Love Is All We Need

"Love Is All We Need"
CD single cover
Single by Mary J. Blige featuring Nas
from the album Share My World
Released	March 18, 1997
Format	CD single cassette single 12" single 7" single
Recorded	1996
Genre	R&B hip hop
Length	4:16
Label	MCA
Writer(s)	James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Mary J. Blige, Rick James
Producer(s)	Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"Not Gon' Cry" (1996) "Love Is All We Need" (1997) "I Can Love You" (1997)

"Love Is All We Need" is a 1997 song by R&B singer Mary J. Blige. It was released as the first single from Blige's third album, Share My World, and features a rap cameo from Nas.

Overview

Recording

Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the song features a sample of Rick James' 1985 single "Moonchild." With its more buoyant tone, "Love Is All We Need" stood in conspicuous contrast to much of the more dark-rooted material featured on Blige's earlier albums.

Release and reaction

While well received in America as an airplay single, the song was never given a physical release in the US and as a result the song never charted on the Hot 100 singles chart, though it did reach number one on the US dance singles chart. Meanwhile, the song became an international hit reaching number fifteen on the UK singles charts; Blige's first top twenty UK hit since 1995's "Mary Jane (All Night Long)." A remix of the song features a separate rap cameo by Foxy Brown and a vocal interpolation of Diana Ross' "Do You Know Where You're Going To (Theme from Mahogany)".

Music video

The music video was shot in New York City from February 24–25, 1997, where Mary is at an office singing her verse and the second scene was a fashion show, Nas is in a fancy chair rapping his verse and the third scene is where Mary is on top of a roof building at the end of the song.

Chart performance

Chart (1997)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay[1]	43
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[2]	1
U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay[3]	5
US Rhythmic Top 40	11
UK Singles Chart	15
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	7
Dutch Singles Chart	90
Swedish Singles Chart	31

Personnel

• Lead vocals by Mary J. Blige
• Background vocals by Mary J. Blige and LaTonya Blige-DaCosta
• Rap written and performed by Nas
• Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 66.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 37.
3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 66.