Mary J. Blige Praises Rihanna: ‘She Can Do No Wrong…She Can Actually Sing’

Published: Wednesday 22nd Apr 2015 by Rashad
rihanna mary j. blige thatgrapejuice elle

Queen of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige extends her royal blessing to pop diva Rihanna in a recent interview with Elle magazine.

On hand to discuss her most recent album ‘The London Sessions,’ Blige sat down to dish on the critically acclaimed set, Amy Winehouse, and her pick of today’s crop of young starlets – namedropping Ri and Taylor Swift as two of her faves.

Get in below to read her thoughts on the Bajan beauty and so much more:

mary-j-blige-taylor-swift-sundance-2012

Via Elle:

What do you think is the biggest challenge for female artists starting out today?

I think, and it’s not the artist, but they have to fight for what they want and their identities and stuff like that. The fact [is] that everyone at these labels wants to do what everyone [else] is doing. You have to look like her; you have to be like her; you have to sing like her, and no one can express themselves. I look at Rihanna and I am so proud of her. She speaks loudly! You have to stand up and clap. She expresses herself through fashion. She actually can sing. And her songs mean something, even to me, you know?

rihanna+and+mary+j+blige

London Sessions featured some really out-of-the-box collaborations. Are there any other artists you’d like to work with?

Rihanna, I totally love and respect Rihanna—she’s like my sister.

What are some of your favorite songs from her?

Oh man, “Diamonds,” “Umbrella,” “Take a Bow.” First of all, let me just put this into perspective: Rihanna has made so many amazing records; every number one record she’s ever had—the Loud album was exceptional, the first album was amazing. She can just do no wrong to me. I like Taylor Swift too! Taylor’s great. Taylor’s a great writer, she’s a great singer—and that’s not politically correct, that’s coming from a real place. She’s dope.

Read the interview in its entirety here.

Your thoughts?

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  1. sleazy April 22, 2015

    Mary on that crack again?

    • Alisa April 22, 2015

      She’s being paid….she pics the two least vocally talented to give standing o’s …girl bye

      • noelle April 23, 2015

        Lololo

    • arfa April 23, 2015

      Mary trying to keep her self relevant

    • I STAN(D) IN LINE FOR HYDROQUINONE) April 23, 2015

      she Definitely High as a Kite

    • truth ( Meek Mills using Icki for her money honey) April 23, 2015

      Honey Mary caint sing herself….#NEXT!

    • You wanna love it right better then my money April 24, 2015

      Is your momma on crack again or your daddy on crack again cause you sound dumb as hell for saying that shhhh are you on that crack again

    • HaveMyMoney April 24, 2015

      LMMFAO From My Brain To Your Keyboard.

      But Seriously

      Mary Has Gots To Be On Something.

  2. Slay_Hive April 22, 2015

    Mary,girl, how much did her team pay you? Because what you just said is complete b*******. I can sing too then! Lmaooo

    • k April 22, 2015

      Omg

  3. pat April 22, 2015

    Rihs catalog is more standout than beys tho

    • shutup April 22, 2015

      Why is beys name even being mentioned ? Someone who has sung French music, released a Spanish speaking album cmon don’t bring her up

      • MisdamenorFan April 23, 2015

        Spanish. Speaking. Album. Let that sink in. hmmmm.

    • Slay_Hive April 22, 2015

      Beyonce is the one with 20 Grammy’s for her catalog but hey if you like squeeky yodeling nocals drowned under EDM productions, that’s you. 😉

      • LOL April 23, 2015

        LOL BYTCH STOP BRINGING UP THOSE PURCHASED GRAMMYS AS IF THAT MEANS SOMETHING LOL.

        THE QUEEN HAS SPOKEN, PEASANT. AND YOU WIL SEETHE AND DEAL LOL

      • bye April 23, 2015

        Where are your receipts of them being purchased? Is that really all you can say? You are dumb! Lol

      • Pat April 23, 2015

        @bye guh please, Matthew has the receipts, he was the one who purchased them!

