The duo are often credited for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz.

The Atkins sisters, born Erica Monique and Trecina Evette, grew up in a large family with seven siblings in Inglewood, California.

[4] Their mother, Thomasina Atkins, is an evangelist and choir director at the Church of God in Christ.

Their father, Eddie A. Atkins, was also a member of the Church of God in Christ, and a youth counselor, before he died in 2013.

Later, they would work creatively with over half of their siblings; Thomasina, Alana, Delisa and Shanta Atkins all sing background on Mary Mary's albums and during stage performances and Delisa was originally a member of the group but left before they started recording professionally due to pursuing college.

During this time, Erica and Trecina entered the world of church choirs, traveling gospel shows, and television productions.

"We had to study classical and sing arias, which was fine," Erica told Times, "but the teachers would tell us if we sang anything else it would damage our instrument.

After meeting producer Warryn Campbell, a publishing deal was reached with music conglomerate EMI.

However, the sister's profile really started to rise in the gospel industry when their songs "Time To Change" and "Yeah" were recorded by Yolanda Adams on Mountain High... Valley Low.

It became the first gospel song in five years to crack the R&B top ten and gained wide exposure on MTV.

The duo attributed the lower sales to less aggressive promotion due to label switch-overs and the advent of music piracy.

It became the duo's first album to enter the Top 10 on Billboard and was later certified Gold for selling in excess of 500,000 copies.

The first single, "Heaven," contained a sample from seventies song "Want Ads" from soul trio the Honey Cone's.

The album's final single, "Believer," indicated testimonies of being a Christian and hit number 33 on the Gospel Radio chart.

[11] Warryn Campbell produced the album and collaborated with many professionals: Kierra Sheard-Kelly, David Banner, Marvin Winans, Daryl Coley, Andrae Crouch, The Rance Allen Group, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Joe Ligon, Walter Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, and Karen Clark-Sheard.

The tour was in ten different cities across the United States, beginning in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 25, and ending in Hampton, Virginia, on November 17.

Supported acts included: Isaac Carree, VaShawn Mitchell, Anthony and Group Therapy, and Sunday's Best finalist Jessica Reedy and Anita Wilson.

[16] MaryMary, accompanied by the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, performed "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at Super Bowl LVI and had a tribute to honor Black History Month gospel music 2022 by Faith City Music, Tim Bowman Jr. and Kim Burrell.