The Breakthrough is the seventh studio album by American singer Mary J. Blige, released on December 20, 2005, by Geffen Records. Blige recorded the album with a host of songwriters and record producers, including 9th Wonder, Rodney Jerkins, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Bryan-Michael Cox, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Raphael Saadiq, Chucky Thompson, Cool & Dre, Ron Fair, and will.i.am. The Breakthrough received positive reviews from most critics and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It has been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold 3,100,000 copies in the United States