    • real 90’s generation April 25, 2015

      I’m not a fan of either but Beyonce with Destiny’s Child by far tops Rihanna.

  4. beyflawless April 22, 2015

    Mary u didn’t see that video of her doing anerican oxygen live

  5. beyflawless April 22, 2015

    Mary u didn’t see that video of her doing American oxygen live

  6. k April 22, 2015

    Bs

  7. Killer Bey April 22, 2015

    Sounds like Mary is ass kissing for a collab. Rihanna and Taylor Flatnote though?

  8. Jamie April 22, 2015

    Um…

    • beyflawless April 23, 2015

      And two yrs later she got sign …. Smh

      • Killer Bey April 23, 2015

        She must gave some good head cuz ch…

  9. STAN for no MAN April 22, 2015

    This ” she can actually sing” Comment coming from Mary J….don’t mean much.

    yea I detected the shade.

  10. Theman April 22, 2015

    Mary is an Icon. She doesn’t have to kiss A** for a collabo. Rihanna can at least carry a tune. You don’t have to belt out big notes to be a decent singer. Taylor is a great writer & her voice, fits her songs, not saying that so & so are great singers. But their voices work with their music at best. It could often be the simple pop songs, that U enjoy the most, when they are just that simple.

  11. Cake like Lady GaGa April 22, 2015

    The ant nest is seething. Poor lil souls

    • Ummm… April 23, 2015

      Bey has been praised by Patti labelle, Michael Jackson.. People light years ahead of Mary j. The navy is easily impressed by their mediocre fave.

      • Ray April 23, 2015

        Rihanna has been praised by Donna Summers, Michael Bolton, Prince, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey and a host of other great artist. Paris Jackson has also stated on Ellen that her father, Michael Jackson introduced her to Rihanna’s music. Rihanna at a very young age has shared the stage with Legends like Bono, The Time, Bon Jovi, Elton John and most recently Paul Mccartney. Rihanna is very loved im this industry, It’s the people on this site that’s delusional and can’t stand the fact that their is another black woman winning besides Beyonce, Petty.

      • Lolz April 23, 2015

        Beyonce has been praised by all those people and more including Mary.

      • Ray April 23, 2015

        you really posted all those videos like I would watch them? Like I said on the last line, you girls HATE to see another black women winning besides Beyonce.

      • Ummm… April 23, 2015

        I got bored while patiently waiting for your receipts. You are right. We’re mad she’s winning. American oxygen is slaying the charts right now.

  12. Theman April 22, 2015

    Rihanna is a Superstar. She has personality & flair, something that a few other so called singers try so hard to force..

    • Killer Bey April 22, 2015

      Yeah like the mariah

      • TheElusiveLamb April 23, 2015

        Don’t do it b****. Keep it cute

  13. Keri Qween April 23, 2015

    *sips tea*

    Some fan bases will seethe

    • Slay_Hive April 23, 2015

      Seethe? No girl. We’re happy Mary making a little cash on the side. Rihanna needs all the help in boosting her artistic credentials before r8 finally gets released and flops. 😀

  14. Theman April 23, 2015

    No like Beyonce’s slow A**.

    • Tyler Makiveli April 23, 2015

      Yeah, because actually putting effort into your craft is a bad thing….shut the hell up.

  15. knock on norwood April 23, 2015

    Lolz…coming from her, that’s not saying much. From a technical aspect, mary isn’t that great of a singer herself. Her selling point is emotional conviction. But musically, I’d take her more seriously than rihanna.

  16. Theman April 23, 2015

    Why are the bed begs always bringing Beyonce up? Lol

    • Killer Bey April 23, 2015

      The same reason you’re always worried about her.

  17. Theman April 23, 2015

    Mary is great artist, her being a technical singer has nothing to do with her complimenting Rihanna.

    • knock on norwood April 23, 2015

      @Theman it actually does. Mary isn’t a technical singer, nor has she ever claimed to be one. It makes sense why she’d praise a mediocre singer like rihanna.

