MJB returns with her eighth studio album, Growing Pains. Building off
of the infectious first-single, “Work That,” Blige has crafted an album
that manages to be both hip and mature. “Just Fine” is a positive
affirmation of Blige’s latest recording persona, that of the
self-referencing survivor. For many modern artists, including Blige
herself, sharing so much of oneself borders on self-absorption, but
Growing Pains shows that the queen of hip-hop soul can be both personal
and universal. –
