Mary J. Blige has collaborated with Canadian rapper Drake for her new single “The One”, which got released on June 5, 2009. Blige’s new album, the ninth one she was realized so far, is scheduled for a November 2009 release date. She performed the single recently at the Hot 97’s 2009 Summer Jam Concert.

With the new song “Stronger” that features the 20 year old Chris Brown, Blige has shifted tracks again. She has yet again proved her versatility and her deftness in singing. The odd team up is sure to reap heaps of benefit, with Blige’s throaty vocals and Brown’s softer ones. The single appears on the mix record tape titled “Desert Storm South R&B”. A video of the song got leaked online which fans for both the singers can enjoy.

According to reports, the lyrics for “Stronger” is written by Chris Brown, when he was with former girlfriend Rihana. The ‘then steady’ couple had all intentions to record the song together, but then the famous Rihana-Brown episode occurred when Brown was publicly condemned for abusing Rihana. A month later, when the patching up period was going on between the two stars, talks of them recording late at night with producer Polow Da Don surfaced. The connection between the news is that, the theme of that shelved song was similar to that of “Stronger”.

Now when “Stronger” is out and Rihana is not in the picture, it is evident that Mary j. Blige has stepped in to fill Rihana’s place. Blige has always been known to make her stand clear in matters of abusive relationships in the past, having suffered being in one herself. For her to have come together with Brown is going to help Brown in the long run.