  18. LB April 23, 2015

    So other artists are not allowed to complement Rihanna now? Other artists are not allowed to state their opinion? LMAO how backward can the hive get, I really want to know.

  19. #TeamTinashe Stan April 23, 2015

    Damn the hate towards Rihanna is real. I never knew it was that real now lol. I had my times when I said Rihanna “can’t sing” or her being a part of the “Brillo pad gang” along with Rita Ora and others but I will give credit when it is due. Rihanna proved to me years back when she performed “Stay” at the Grammy’s that she finally improved her vocal abilities. The way how she evokes emotions to her songs these days LIVE on stage is great as well too but yes BlTCH she was a hot azzz mess back in 2005 – 2012 but slowly improved throughout those years. Just like every singer, they ALL have their days when their totally OFF.

    P.s excuse my language lol.

    • Marie April 23, 2015

      Not the ‘Brillo pad gang’ bytch u tried it. Im starting to like tinashe now BTW she slays hard °

    • caribbean native April 23, 2015

      Its only on this flop site that this amount of hate fron jealous queens tho…

  20. Theman April 23, 2015

    No one gives a SHYT about Boreyonce. You slid through here first fool..

    • Ms. Congeniality April 23, 2015

      Well why are you still talking about her?

  21. No favs, just here for the music April 23, 2015

    She can sing if she puts the damn effort. Her Grammy performance of 45s was really good. However, it’s sad that’s the ONE and only performance throughout all these years of her career that is actually talk worthy IMO.

    • Anne April 23, 2015

      She is tolerable with effort. People have to lower the bar for singers like Rihanna in order to see her abilities in a positive light. That Grammys performance is as good as it gets but it’s still not saying much in comparison to real singers and certainly does not provide a basis for considering her a real singer. Same goes for Taylor or Katy Perry who can pull off decent vocals every now and then with effort.

  22. RATEDXXX April 23, 2015

    Mary j is not slick..she is shading the hell out of taylor and riri..

    come on..you have to be slow not to get the shade,,,,

    • SMH April 23, 2015

      Wishful thinking. Mary doesn’t “shade” people; if she doesn’t like you, she says it straight out. Folks are just upset because she praised Rihanna and not beyonce.

  23. Rihanna Lately April 23, 2015

    She said nothing about boreyonce! Kiii. Everyone is over her.

    • Ms. Congeniality April 23, 2015

      No everyone is over cocaineanna judging by her flop singles and pushed back album. Mary is a has been. No biggie. Lol

      • blue April 23, 2015

        the queen of the hip hop soul…this hasbeen will go down in the music history.

      • Ms. Congeniality April 23, 2015

        As being more talented than cokeanna. You’re right.

    • Lolz April 23, 2015

      Mary has already collaborated with Beyonce and praised her on multiple occasions.

    • lets be real April 23, 2015

      Shes already worked with Bey..i think Mary picked two of her childrens faves and gave big ups to her.i mean ok I LOVE MJB but her vocals have just gotten decent live within the past 5-8 years.i never listened to Mary n said “you betta sang Mary” but “oh man.i feel her” same goes for Keyshia Cole.

  24. No favs, just here for the music April 23, 2015

    LOL at these comments. Ya’ll are a mess lmfao

  25. blue April 23, 2015

    why the hive soo bothered…this aint the first time mary has expressed her admiration for rihanna…and it wont be the last…seethe

  26. blue April 23, 2015

    pure genuine praise…she didnt even have to be questioned about rihanna to bring her up

  27. blue April 23, 2015

    love that she thinks loud is as brilliant as it was…mary has been working with sam smith who had at the very least written for R8

  28. Mark111 April 23, 2015

    We love Rihanna!!!!!

  29. Mark111 April 23, 2015

    Rihanna is very talented and smart.

