M: He was a great director. I think he took this video in more of a direction of a film, and that's what I wanted. Throughout the video, you'll see that [the man I'm singing to is] living a very illegal life, and I'm begging him to change his ways because I fear for his life. But you'll see all the things he's giving me, all the things he buys me, the way the actual condominium looks. So it's a real in-depth story, and it's a big reality check for a lot of young women who are living that actual story right now, that feel like it's okay. I show a positive ending, but there could be negative ones.
DK: How have you felt you have changed since we have been working from "The Boy Is Mine" up to now? This last video was a longer, much more intense shoot than we've ever done --
M: But I was still more comfortable.
DK: You were totally at ease. We were the ones who were slacking off! Why is that?
M: Because it was things that I wanted to do. I chose my hair color. I chose the clothes. And working with you is easy for me, because we have a comfortable relationship.
DK: Definitely.
M: There's never, like, pressure coming from you... and normally we agree.
DK: We always agree.
M: It's always like, "You like this?" "Oh, I like that! I like it a lot!" It's never like, "Derek, I don't want that!" "No, this is hot! This is over the top!" We never have that problem, which is just a blessing, 'cause it could be the opposite. But I just really feel like the main thing [was having] the opportunity to say, "You know what? This is not gonna work."
DK: "What do you want as an artist?"
M: Right. I chose the storyline. I chose Darren. It was something that was closer to me. Normally it's: "Derek knows what I like." "Derek, just bring me the outfits." I wasn't involved in picking them out because I know [you know] me, but this time, I felt like everything should be done together, because that's how the song was created.
DK: And I think we did achieve that.
M: Mm-hmm. [Laughs]
DK: And I think everybody will be extremely excited to see that new look and feel.
M: Yeah.
DK: And the haircut. It's rather drastic for Mo. I mean, we're going where nobody has ever gone before.
M: Yeah.
DK: And the tattoos. Everybody is going to be talking about that. Did they hurt?
M: Yeah. They did. They hurt. Don't do it. [Laughs]
