How was it working with Mary J. Blige on “Be Easy”?

It was crazy. Olivia originally wrote the hook and recorded it. It was actually the first song I recorded the night I came out to 50’s mansion. When we recorded it it was real hot. We took it to Interscope. Me, 50 and Jimmy Iovine had a meeting and we decided that “Be Easy” should be the first single and we should have a big name on it. We were going through names and we decided on Mary J. Blige. They played the record for her, she thought it was hot and she went ahead and did it. It’s crazy. Now it’s the first single and it’s hitting Direct Effect and 106 and Park. That’s when it’s really going to get crazy. Should we read between the lines as to why Olivia’s not on the song? No. Olivia’s project is coming. Her next single is going to have Missy Elliot on it. You shouldn’t read too much into it. She gets the credit for the hook but we just wanted to get a legend. Mary J.’s the Queen. We all talked about it and to get Mary J. Blige is a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Olivia’s on the album ...  more