  30. Tyler Makiveli April 23, 2015

    LMAO Mary! Why are you lying???? Anyone with an ounce of music inclination knows that Rihanna is inconsistent vocally with a weak range and TERRIBLE breath control. 10 years in and she still cant perform live without getting out of breath 000.01 seconds into the performance.
    She is a SUPERSTAR with TERRIBLE performance skills, truth hurts. Nothing more….nothing less.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5bTkuosAs4&feature=player_detailpage

    • blue April 23, 2015

      and yet all you hear is praise coming from all these musical people.

      • Tyler Makiveli April 23, 2015

        I dont care. Rihanna’s not an exceptional vocalist…if she was, you wouldnt need Mary J. to validate it. Carry On!

      • blue April 23, 2015

        opinion matters less than mary’s. You my darling are a username on a blog, you are unimportant… You are literally bothered that mary j dared to have a different musical taste than you… Please

  31. blue April 23, 2015

    and yet all you hear is praise coming from all these musical people.

  32. Rihboy April 23, 2015

    Now she is being paid! Lls. Sad. Just because it ain’t bey. Of cerror. She she wouldn’t dear say Ciara can sing. Mary don’t have nothing to prove either.

    • A Sip of Brandy April 23, 2015

      @rihboy You can’t spell, for one. And two, Ciara is a better dancer and overall superior performer than rihanna, and that includes singing. I don’t care to hear about #1’s, top tens, downloads/streams, sales etc. Ciara actually has energy, stage presence, and charisma, all key qualities rihanna lacks in abundance.

      • Rihboy April 23, 2015

        One that’s all lies. Ciara can sing for s***. That man can’t even sell an album.

  33. datreddone23 April 23, 2015

    The Hive are seething again lol

  34. Royalkev April 23, 2015

    Really Mary? I am sorry if I’m wrong, but Idk why I just don’t fully believe her! I actually think she may really like Rih & even the ‘Loud’ album… but the first album was amazing? Was that the last one Mary picked up? LOL. What about all the randomness of Mary mentioning Taylor Swift? I don’t stereotype, but that’s just hmmm…. Again, there’s something bout Taylor I like too, but I feel like Mary is deliberately avoiding those names that would sound more natural coming out of her mouth? Why?

    “You have to look like her; you have to be like her; you have to sing like her, and no one can express themselves”

    Ooops, I just reminded myself…
    Surprised there weren’t any mention of Adele, Sam Smith, Bruno, John Legend, Emeli Sande, Miguel or even Amy Winehouse.

    Taylor Swift… Ok, Mary! Hilarious!

    • blue April 23, 2015

      or like millions of other people in the world mary just truly loves rihanna’s voice and music

    • blue April 23, 2015

      the people buying 1989 say hi

  35. Taylor swifts number 1 fan!! April 23, 2015

    People listen to Mary, she speaks sense!!!

  36. B2B April 23, 2015

    No shade because I love me some MJB, BUT she is not a vocals herself. She gets by right along with Rih and Taylor BARELY in the vocal department. She Praises people anytime she wants a collaboration.

  37. TRUTH SERUM April 23, 2015

    Mary told no lies. Rhi is talented and has a unique voice. I get the Stan wars and all but give credit where it’s due.

  38. Lolz April 23, 2015

    So am I the only who caught the shade in ACTUALLY lol

  39. Lolz April 23, 2015

    ‘The first album’ LOL LOL Mary ain’t know shid.

    • bye April 23, 2015

      Yes. She was paid to say this. Its so obvious.

  40. rihicon April 23, 2015

    wow how pressed. are people not allowed to have an opinion now smh

  41. bye April 23, 2015

    Rihanna is a horrible singer. Everyone knows that Beyonce is miles ahead in that department. Rihanna and her team is just desperate for some type of acclaim. They want her respected like her idol. Mary was obviously paid and it was unbelievable.

    • blue April 23, 2015

      and it did more than pretty hurt

      • The Beysus Impact April 23, 2015

        But it ain’t #1… Therefore it’s a huge flop…

      • blue April 23, 2015

        who called it a hit?

