Overview
- Blige said The-Dream and Tricky Stewart offered her the song during her Breakthrough run when she was riding major success and multiple Grammy nominations.
- She recalled hearing the "aye/eh" refrain and deciding her fans would not embrace it, so she declined the track.
- After Rihanna released the single in 2007, Blige said she recognized the song belonged to Rihanna.
- Songwriters originally conceived "Umbrella" for Britney Spears, whose team passed before it was shopped to Blige.
- Rihanna’s version featuring Jay-Z led Good Girl Gone Bad, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks, hit No. 1 in 19 countries, and won a 2008 Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.