What's The Real Meaning Of Family Affair By Mary J. Blige? Here's What We Think

The 2022 Pepsi Halftime show is going down in history, and will have a lasting impact for years to come. Mary J. Blige is gearing up to perform alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem on Sunday, February 13 at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles for Super Bowl LVI, according to "Good Morning America." In 2001, the iconic singer first appeared on the mega stage with NSYNC and Aerosmith, but she told the outlet that this upcoming powerhouse lineup will take the show to new heights. 

"Man, this thing is the most epic thing in music, like in hip-hop, R&B history, this is — man, L.A. is never ever gonna be the same," Blige said. "I watched the rehearsals — watching each person's performance, I had goosebumps watching it."

Each artist has an extensive catalog, so there's no way to determine which songs they will perform that night. However, what we do know is that Blige will likely have people getting crunk to one of her biggest hits, "Family Affair," which was produced by Dr. Dre, per Rolling Stone. However, despite the song's longevity, some fans can't help but wonder: What does "Family Affair" really mean? Here's what we think.

The song starts out with an uptempo beat as Mary J. Blige begins the chorus advising her friends to get on the dance floor with no judgement. "So you gots to dance for me / Don't need no hateration / Holleration in this dancery," she sings. The "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" has always been open about her upbringing and past traumas, especially in her documentary, "My Life," per Billboard. Even though she struggled with her mental health during that period of time, Blige decided to take a more happy approach on "Family Affair" and the song took off. Tired of all the drama in her life, Blige sings in the first verse about finally having a night of fun. "Let loose and set your body free / Leave your situations at the door / So when you step inside/jump on the floor."

The "Be Without You" artist often sang about heartbreak and the struggles she faced in life. Therefore, what's great about "Family Affair" is that the song truly embodies positive energy — something she needed, as well. "Cop you a drink / go 'head and rock your ice' / Cause we celebrating no more drama in our life," she sings in the second verse.

During an interview with BackstageOL in June 2021, the songwriter revealed the impact that song had on her career. "I don't think I realized I was successful in music until ['Family Affair']. I was on tour and the bus driver was a white boy who was listening to his country music radio station." 

Mary J. Blige released "Family Affair" in 2001, and the fun, get hype song was a massive hit off of her album "No More Drama," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 "for six consecutive weeks." The legendary singer also snagged a Grammy nomination the following year for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "Family Affair," adding to the worldwide success of the record. 

Even though Blige's music career spans more than two decades and includes an impressive catalog of hits, the "Just Fine" singer is still stunned by how impactful she truly is. In 2015, she performed some of her biggest songs off of her album "No Drama" — 14 years after its release — at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK and the New York native was shocked by the response. "I didn't know so many people knew my songs," she told The Guardian. "It was really emotional for me, for so many reasons that I can't even get into. But life is revealing them right now."

Every performer who is scheduled to hit the Super Bowl LVI stage is a legend in their own right and most have been in the game for more than 20 years, which not only speaks to their cultural impact, but also to how relevant their music will forever be. "It's a celebration of how far you know hip-hop has come, how far R&B has come, how far you know just you know, music and our culture," Blige told "Good Morning America."