With Mariah Carey‘s new single, “Triumphant (Get ‘Em),” hitting the air, the singer recently explained why she chose Rick Ross and Meek Mill as her song’s featured guests.

The celebratory track is Carey’s first studio single since giving birth to twins Moroccan and Monroe. According to Carey, it was Ross’ voice that called him to this project.

“Working with Ross and Meek on the same record was incredible,” she said on a conference call. “Obviously Ross is a star and everybody loves him. I’m a fan of his music. I really, really wanted to work with him. I love the tone of his voice. I think the contrast of his voice and mine would be something special.”

SEE ALSO: Mariah Carey Reveals New Single, “Triumphant (Get ‘Em)”

“I always like to do collaborations that people might think are different,” Carey continued.

Of course, hip-hop collaborations are nothing new for Carey. Throughout her career, the Iconic singer has shared the booth with Ol Dirty Bastard (“Fantasy” remix), Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (“Breakdown”), Nas (“Thank God I Found You” remix), and Jay-Z (“Heartbreaker”).

Grammy winner Bryan-Michael Cox, who co-wrote and co-produced “Triumphant (Get ‘Em),” said Ross adds a relatable dimension to the track.

“Rick Ross, who’s always been one of my favorites, he’s resilient,” Cox told MTV News. ”Through the years, people try to count him out, and he always comes back, comes back harder, comes back with bigger and better records. So the theme of ‘Triumphant,’ I think that he fits the theme of that whole concept the best, really, because through it all, Rick Ross always comes out on top.” 

While there’s no date or title for Carey’s upcoming album, the singer will be the newest judge on American Idol following the departures of Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.

Listen to “Triumphant (Get ‘Em)” here.  —Keith Murphy, CBS Local