      • blue April 23, 2015

        if AO is a huge flop because it didnt debut at #1, how big a flop is pretty hurts that couldnt manage a higher peak than AO in its entire lifespan?

    • bye April 23, 2015

      Wow she really promoted that single and released a video. Rihanna is really a thing of the past. Jay and Bey getting ready to shock the world again. This loser is done.

      • blue April 23, 2015

        when was the vid and performance for AO and when was it release? If you are gonna make excuses then make tthem for both sides and pretty hurts has a video

      • bye April 23, 2015

        The fact is AO had a yelevised performance weeks ago and a publicized video release on tidal not too long ago. It should be charting better with all of the exposure. Pretty Hurts was released as a single months after the album and video and got no promotion whatsoever. Can’t compare. rihanna’s album isn’t out and she’s already flopping.

      • blue April 23, 2015

        point is pretty hurts had a video and if im not mistake was performed on that HBO thing she did.

        AO suffered from that exclusive release and for all you know it could climb up higher in the weeks to come…

      • bye April 23, 2015

        An HBO OTR tour performance doesn’t count as promo. It wasn’t released to iTunes, didn’t have an traditional televised performance and Beyonce never acknowledged it as a single. AO was literally just released and had NCAA, tidal promo, video, iTunes release and its a brand new song that was never heard in full until she performed it. I can’t with the excuses.

  42. blue April 23, 2015

    im sorry who called it a hit? Calm your pressed ass and stop being an undercover stan

    • bye April 23, 2015

      The navy were the ones claiming AO was coming to save the era and top the charts.

    • blue April 23, 2015

      yes when they expected a proper release and even then who called it a hit?

      • The Beysus Impact April 23, 2015

        Excuses excuses… You should’ve bought the single… End of…

      • bye April 23, 2015

        What do you mean by proper release? She still promoted it and teased the song and performance for months. It should be doing better. Not falling out of iTunes 100 within a day. The excuses. It is a flop and several navy on here claimed it would slay.

      • blue April 23, 2015

        did you buy pretty hurt?

      • blue April 23, 2015

        love how you are acting like that is the only song rih has out right now she has 3 songs that are all fighting for sales

      • bye April 23, 2015

        3 songs? That’s it? You do know Beyonce sold an entire album for $16.99

  43. The Beysus Impact April 23, 2015

    Lol unless American Flopygen climbs past #45 (which it won’t), the only single you can shade is Pretty Hurts, which was simply sent to radio and later sung on the OTR Tour…

  44. Lake Erie April 23, 2015

    Lmao!!! Yal got me over here dying with the crack jokes and Rih not singing for real lol

  45. ~The Arcade~ April 23, 2015

    If you have to resort to saying she can ‘actually’ sing, proves there is doubt Mary! You’re not fooling anyone smh

    • blue April 23, 2015

      people having a preconception that she cant sing for what ever reason does not take away from the fact that she is as impressive as she is when given the chance

      • Jewel April 23, 2015

        Given the chance? Rihanna is always given the chance she is the one who messes up her chances not anyone else

      • blue April 23, 2015

        obviously she didnt mess it up with mary j because she seems impressed. And by chance i didnt mean as in a single performance, i meant that someone removes the preconceived opinion and actually listens to her music and gives it a proper chance for them to form an opinion from what she brings to the table

      • Jewel April 23, 2015

        She has messed up, those are facts. You only have to watch her last performance to see that. And clearly Mary has seen the messed up performances which is why she said ‘actually’. And I am talking about live because anyone can sound good in the studio.

  46. TheElusiveLamb April 23, 2015

    This post is too funny. Still, i detect a little shade from Mary Jane, but i agree with her comment about Loud. I love that album.

  47. LOL April 23, 2015

    LOL ALL THESE SEETHING AND BUTTHURT BEDBUGS, MAD CUZ THE QUEEN GAVE PROPS TO RIRI INSTEAD OF THAT THIEVING HOOKER THAT JAY Z MARRIED AND HAS IN SHACKLES LOL.

