Mary J. Blige Explains How Drake Got to Be 'The One' on New Single

Mary J. Blige is back in the best way. The R&B diva, once known for exposing the pain and strife in her life and begging for happiness, has since moved on to uplifting women with tracks like 2007's 'Just Fine' and 'Work That.' Now, on the first single off her upcoming album 'Stronger,' Blige gives her super loyal female fans a new chant: "Boy, don't you know I'm the one!"

The track, which Blige explains in an exclusive interview with the BoomBox, was meant to promote the "your loss, not mine" mantra. And she had no problem sharing the mic with Canadian newcomer Drake on the empowering song.

"Well I've been a fan since ['Best I Ever Had']. I heard that song, and listened to the lyrics, and I was like "wow, it's been a very long time since a guy, young or old, has said something really nice to the women," Blige told the BoomBox when asked why she chose Drake to join her on her first single.

"He said "hair [tied], chillin' with no makeup on, that's when you're the prettiest" ... guys don't say stuff like that anymore! And "you're the best," women really, really, really needed that at the time that he put it out, and I was like "wow, who is this guy? I would love to work with him."

The songstress continues to uplift with the title track off her ninth studio album and, will likely, continue to uplift and inspire when she hits the big screen next week, alongside Academy Award-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson in the Tyler Perry film 'I Can Do Bad All By Myself,' which hits theaters next Friday (Sept. 11.)

'Stronger' is set to hit stores on Nov. 29.