The album, an ode to funky, spiritual love and devotion, features mostly uptempo, danceable tracks produced by the likes of Rockwilder, the Neptunes, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Dr. Dre, who produced the first single, "Family Affair." Mary J. told Curtis Waller that she's ready to get crunk, hit the clubs and tell the world about finding her true love.

MTV: Around the time of the release of the Mary album, you said this new album was going to be more hip-hop based. Is that still true?

Mary J. Blige: It is. It's a combination of everything I've done. It's different from [my 1992 debut] What's the 411?, but music-wise you can dance to it. Everybody I missed the last time and the [time before that] will get this one.

MTV: Talk about some of the producers you worked with on this project.

Blige: I worked with Dr. Dre on the first single, ["Family Affair,"] Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, The Neptunes and a lot of new producers that people don't know anything about. And Rockwilder and Missy Elliott, of course.

MTV: What's "Family Affair" about? What's the story behind it?

Blige: I'm just celebrating my joy right now, my life. I'm just celebrating the fact that I'm no longer what I was mentally and spiritually. I'm somebody else, and it's just about me shaking off everything and going off and enjoying myself. [I'm saying], "Leave all your problems outside, we're going to have a good time tonight. This is Mary's joint. We are gonna have a good time and get crunk and get drunk." The lyrics say that, but let me get this right, it's about having a good time with your friends and drinking and doing whatever you do to the limits you do it. It's time for Mary to have a good time too, but you know, the whole album doesn't consist of that [same vibe].

MTV: "Dance for Me" is a really upbeat track, and the groove on that is just so fresh. What are we talking about there?

Blige: When you say fresh, you mean like a breath of fresh air in music?