    DEAL WITH IT, INSECTS. THE QUEEN HAS SPOKEN LOL.

  48. Jewel April 23, 2015

    The compliments seem a bit standard and forced. I detect shade. And the Hive aint seething Marys praised Beyonce before many times.

    • blue April 23, 2015

      dont say that, the fact that a crackhead thinks bey is talented might literally kill them

      • Jewel April 23, 2015

        That same crackhead has also collaborated with Beyonce so I doubt it.

  49. Carry On April 23, 2015

    D@mn!!! Rihanna got a grown a*** woman expressing her concerns of love and hate in real music. Their feelings are there in both of their music not a gimmick. Love them for their true work. Thank You

  50. metzo April 23, 2015

    The fact that she picked two of the biggest Stars rn, with the least vocal talents just speaks volume. Keep clinging for your lyfe Aunt Mary. She wants to be relevant again, and what better way to do that than to mention the most popular girls in music? Girl stop lying!


    *Side note* I agree with her saying that Rih is different and bold though.. That is very true. But bytch “she can do no wrong?”. Is she talking about the same Rih? One of the most inconsistent artists of our time? Unhhh UUnnhhh *Beyonce Voice*

  51. Anne April 23, 2015

    I respect Mary but she’s talking crazy with this bs. Rihanna and Taylor as singers … I don’t think so. Anytime you have to say you are not being politically correct there’s a huge chance that you are, and she obviously is. I think someone is attempting to clean up Rihanna’s admission that her songs have been short lived, non-classic, and impersonal thus far.

  52. B**** BETTER HAVE HER MONEY! I KNOW EXACTLY WHOSE B**** IS IN THE BACK OF HER CAR! SHE BELONGS TO A CAMEL! April 23, 2015

    Thats right! The Queen of Hip Hop/Soul complimenting the Queen of Digital Pop Music! I could only imagine how this post would’ve been fuming with flames of hatred if Sam wrote it.

  53. Chaser(s) April 23, 2015

    Mary J. (Affiliated with Jay -Z) is obviously gonna.say nice things about Jay-z’s artists. They (including Mary) is all on the same ROC nation ship…

  54. Kev Kev April 23, 2015

    Keep hating because the numbers and accolades keeping coming RiRi’s way. Ain’t nothing going to stop her 10 year career from carrying on. She knows her strengths and continues to innovate. She doesn’t need to be anyone else. #deal

    • real 90’s generation April 25, 2015

      Innovate ? Are you having a laugh ?

  55. Blue Ivy Rodriguez April 23, 2015

    Remember when the hive would say “no one in the industry respects her, she’s just an industry puppet” countless people have praised her and its now “they’re opinions don’t matter”. Lmao they are so bothered and pathetic. I could see the heated fumed from their fingers as they struggled to type out their hate. Rihanna wins again!

  56. candi April 23, 2015

    For that big zzz lie Mary told, I will never buy anymore of her songs.

  57. HOWYOULIKEIT April 23, 2015

    Ok Mary you do have a nice catalog and you can sing. But it is not because you like Rihanna that she is talented. Little girl has been in the industry for 10 years and is still struggling with her vocals

  58. Theman April 23, 2015

    Every song doesn’t have to be an instant #1. Some of Rihanna’s songs grew to be hits. Rihanna is doing her thing. Haters. Mary’s music is great, so what if she isn’t a technical singer. She has grown as a singer enormously. Beyonce pays folk to toss her name on songs, when she doesn’t write them. So sit down with that..

  59. @FutureCIARA April 23, 2015

    Im DYING @ the Mary Draggs…

  60. You wanna love it right better then my money April 24, 2015

    Nice of Mary j bilge saying that about Robyn Rihanna fenty and yes Mary j bilge can sing too and some of yall on here needs to shut the f*** up

  61. real 90’s generation April 25, 2015

    Rihanna sounds like signlanguage underwater but in a generic way

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