"The One" | |||||||||||
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Single by Mary J. Blige featuring Drake | |||||||||||
from the album Stronger with Each Tear | |||||||||||
Released | July 21, 2009 | ||||||||||
Format | Digital download, CD single | ||||||||||
Recorded | 2009 | ||||||||||
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Length | 3:29 | ||||||||||
Label | Geffen | ||||||||||
Writer(s) | Mary J. Blige, Aubrey Graham, Ester Dean, Rodney Jerkins | ||||||||||
Producer(s) | Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins | ||||||||||
Mary J. Blige singles chronology | |||||||||||
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"The One" is a song by American recording artist Mary J. Blige featuring Canadian rapper Drake. Written by Blige and Drake along with Ester Dean and producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, it was included in her ninth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear (2009). Released as the album's lead single, the song marked Blige's 5th entry on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, on which it reached number 32. Blige's sum extended her lead for most charted titles among women in the 1990s and 2000s.
"The One" is an energetic uptempo lasting three minutes and twenty-nine seconds, written by Blige in collaboration with Drake and Ester Dean, and produced by producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Blige described the song "the most successful of my career, I loved working with Drake, I am very passionate about hip hop, R&B and to dance. This song will not disappoint you, even my future album." Blige told radio host Angie Martinez on her New York radio show that the song introduces the world to the concept of "Crazy Mary", who uses auto tune. She explained: "It was for effect. I wanted 'Crazy Mary' to get her shine on. She couldn't get her shine with my regular voice. I used the effect. I used it as a telephone effect or reverb." Blige announced on June 27, 2009 that the official release for the single would not be until August 4. Despite her comments, the song was released on iTunes on July 21 for download.
Blige filmed the accompanying music video for "The One" with director Anthony Mandler in August 2009, back-to-back with the video for her other single, "Stronger". Drake still appeared on the set for the video, despite reinjuring his ACL on stage during the America's Most Wanted Tour just days before.