my own, yeah

[Hook]

[Ad-libs until fade]

Mary Jane Blige (b. Jan 11 1971) grew up in the projects of Yonkers, New York. A random decision to record a cover of “Caught Up in the Rapture” by Anita Baker in a pop-up recording booth at a mall led MJB to getting signed by Uptown Entertainment. After providing background vocals on Father MC’s hit single “I’ll Do 4 U” in 1990, a young intern at Uptown named Sean “Puffy” Combs ended up executive producing Mary’s 1992 debut album What’s The 411?. Fusing hip-hop beats with Mary’s soulful voice earned her the nickname “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul”.

She followed up her debut with a string of critically acclaimed albums, including 1994’s My Life and 1997’s Share My World, as well as hit singles such as “Not Gon' Cry,” “Family Affair,” “Be Without You,” and “Just Fine.”

She also collaborated with rappers on a number of tracks, including Jay-Z’s “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” Ghostface Killah’s “All That I Got is You,” Wyclef’s “911,” Common’s “Come Close,” and Method Man’s “I’ll Be There for You/All I Need to Get By,” which was a platinum hit and won the two of them a Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group.

more tracks from the album

Deep Inside [Remix EP]

From the albums

Mary J. Blige popular songs

SincerityMary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige

Deep Inside [Remix EP]