"Breathing" is a song by American singerMary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Jocelyn Donald, Jose Leonel Sandova, Shaun "S. Dot" Thomas and guest vocalistFabolous for Blige's fifteenth studio albumGratitude (2024), while production was helmed by Thomas, with Cashmere Brown credited as a co-producer. The song was released by Mary Jane Productions Inc. and300 Entertainment on August 15, 2024 as the album's lead single and became Blige's ninth chart topper on the USAdult R&B Songs chart. It also peaked at number 13 on the USR&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.
"Breathing" was written byMary J. Blige along with Jocelyn "Jozzy" Donald, Jose Leonel "PurpleKBeats" Sandova, Shaun "S. Dot" Thomas and guest vocalistFabolous for her fifteenth studio albumGratitude (2024).[1] Production on the song was overseen by Thomas, while Cashmere Brown served as a co-producer.[1] The song samples from the song "Kick in the Door" (1997) by American rapperNotorious B.I.G. which in turn contains a sample of "I Put a Spell on You" (1956) byScreamin' Jay Hawkins. Due to the inclusion of the sample, B.I.G., Hawkins, andDJ Premier are also credited as songwriters.[1] In an interview withPeople, Blige elaborated on the song: "The story behind the track is what I'm doing finally, which is living, breathing, enjoying my life and celebrating the happiness and freedom I have that life brings. That's why it's called "Breathing." I finally get to exhale and inhale and then exhale and enjoy life, enjoy love."[2]
Vibe editor Mya Abraham declared "Breathing" as "classic Mary with a bit more of a hip-hop feel with Fab kicking the song off,"[3] while Sha Be Allah, writing forThe Source found that the song "showcases Blige's unparalleled vocals and intimate lyricism. It is a song about what she promised: being happy where she is and reveling in it. Again, Blige proves why she was heralded as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul."[4] Zachary Horvath fromHotNewHipHop called "Breathing" a throwback style single" as well as a "grand and uplifiting [...] classic Mary J Blige record."[5]
Released on August 16, 2024,[6] "Breathing" debuted at number 49 on the USR&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in the week ending August 31, 2024.[7] It eventually peaked at number 13 in the week of October 26, 2024.[7] The same week, the song also reached the top spot onBillboard's USAdult R&B Songs chart,[8] becoming Blige's ninth number-one hit as well her third consecutive year with a number-one song on the chart.[9] With nine Adult R&B chart toppers, Blige moved into a tie with singersMaxwell,Tank andUsher for the fourth-most number-one hits only afterAlicia Keys,Toni Braxton andCharlie Wilson.[9]
A music video for "Breathing" was directed by frequent collaborator Eif Rivera.[10] Filming locations included the Legacy Castgle inPequannock, New Jersey and theEast River Greenway on the east side of the island ofManhattan,New York City.[10] The visuals were released through Blige's officialYouTube account on August 16, 2024.[11]
