Mary J. Blige’s Next Album To Be Recorded In The UK, Overseen By Naughty Boy

Alright, let’s do the math here. Sam Smith broke out last year by featuring on Naughty Boy‘s “La La La” and Disclosure‘s “Latch.” Smith then offered up a new version of his hit “Stay With Me” featuring Mary J. Blige this past spring, while Disclosure reworked their Settle track “F For You” with new vocals by Blige. And so the missing piece seems to be Mary J. and Naughty Boy hopping into the studio together, right?

That’s exactly what is set to happen, according to Hits Daily Double. The site reports that the Queen Of Hip Hop Soul is heading to the UK — no doubt inspired by the above-mentioned round of her recent British collaborators — to record an album with the working title of The London Sessions, which Naughty Boy will oversee.

Naughty Boy first hit the pop scene by writing with and producing for Emeli Sande, on her debut LP Our Version Of Events. Last summer he topped the UK chart with “La La La,” a dance-pop cut that eventually cracked the Top 20 here in the States.

Hits Daily Double notes the following:

Word is that a who’s who of the U.K.’s finest new writers, producers and neo-soul singers will be involved, though no specific names have yet been revealed.

Might we suggest one of our own faves, MNEK?

Get an eyeful of even more pop music coverage, from artist interviews to exclusive performances, on Idolator’s YouTube channel.