Mary J Blige updated the news section of her official website, MJBLIGE.COM,with her July 2008 "Vegas" magazine cover. Snapped by Daniela Federici, MJB sat down with "Vegas" reporter Isoul H. Harris to talk about her Yonkers upbringing and why she hasn't tune into "American Idol."

Mary J. Blige has a certain distaste for this country's favorite pastime, American Idol. But she won't admit it outright. "I haven't really watched it since [[Ruben Studdard] won," the singer tells me after cutting her workout short and grabbing the phone at her New Jersey home for our interview. But whether she likes it or not, she does think the juggernaut show does the contestants a huge disservice. "Honestly, it's not giving most of them a real chance to become an artist for the rest of their lives," she explains. "They are on national TV every night. They have automatic fame. All of the greatest artists had to struggle for their success." [VEGAS]

MJB and her husband/manager Kendu Isaacs were seen leaving Nobu restaurant in Mayfair, London. On the music tip, Mary recently teamed up with Big Boi from Outkast on the single, "Something's Gotta Give" which you can check out over at VIBE.COM. The socially consciousness song briefly touched upon the nation's recession and historical election year.



Photos: WENN. DANEILA FEDERICI for VEGAS

Labels: MJB, Music Hoopla, Newsstand Snapshots, Out and About