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:
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?
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.
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Mary on that crack again?
She’s being paid….she pics the two least vocally talented to give standing o’s …girl bye
Lololo
Mary trying to keep her self relevant
Lol She and Rihanna are probably smoking the same stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYlN0z97lHY&feature=player_detailpage
she Definitely High as a Kite
Honey Mary caint sing herself….#NEXT!
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
LMMFAO From My Brain To Your Keyboard.
But Seriously
Mary Has Gots To Be On Something.
Mary,girl, how much did her team pay you? Because what you just said is complete b*******. I can sing too then! Lmaooo
Omg
Rihs catalog is more standout than beys tho
Why is beys name even being mentioned ? Someone who has sung French music, released a Spanish speaking album cmon don’t bring her up
Spanish. Speaking. Album. Let that sink in. hmmmm.
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 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
Where are your receipts of them being purchased? Is that really all you can say? You are dumb! Lol
@bye guh please, Matthew has the receipts, he was the one who purchased them!
I’m not a fan of either but Beyonce with Destiny’s Child by far tops Rihanna.
Mary u didn’t see that video of her doing anerican oxygen live
Mary u didn’t see that video of her doing American oxygen live
Bs
Sounds like Mary is ass kissing for a collab. Rihanna and Taylor Flatnote though?
Um…
Yes Mary. Whitney Houston could never!
http://youtu.be/vWX7Mu306kQ
And two yrs later she got sign …. Smh
She must gave some good head cuz ch…
This ” she can actually sing” Comment coming from Mary J….don’t mean much.
yea I detected the shade.
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.
The ant nest is seething. Poor lil souls
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.
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.
Beyonce has been praised by all those people and more including Mary.
lol, I didn’t finish Beyonce’s list for a reason chile. You dropped several names, so I expect to see several receipts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3pyvcpj3g4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zrgDGFT6yY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxk88SA8DXc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiRoGBJJIyY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3pyvcpj3g4
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.
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.
Rihanna is a Superstar. She has personality & flair, something that a few other so called singers try so hard to force..
Yeah like the mariah
Don’t do it b****. Keep it cute
*sips tea*
Some fan bases will seethe
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. 😀
No like Beyonce’s slow A**.
Yeah, because actually putting effort into your craft is a bad thing….shut the hell up.
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.
Why are the bed begs always bringing Beyonce up? Lol
The same reason you’re always worried about her.
Mary is great artist, her being a technical singer has nothing to do with her complimenting Rihanna.
@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.
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.
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.
Bye!haha
http://youtu.be/ZTmaBqMngX4
Not the ‘Brillo pad gang’ bytch u tried it. Im starting to like tinashe now BTW she slays hard °
Its only on this flop site that this amount of hate fron jealous queens tho…
No one gives a SHYT about Boreyonce. You slid through here first fool..
Well why are you still talking about her?
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.
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.
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,,,,
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.
She said nothing about boreyonce! Kiii. Everyone is over her.
No everyone is over cocaineanna judging by her flop singles and pushed back album. Mary is a has been. No biggie. Lol
the queen of the hip hop soul…this hasbeen will go down in the music history.
As being more talented than cokeanna. You’re right.
Mary has already collaborated with Beyonce and praised her on multiple occasions.
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.
LOL at these comments. Ya’ll are a mess lmfao
why the hive soo bothered…this aint the first time mary has expressed her admiration for rihanna…and it wont be the last…seethe
pure genuine praise…she didnt even have to be questioned about rihanna to bring her up
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
We love Rihanna!!!!!
Rihanna is very talented and smart.
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
and yet all you hear is praise coming from all these musical people.
I dont care. Rihanna’s not an exceptional vocalist…if she was, you wouldnt need Mary J. to validate it. Carry On!
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
and yet all you hear is praise coming from all these musical people.
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.
@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.
One that’s all lies. Ciara can sing for s***. That man can’t even sell an album.
The Hive are seething again lol
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!
or like millions of other people in the world mary just truly loves rihanna’s voice and music
the people buying 1989 say hi
People listen to Mary, she speaks sense!!!
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.
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.
So am I the only who caught the shade in ACTUALLY lol
‘The first album’ LOL LOL Mary ain’t know shid.
Yes. She was paid to say this. Its so obvious.
wow how pressed. are people not allowed to have an opinion now smh
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.
Billboard Hot 100: #91(new) American Oxygen, @rihanna. http://t.co/tLvb7L4NMR
and it did more than pretty hurt
But it ain’t #1… Therefore it’s a huge flop…
who called it a hit?
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?
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.
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
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.
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…
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.
im sorry who called it a hit? Calm your pressed ass and stop being an undercover stan
The navy were the ones claiming AO was coming to save the era and top the charts.
yes when they expected a proper release and even then who called it a hit?
Excuses excuses… You should’ve bought the single… End of…
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.
did you buy pretty hurt?
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
3 songs? That’s it? You do know Beyonce sold an entire album for $16.99
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…
Lmao!!! Yal got me over here dying with the crack jokes and Rih not singing for real lol
If you have to resort to saying she can ‘actually’ sing, proves there is doubt Mary! You’re not fooling anyone smh
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
Given the chance? Rihanna is always given the chance she is the one who messes up her chances not anyone else
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
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.
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.
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.
The compliments seem a bit standard and forced. I detect shade. And the Hive aint seething Marys praised Beyonce before many times.
dont say that, the fact that a crackhead thinks bey is talented might literally kill them
That same crackhead has also collaborated with Beyonce so I doubt it.
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
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*
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.
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.
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…
Mary is right -Rihanna CAN sing (if she’s not sku… 😉
LIsten to this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw-NHqEa4FA
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
Innovate ? Are you having a laugh ?
and this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBJ9gc21C1s
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!
For that big zzz lie Mary told, I will never buy anymore of her songs.
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
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..
Im DYING @ the Mary Draggs…
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
Rihanna sounds like signlanguage underwater but in a generic way