Mary J. Blige's 10 Best Rapper Collabos

Duets with the best MCs in the game are nothing new for Mary

Mary J. Co-Signs - Before they collaborated on the "Fancy (Remix)," Mary J. Blige handpicked Drake to work on "The One" from her album. Before that, she talked about Drake's "Best I Ever Had" single as being a positive song for females.(Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

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Mary J. Blige's 10 Best Rapper Collabos - For the new single on her highly anticipated 10th studio album, My Life II… The Journey Continues (Act I), Mary J. Blige went back to her bread-and-butter: blending hip hop and soul. On the just-released "Mr. Wrong," Mary linked with Drake, adding another dope duet with a rapper to her two-decades-deep catalog. Of course, collabos with the illest MCs in the game are nothing new for Mary — she pioneered the now common MC-singer juxtaposition, which is now even acknowledged by its own Grammy category. Here, we combed through her extensive discography of classics to present Mary's 10 best duets with rappers. —Alex Gale  (Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

"What's the 411" (RMX) feat. Grand Puba - This seminal cut from Mary's debut of the same name unabashedly showcased her groundbreaking mash-up of hip hop and soul: Not only does former Brand Nubian member Grand Puba rhyme on the slinky bass-driven track, but Mary herself spits a few bars. She even performed the cut live in a now classic Yo! MTV Raps clip, seen above. (Photo: MCA Records)

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"What's the 411" (RMX) feat. Grand Puba - This seminal cut from Mary's debut of the same name unabashedly showcased her groundbreaking mash-up of hip hop and soul: Not only does former Brand Nubian member Grand Puba rhyme on the slinky bass-driven track, but Mary herself spits a few bars. She even performed the cut live in a now classic Yo! MTV Raps clip, seen above. (Photo: MCA Records)

"All That I Got Is You," Ghostface Killah feat. Mary J. Blige - Mary saved some magic for Meth's Shaolin brother, contributing a gorgeous hook and verse to this tear-jerker — perhaps the saddest hip hop song ever — from Ghost's 1996 solo debut, Ironman. (Photo: Razor Sharp/Epic Street/SME Records)

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"All That I Got Is You," Ghostface Killah feat. Mary J. Blige - Mary saved some magic for Meth's Shaolin brother, contributing a gorgeous hook and verse to this tear-jerker — perhaps the saddest hip hop song ever — from Ghost's 1996 solo debut, Ironman. (Photo: Razor Sharp/Epic Street/SME Records)

"Can't Knock the Hustle" - Mary crowned a then-unknown Jay early on, interpolating Meli'sa Morgan's '80s R&B classic "Fool's Paradise" with timeless results. The song has gone on to become one of Hov's calling-card hits.(Photo: Walik Goshorn / Retna Ltd)

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"Can't Knock the Hustle" - Mary crowned a then-unknown Jay early on, interpolating Meli'sa Morgan's '80s R&B classic "Fool's Paradise" with timeless results. The song has gone on to become one of Hov's calling-card hits.(Photo: Walik Goshorn / Retna Ltd)

"I Love You" (Remix) feat. Smif-N-Wessun - This beautifully moody, Isaac Hayes–sampling duet — which juxtaposes Mary's soaring, pleading vocals with the grimy back-and-forth couplets of BK underdogs Smif-N-Wessun — easily stands out as one of Blige's best.(Photos: Scott Gries/PictureGroup; Terrence Jennings/Picturegroup)

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"I Love You" (Remix) feat. Smif-N-Wessun - This beautifully moody, Isaac Hayes–sampling duet — which juxtaposes Mary's soaring, pleading vocals with the grimy back-and-forth couplets of BK underdogs Smif-N-Wessun — easily stands out as one of Blige's best.(Photos: Scott Gries/PictureGroup; Terrence Jennings/Picturegroup)

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"Real Love" (Remix) feat. The Notorious B.I.G. - This remix to one of Mary's trademark cuts combines several classic hip-hop staples (Betty Wright's "Clean Up Woman," Audio Two's "Top Billin'", EPMD's "So Whatcha Sayin'") and a charged-up verse from Biggie in his prime — no wonder it still packs dance floors today.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Nickelodeon; David Corio/Redferns/Getty Images)

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"Real Love" (Remix) feat. The Notorious B.I.G. - This remix to one of Mary's trademark cuts combines several classic hip-hop staples (Betty Wright's "Clean Up Woman," Audio Two's "Top Billin'", EPMD's "So Whatcha Sayin'") and a charged-up verse from Biggie in his prime — no wonder it still packs dance floors today.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Nickelodeon; David Corio/Redferns/Getty Images)

"Family Affair" (Remix) feat. Jadakiss & Fabolous - Admit it: you had no clue what she was talking about on the hook at first. But this 2001 MJB banger grew on everyone — to the tune of six consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. And the remix, which added Jadakiss and Fabolous to the thumping Dr. Dre beat, reasserted her impeccable hip hop cred.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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"Family Affair" (Remix) feat. Jadakiss & Fabolous - Admit it: you had no clue what she was talking about on the hook at first. But this 2001 MJB banger grew on everyone — to the tune of six consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. And the remix, which added Jadakiss and Fabolous to the thumping Dr. Dre beat, reasserted her impeccable hip hop cred.(Photo: Geffen Records)

"The Message," Dr. Dre feat. Mary J. Blige - Dre knew just who to call for the closer to his sophomore album, 2001. Mary's soaring hook and bridge take the touching, harp-driven track, which mourns Dre's dead brother, to new emotional heights.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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"The Message," Dr. Dre feat. Mary J. Blige - Dre knew just who to call for the closer to his sophomore album, 2001. Mary's soaring hook and bridge take the touching, harp-driven track, which mourns Dre's dead brother, to new emotional heights.(Photo: Geffen Records)

"I Can Love You" feat. Lil Kim - Mary mined Lil Kim's "Queen B---h" for this laidback 1997 hit, lifting the same piano loop and recruiting Ms. Jones herself for a killer verse.(Photo: MCA)

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"I Can Love You" feat. Lil Kim - Mary mined Lil Kim's "Queen B---h" for this laidback 1997 hit, lifting the same piano loop and recruiting Ms. Jones herself for a killer verse.(Photo: MCA)

"Come Close," Common feat. Mary J. Blige - Common, Mary J. Blige and the Neptunes channeled the earnest, ethereal vibe of A Tribe Called Quest's classic "Bonita Applebum" on this 2002 duet. Mary's soaring, soulful hook keeps the song emotionally grounded.(Photo: Geffen Records)

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"Come Close," Common feat. Mary J. Blige - Common, Mary J. Blige and the Neptunes channeled the earnest, ethereal vibe of A Tribe Called Quest's classic "Bonita Applebum" on this 2002 duet. Mary's soaring, soulful hook keeps the song emotionally grounded.(Photo: Geffen Records)