November 12, 2007 14:38

Mary J Blige reveals new album details

And the soul singer reckons 'Umbrella' was intended for her

Mary J. Blige has announced details of her new album.

The R&B heavyweight will release 'Growing Pains', her eighth studio collection, in January. It will be followed soon after by a single, 'Just Fine'.

The track was produced by Jazze Pha and 'Tricky' Stewart – the man behind Rihanna's summer smash 'Umbrella'. And the outspoken singer recently claimed that the song had been written for her.

"They did the song for me," she told MTV. "And it was during the Grammy time and I was really, really busy, and I heard it, and I was like, 'Oh my goodness, that's a smash. I love this song.' And it was like 'It's yours'. So in the midst of it being mine, they were probably telling (Rihanna) it was hers."

But Blige is apparently "just fine" with the way things worked out.

She added: "I was so glad that she caught it and knocked it out of the park, and it's still one of my favourite songs to date."