While appearing on the latest episode of Martinez’s podcast, Angie Martinez IRL, Blige got emotional reflecting on their 20-year friendship.

 

During the conversation, Blige asked Martinez to think about how far they’ve come.

“Angie, look where we are,” she said before pausing to hold back tears.

“Remember me when you first met me?” Blige asked during the interview. “This is not the same person.”

Martinez nodded her head in agreement as the singer explained that she wasn’t strong in the past and leaned on Martinez a lot to get by.

“You were always strong to me … you were always my strong sister,” Blige shared. “You was like a rock. I was like, ‘I need her.’ Because I wasn’t that.”

But Blige acknowledged that Martinez wasn’t made of stone, either.

“What was amazing to me was finding out that you [weren’t] as strong to you,” Blige added.

In response, Martinez said she’s thankful that she no longer feels like she has to be “the strong friend” anymore.

The two then laughed when the singer clowned Martinez for being too hard when she came to her for advice back in the day.

“I just needed a hug. I just need some sympathy,” Blige said with a chuckle.

Blige expressed that she’s proud of the woman she is today and that she gets to share her strength with Martinez, her best friend.

“This is a blessing, to have come full circle,” she said.