"Best of" albums seldom move huge units, because those who are warranted to put out such a collection have already reached multi-platinum sales on their previous recordings. Yes, occasionally as a consumer it is nice to see all your favorite tracks on one CD from the multiple projects; but the flow of the collection very rarely mirrors the course that the original albums took.

With seven studio albums spanning fifteen years, Mary J Blige, The "Queen of Hip Hop Soul" has every reason to promote her work in this form to her extended fan base. Of course, Mary opts to take her project in a different direction by opening with four new tracks. Being the entertainer she is, she never short-changes her loyal following. The horn-infested "You Know" definitely shows a new softer approach to her vocal range and is a welcomed addition to the track listing of expected staples from her library.

Mary only placed three collaborations on this offering, one being her 1995 classic, "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By" - featuring Wu-Tang member Method Man - which remains one of the greatest Hip Hop/R&B collabos of all time. The second collaboration features John Legend on the aptly titled "King and Queen," which literally has the two going back and forth plainly solidifying their regal status in R&B as the song title suggests. The final duet is her appearance on "911" where she assists Wyclef Jean on his The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book project.

Still riding the wave of success however of her seventh album, The Breakthrough, the dominant force on Reflections: a Retrospective is actually music from circa 2000. One noticeable album that wasn't represented was the 2002 attempt at rekindling her former recording affiliation with Sean Combs, Love & Life. Combs had been the driving force behind the Yonkers gal back in the early to mid nineties when she arrived at Uptown Records. Perhaps had Reflections: A Retrospective housed the Eve-assisted "Not Today" from the Love & Life album, it may have provided a more up-tempo reprieve alongside "Family Affair" and "Real Love," from the traditional ballads we have grown accustomed to from Mary J Blige - which, I must say, are a little overly represented on this collection.

But this is, after all, Mary J Blige, and she is famed for her consistent soul searching and maintaining the attention of those who encourage her sales by relating to the issues and problems that many and most of them face. So this title will be a welcomed addition for the fans who pay homage to their Queen. Could it have been any better? Well that depends on who you ask, as we all have our favorites; but realistically the album is a pretty safe bet which houses the tracks that she has become notorious for.