Backstage at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards , when speaking of approach to the new album , Blige described crafting sonic heat similar to her first two studio albums but plan to update the vintage Blige sound , telling that “ it will be more like a '' What 's the 411 ? '' of 2012 . It 's headed in that direction but in a new way . Not what it used to be . Right now , it 's going in the '' Mary '' direction , which is R&B and hip-hop and soul . If it goes into the club direction , it will probably be more soulful than futuristic . " On June 21 , 2011 , a track titled " Feel Inside " apparently featuring Nicki Minaj leaked online . In an interview with MTV it was revealed that the track was in fact two separate songs that the duo were respectively working on , but that someone had put together . Blige revealed that despite the fake collaboration , Minaj and Blige would be collaborating on a song . " I was In terms of what she wanted to achieve musically with the album , Blige herself told Blues & Soul : " With so much techno and four-to-the floor and general loss of live instrumentation going on today , to me people are not doing real MUSIC any more . And so with this album I really wanted people to remember when music was about QUALITY instead of QUANTITY ! ... I basically wanted to separate myself and give everybody back what I feel music today is MISSING . " Finished in Los Angeles , New York City and Atlanta , '' My Life II '' sees Blige looking toward the future while acknowledging the past : " From me to you , My Life II … Our journey together continues in this life , ” '' explained Mary . '' “ It ’s a gift to be able to relate and identify with my fans at all times . This album is a reflection of the times and lives of people all around me . ” Originally scheduled for a September 20 , 2011 release , the album was later pushed back to November 21 , 2011 . A deluxe edition for the album will also be available only in the United States
2010 MTV Video Music Awards
2010 MTV Video Music Awards
My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1)