What decade is the hit single "Real Love" by Mary J. Blige from?

The hit single “Real Love” by Mary J. Blige is from the Nineties. It was released in 1992 as the second single from her debut album, What’s the 411?.

The song helped establish Blige as the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul,” blending contemporary R&B singing with hip-hop production and a prominent sample from Audio Two’s 1987 track “Top Billin’.” Cory Rooney and Mark Morales wrote and produced the recording.

“Real Love” became Blige’s first major crossover success, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was also certified Gold by the RIAA in 1992.

A common mix-up is confusing the song’s release date with later covers. Singer-songwriter Toby Lightman recorded a version in 2004, but Blige’s original hit is firmly a 1990s release.