Pia Mia Samples Mary J. Blige On YG-Assisted Single ‘Feel Up’: Stream It Now

Months after treating fans to her island-tinged summer single “Crybaby,” Pia Mia is transitioning into fall with a different sound. The singer has returned with “Feel Up,” an urban-pop earworm featuring YG, today (Sept. 6).

For the track, Mia reunited with producer Nic Nac, who helmed her 2015 hit “Do It Again.” (Nic Nac is also known for producing Chris Brown’s “Loyal,” along with DJ Khaled’s global smashes “I’m the One” and “No Brainer.”)

On “Feel Up,” Mia yearns for more passion in a romantic relationship. With sexy and stylized vocals, the 22-year-old sings, “When we’re together, you never tell me how you feel / And lately, I’ve been looking for something that’s real / You should just feel up / Touching on me like it’s real love.” The song waxes nostalgic by sampling Mary J. Blige’s 1992 classic “Real Love” — but its modern composition is amplified by a hard-hitting rap verse from YG.

“Feel Up” is Pia Mia’s third release in 2019, a year that has seen the pop star lean into different genres of music. Before the June release of the bright and breezy “Crybaby,” she dropped her dreamy power ballad “Bitter Love” this spring. The latter tune served as the official anthem for After — in which Mia made her feature film debut — and marked the Guam native’s first release as an independent artist. (Mia left Interscope Records in late 2017.)

Back in March, Mia spoke with Billboard about her growth as a musician after taking complete control of her career. “I feel more secure in what I want. You can’t sway me anymore,” she said at the time. “I know what my voice is, and I know what I want to talk about. And I want to be heard. So now, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to talk about what’s real to me.”