Not Today (Mary J. Blige song)

"Not Today" is a song recorded by American singer Mary J. Blige for her sixth studio album Love & Life (2003). It features a guest appearance from rapper Eve. The song was written by Blige, Eve, Mike Elizondo, Theron Feemster, Bruce Miller, and Dr. Dre, while production was helmed by the latter. Built upon a "plinking beat", it lyrically emphasizes the theme of broken promises and consequent end of the relationship.

"Not Today" was released as the third single from Love & Life, and the lead single from the Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004) soundtrack, on November 24, 2003, by Geffen Records. It received widespread acclaim from music critics, who ranked it among the highlights of Love & Life. A moderate commercial success, the song peaked at number 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Background
"Not Today" was written by Blige and rapper Eve along with Dr. Dre, Mike Elizondo, Theron Feemster, and Bruce Miller, while production was helmed by Dr. Dre. In a 2003 interview with MTV News, Blige elaborated on the track: "The first day Dre gave us the track, we went and laid it down in a studio. We didn't even know the song was going to make the album, because Dre was trying to do something else. We brought the song back and played it for him, and he was bugging out off the fact that we did it the same night. So a couple of weeks later he sends it back to us, mastered with Eve on it, killing it." She further commented on Eve's contribution: "She's just destroying somebody. I don't know who, but she sounds really pissed off. The good thing is she really murdered the track."

Critical reception
Evan McGarey from The Michigan Daily described the song as a "big-budget [...] radio-ready anchor." He further wrote: "Fittingly, Dre’s plinking beats mold well with Mary J. Blige’s robust voice. It’s Eve, however, who steals the track. Instead of the subdued Eve we’ve seen in UPN sitcoms and Vin Diesel movies, we get a riled-up version who hurls fiery indictments to a former lover. It’s a shockingly welcome return to form." New York Post critic Dan Aquilante noted that "on "Not Today," Eve and Blige abuse a lying, cheating 'waste of time' boy who will never be a real man. Dre’s production surges with waves of orchestral power as Blige’s soul-flavored hip-hop cuts heads with Eve’s rap. From start to finish, it’s a terrific tune." Dotmusic's Sharon O'Connell called the a "sleek, TLC-tastic treat." New York Times critic Jessica Willis that "on "Not Today," she lets Eve run away with all of the put-downs, and they're crass and flat compared to the nuanced "Where I've Been," their duet from No More Drama." In his review of parent album Love & Life, Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine noted: "The flawless, sample-free “Not Today,” produced by Dr. Dre and featuring Eve, stands out here like a shiny penny on a dirty city street."

Music video
A music video for "Not Today" was directed by Chris Robinson. According to MTV News, the "clip features a sexy Mary visiting a local social hot spot – the barbershop – and witnessing the flirtatious actions of a man who seems to be too distracted by several women to ever stick to just one. Eve and Mary watch the shenanigans amusedly." In addition, the visuals feature cameos from Barbershop 2: Back in Business co-stars Eve and Cedric the Entertainer as well as scenes from the film itself.

Track listings
Notes Sample credits
 * undefined denotes remix producer
 * "Ooh!" contains a sample from "Singing a Song for My Mother", performed by Bohannon.
 * "Love @ 1st Sight" contains a sample from "Hot Sex", performed by A Tribe Called Quest.

Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Love & Life.


 * Mary J. Blige – vocals, vocal recording, writer
 * Dr. Dre – mixing engineer, producer, writer
 * Mike Elizondo – bass, keyboards, writer
 * Theron Feemster – keyboards, writer
 * Mauricio Iragorri – recording engineer


 * Kendu Isaacs – vocal recording
 * Eve Jefferse – vocals, writer
 * Rouble Kapoor – recording assistance
 * James McCrone – recording assistance
 * Jason Merrit – recording assistance