Mary J. Blige Drops Brutal Review Of Late Aretha Franklin's Work Life

Mary J. Blige is reliving her time with the late Aretha Franklin!

The singer reminisced about her experience performing alongside the iconic singer for the VH1 Divas Live TV special and all the emotions that went on in her mind before the collaboration.

Mary J. Blige has enjoyed a lengthy career in the music industry and is often referred to as the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.” The singer has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and several Billboard Awards.

Mary J. Blige Describes The Late Aretha Franklin As 'Mean'

The star got candid with Andy Cohen on “Watch What Happens Live” this week, and went into details about how it felt to collaborate with the singer in 1998. She revealed that she and the producer of the special, Babyface, were both scared when Franklin arrived at the studio to work with them.

“Aretha came in a hoodie, a sweatsuit, one pant-leg rolled up, like she was coming to fight or something,” the singer recalled. She remembered her wearing a long trench coat paired with a sweatshirt and pants with one leg rolled up, almost as if she was getting ready for a fight.

According to Blige, Franklin declared, “How are you doing? Hey, what's up, Choppy? I thought [Choppy] was like an insult, but someone said that she was admiring me, like saying that I could sing.”

The singer added that recording with the singer in the studio also felt very odd because the heat there was like a thousand degrees. Ironically, The Daily Mail noted that Franklin got along with Blige’s mother, Cora Blige, but that never stopped her from being mean.

The Queen Of Soul's Journey Through Hollywood

The soul legend passed on in 2018, but her mark lingered in the industry, including her very witty comments and sharp mouth. Franklin had made snide remarks at several musicians across Hollywood, including Toni Braxton, Taylor Swift, Diana Ross, Nicki Minaj, and Dionne Warwick.

Unfortunately, the music icon passed away after a battle with advanced pancreatic cancer on August 16, 2018, and she was honored in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Her body was placed in a shining gold casket at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History for a two-day viewing ceremony.

Franklin sold over 75 million records throughout her run in Hollywood and regularly made the list as one of the most iconic singers of all time, according to multiple publications, including Rolling Stone.

Unfortunately, her death was marked with a dispute over her will and properties between three of her four sons, who were in court over how her estate would be handled.

A New Version Of Aretha Franklin And Mary J. Blige’s Song About Faith And Race Was Released In 2020

The Hollywood Reporter shared that Franklin and Blige released the powerful tune titled “Never Gonna Break My Faith” in 2020, right on Juneteenth.

A new version of the song was released by Sony’s RCA Records, RCA Inspiration, and Legacy Recordings in celebration of the year 1865, when enslaved Black people learned they were free from slavery.

Releasing a statement about the song, the chief creative officer of Sony Music, who is also a close pal of Franklin, states, “The world is very different now. Change is everywhere, and each of us, hopefully, is doing the best he or she can to move forward and make change as positive as possible.”

Davis described Franklin’s performance on the track as very chilling, adding that the lyrics hold so much relevance and should be on everyone’s playlist. Blige and Franklin’s song won best gospel performance at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008, marking Franklin’s 18th and final Grammy win. She died in 2018 at age 76.

The 'Family Affair' Singer Raved About Performing At The Super Bowl With Dr. Dre And Eminem

In 2022, the stunning singer showcased her incredible talent at the Super Bowl halftime show, where she performed “Family Affair” and “No More Drama” alongside Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar.

The singer noted that it felt great seeing her perform at the show as the only female artist for that year’s edition. As reported by The Blast, Blige established her respect and admiration for her male colleagues in the industry, and how they all have a very smooth rapport.

Blige gave a review of her collaboration with Dr. Dre on the Super Bowl halftime show, describing the producer as one of the most important people in hip-hop who has also mastered the art of producing and writing alongside rapping.

The star also proved her worth as an actress on Starz's “Power Book II: Ghost,” where she played a very controversial role.

Mary J. Blige Spilled Golden Secrets About Improving Her Self-Esteem

Blige’s growth did not happen overnight; it took her years of gradually reinventing herself and building her self-esteem to become a force. She detailed that one of the vital steps she took included speaking life into herself every morning whenever she looked in the mirror.

As shared by The Blast, the singer noted that the mirror routine, which she cultivated for herself, even extended to when she was feeling sleepy, where she would make sure to say positive things to herself before dozing off.

“I do it in my prayer time. There's no makeup, no nominations for an award. It's just me and God,” the star noted. Blige added that the whole habit began when she was relatively younger, and now it has become a part and parcel of her lifestyle.

The singer emphasized that her practice is not about vanity; it is about how to strengthen herself and also understand that nobody can love her like herself.

Is there more where Mary J. Blige’s story about Aretha Franklin came from?