Productive throughout the fall of 2011, Blige played intimate shows in urban markets where she, for the first time, performed volume one of My Life in its entirety. Crystal Nicole told Rated R&B in 2014 that it took her 45 minutes to write the album’s official lead single after getting inspiration from being in line at a hibachi restaurant. You do your version, and I’ll do my version,’” said Altino.īy the end of August 2011, Blige had shared “25/8,” an age-old Eric Hudson production where she convincingly bids for more time in the day to spend with her man.

“After Mary jumped on the record, Diddy heard the record and said, ‘F*ck that, I need this f*cking record in my life.’ She said, ‘I already have the record,’ and he was like, ‘F*ck.

Arden Altino, who helped out on the production of The Sweet Inspirations-sampled track, revealed in a 2021 interview with Rated R&B that Blige recorded it first. It started with the Lil Wayne and Diddy-assisted “Someone to Love Me (Naked),” a return to her hip-hop soul roots, and a track her Uptown Records affiliate first added to his Last Train to Paris album. A handful of radio singles were issued ahead of My Life II’s November 2011 release.

Lyrics to mary j blige my life