Mary J. Blige, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, answers questions from readers in Blender magazine’s latest Dear Superstar feature:
Mary, you’re a devout Christian. How do you reconcile bling with God?
My God is a God who wants me to have things. He wants me to bling! He wants me to be the hottest thing on the block. I don’t know what kind of God the rest of y’all are serving, but the God I serve says, “Mary, you need to be the hottest thing this year, and I’m gonna make sure you’re doing that.” My God’s the bomb!
Of all the fledgling Marys out there, who do you think is the worthiest inheritor?
There are so many inheritors, I can’t say just one. But I’ve never mentored a younger artist, because I can never get close enough to them. The thing is, half of them don’t even like me. When I love people, I tell them—when I met Aretha, or Chaka, for example. You never hear me speaking negative. In that sense, none of the new singers are worthy. Because they don’t respect anybody like that. Mary J. Blige has given blood. Aretha has given blood. What are you giving? You’re giving people a hard fucking time.
What’s the most diva-ish demand you’ve ever made? Roomful of white orchids? no Green M&M’s?
“Where’s my humidifier?!” If that’s diva, then fine. It helps me to do a better show for all these people paying to see me. And if it’s not in my dressing room, somebody’s going to get fired at the end of the night.
Tags: Mary J. Blige, Blender