Mary J. Blige is employing some heavy hitters and adding some authentic British flavor for her upcoming album. The R&B star has been collaborating with Disclosure and Sam Smith for her new record, The London Sessions, due out in November, The Guardian reported. There's a history between Blige and the popular British acts, as the singer reached out to the Surrey brothers about doing her version of “F for You,” which eventually became a duet; she also sang with Smith on his "Stay with Me." "Mary has amazing vocal control,” Disclosure's Howard Lawrence told The Guardian about collaborating with the diva, “but she also has such a level of soul to her voice. That's why she is the queen of that style, of writing using ad libs. She'll just go off on one over a track, and get really into it—just sing whatever comes naturally. And that normally ends up making the final take." As for her idea about the record, Blige said in the same story: "Our idea was to become part of London, to really embrace the culture – to really live in it. Not that I haven't been here before, but I've never had the chance to really soak in it the way I have this time. To make records ["rekkits"] from the London-scene perspective." As we wait for The London Sessions, revisit Blige's hot duets with Smith and Disclosure below.
