Mary J. Blige, “He Think I Don’t Know” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

On the 42^nd edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “He Think I Don’t Know” by Mary J. Blige.   

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he vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! On the 42^nd edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “He Think I Don’t Know”, performed by 🎙 Mary J. Blige.

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Theme & Lyrics ✍

“And he think I don’t know / He think I don’t know, oh.” What, 🎙 Mary J. Blige, does he think you don’t know? Hmm, well, he thinks she doesn’t know he’s unfaithful – HE’S A CHEATER! Mary’s anger and pain are our listening pleasure in 🎵 “He Think I Don’t Know”. She sings soulfully over a lush, minor key, 🎼✍ 🎛 Gerald Isaac production.  Isaac didn’t only produce it though – he wrote this 🏆 Grammy-winning gem.  That’s right, MJB won the 🏆 Grammy for Best Female R&B Performance for this marvelous, five-and-a-half-minute-plus slow jam at the 45^th Annual Grammy Awards.  Notably, she beat out 🎙 Jill Scott, 🎙 Eartha, 🎙 Ashanti, and 🎙 Aaliyah.  Listen to it and you’ll understand WHY it was victorious. 

“I don’t know what gets me more

‘Bout your two-hour trips to the store

How they never have what you went there for

Yet you say to trust you more.” 

Yup, Mary is onto his adulterous ways! She’s a detective in the second verse, asserting, “On my way to work one night / As I made a left at the light / See, what I saw just wasn’t right / Guess what’s done in darkness gon’ come to light.” Of course, in the chorus, MJB keeps emphasizing how this no-good dude underestimates her intelligence: “And he think I don’t know / He must think I’m stupid.” Mary, girl, you’re anything but!

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Final Thoughts 💭

All in all, north of 20 years after its release, “He Think I Don’t Know” remains a compelling, well-rounded R&B joint.  Blige sings with incredible conviction, capably capturing this unfaithful fool. As for the writing and production, Gerald Isaac puts in some serious work.  It’s a shame that this 💿 No More Drama (Version 2) gem didn’t chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

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🎙 Mary J. Blige • 💿 No More Drama (Version 2) • 🏷 Geffen • 🗓 2001

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Mary J. Blige, “He Think I Don’t Know”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 42 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Geffen, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype]

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