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Mary J Blige
Performed Her Career Spanning Hits For Her Fans
At Rocket Arena
 Mary J Blige |  Mary J Blige |  Mary J Blige |
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 Mary J Blige |  Mary J Blige |  Mary J Blige |
 Ne-Yo |  Mario |  Ne-Yo |
 Mary J Blige |  Mary J Blige |  Ne-Yo |
 Mario |  Ne-Yo |  mary J Blige |
 Ne-Yo |  Mary J Blige |  Mario |
 Ne-Yo |  Mary J Blige |  Mario |
 Mary J Blige |
April 2, 2025
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Mary J. Blige, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2024 returned to Rocket Area last night as a part of her For My Fans Tour.
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The "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul and R&B" appeared on the small stage at the end of the arena to start the show. Wearing a black outfit that featured a big black hat, a big fur shawl, and her signature knee high boots, Blige started the show with "Take Me As I Am."
That quickly segued into "A Dream." As she was singing, a large platform in the shape of a crown descended down from the ceiling to the small stage. Mary then got harnessed in and was carried over the crowd to the main stage.
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The main stage featured two hands holding a crown while her full band took up residence on either side.
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Mary reappeared with her dancers and went into "Love No Limit" and "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" where she showed off some of her dance moves.
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This show truly was for her fans as she proceed to play thirty-one songs from her illustrious and Hall of Fame career.
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From the heartfelt "No More Drama" to the great Rufus and Chaka Khan cover of "Sweet Thing" Mary J. Blige had the audience in the palm of her hands.
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The career retrospective came to a close with the hip hop classic, "Family Affair."
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Ne-Yo was second on the bill and he proceed to warm up the crowd quite nicely. He and his team of backup dancers brought the party and high energy to the crowd. He played songs from his career like "Miss Independent," "Because of You" and "She Knows." He also performed songs that he wrote or co-wrote like "Baby By Me," "Leave You Alone" and perhaps his biggest hit with Pitbull, "Give Me Everything."
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Mario started the show with a high energy performance as well.
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Opening the show with his cover of Biz Markie's "Just a Friend 2002" the party was off and running.
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He and his two back up dancers entertained the crowd with a nice eight song set that featured songs like "Music for Love," "Crying Out for Me" and "Let Me Love You."
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Cleveland once again it proved that it supports great music, no matter what the genre.
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Photos and review by Greg Drugan
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