Mary J. Blige tells Naomi Campbell about the first time she met Biggie Smalls

Naomi Campbell has accomplished many incredible things in her career, being one of the original supermodels, gracing multiple Vogue covers, and becoming an iconic figure in the fashion industry and beyond. So, rubbing elbows with some of the biggest names in Hollywood is hardly anything new for her – but that doesn’t make her recent conversation with Mary J. Blige any less epic.

Campbell’s latest venture, a digital talk show titled No Filter with Naomi, finds her (virtually) seated across from some of the biggest names in fashion and Hollywood, including Marc Jacobs, Cindy Crawford and, most recently, Mary J. Blige. In the new interview, which premiered Tuesday, September 22, the iconic artist and actress shares insights on the evolution of her career, what it was like working with the likes of Biggie Smalls and Lil' Kim, and so much more.

After taking an (appropriately) long moment to introduce the Grammy-award winning singer and Oscar-nominated actress, Campbell does us all a favour by asking about Blige's experience working with other hip hop icons and pioneers, including Sean 'P Diddy' Combs (whom Mary still refers to as "Puff"), legendary hip hop and R&B stylist Misa Hylton, and of course, The Notorious B.I.G.“He’s someone I never got to meet,” explains Campbell. "I always wished I could have just met him once.”  Same, Naomi. Same.“He was sweet and fun,” begins Blige, telling Campbell that she first met Biggie in a recording studio, where he was “[leaning] on the wall, smoking, and quiet” while he waited to record his verse for the "What’s the 411" remix. “When he came out [of the studio], he was like, 'You feeling that, mom?’ and I was like “Yeah! Of course I’m feeling that!'""He was always humble, and quiet, and sweet. And fun, just a lot of fun,” remembers Blige.She also says she still considers Lil' Kim is still her "baby sister," sharing, “That’s my baby, my heart,” while reminiscing about Misa Hylton's documentary The Remix: Hip-Hop x Fashion that the two were a part of.Making the most of their interview time, Campbell also asks Blige to share the incredible story of how she was discovered. “I know it, I’ve heard you say it, but I want everyone to know,” prompts Campbell.[video_embed id='2004641']RELATED: Naomi Campbell reacts to Anna Wintour’s note on Vogue’s lack of diversity [/video_embed]“I made a tape at the Galleria Mall in Westchester, and I gave the tape to my mother’s boyfriend, my stepfather,” says Blige. From there, she explains, her stepfather gave the tape to singer Jeff Redd. The tape eventually made its way into the hands of legendary music exec Andre Harrell, who sadly passed away in May 2020. “Andre Harrell heard me singing ‘Caught Up In The Rapture’ ... and he ended up at my house,” says Blige.

“I had to meet him downstairs, he was in a black BMW and he had on this silk black shirt with polka dots or leopard print or something, he just looked so fly.” According to Blige, once they got up to the apartment, it was showtime. “So I started to sing, Andre’s standing there staring, I zone out and sing almost the whole ‘Caught Up In The Rapture’ album ... and when I opened my eyes, Andre looked at me and was like ‘Oh my God, you’re a star.'"

Blige recalls Andre looked at her mother and told her, “Your daughter is going to sing for royalty one day."

"He came to my hood, and heard this young girl sing, and gave me a chance," she recalls. And, in Blige's own words, "Everything else was history."[video_embed id='2040488']BEFORE YOU GO: Gabrielle Union to host an all-Black ‘Friends’ table read [/video_embed]