Mario Dewar Barrett (born August 27, 1986), who performs under
the mononym Mario, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actor,
model, dancer and philanthropist. He is best known for his hit
singles "Just a Friend 2002" (2002) and "Let Me
Love You" (2004), which won him two Billboard awards, as well
as for appearing in the films Step Up and Freedom Writers. He has
released four studio albums: Mario in 2002, Turning Point in 2004,
Go! in 2007, and D.N.A. in 2009. In the end of 2000's decade, Mario
was ranked by Billboard #98 on their "Artist of the Decade" list.
Mario grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and other working-class neighborhoods
in Baltimore County, Maryland.[3] He lived with his grandmother,
who raised him while his single mother struggled with a drug addiction.[3]
Mario said at the age of four that he wanted to become a singer.
His mother supported his dream and bought him a karaoke machine.
Mario joined a musical group in Teaneck high school with the oldest
son of comedienne Mo'nique and best friend Jaye Brebnor and also
his younger god sister Chea Tyler. He was always dedicated to having
a musical career. He learned to play the piano and used that skill
as the basis for his melodies and songs. He was discovered at age
eleven and signed by producer Troy Patterson, after singing "I'll
Make Love to You" at a Coppin State College talent show.[3]
Mario attended Milford Mill Academy up until the tenth grade where
he was inspired by his music teacher, during his early teen years,
and was offered a record deal at the age of fourteen, signing with
Clive Davis' J Records.[3] His musical influences include Stevie
Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, Brian McKnight, Boyz
II Men, Usher, and Joe. His first introduction to the music industry
was the Dr. Dolittle 2 movie soundtrack in 2001. He sang a captivating
performance of the Stevie Wonder classic "You and I" at
Clive's Grammy party in 2002, and began recording an album.
[edit] Music career
[edit] Mario (2002-2003)
Main article: Mario (album)
Mario began recording his debut album Mario. A year before releasing
it in July 2002. The lead single "Just a Friend 2002" ,
which was a cover of Biz Markie's hit, was an instant success, peaking
at #4 on the charts. Follow up singles were "Braid My Hair" & "C'mon" .
He was the opening act on the Scream Tour 3, which featured B2K,Marques
Houston, Nick Cannon, Jhene, and AJA. As of 2006, his debut album
has sold over 700,000 copies.[3] During this period, he became a
draw in the teen market.[3]
[edit] Turning Point (2004-2006)
Main article: Turning Point (Mario album)
After his debut album was released, Mario wanted to record an album
that was more mature. He enlisted a number of well-known producers
to help him, such as Scott Storch & Lil' Jon. He released his
second album, Turning Point on December 7, 2004. The album was more
successful than his first, mainly because of the hit single "Let
Me Love You". The single, described by reviewers as "melodic
and sweetly lilting, reminiscent of Michael Jackson's vintage romantic
ballads"[3] was successful, peaking at the number one on the
Billboard Hot 100 for nine consecutive weeks. The single is written
by Ne-Yo.[3] Other follow up singles include "How Could You" co-written
by J. Valentine, with a cameo appearance in the video by rapper Cassidy; "Here
I Go Again" (whose video starred model/singer Cassie) and "Boom" featuring
Juvenile. To date, Turning Point has sold platinum and the lead single
double-platinum.
In February 2006, Mario filed a lawsuit against his former manager,
Troy Patterson, alleging that Patterson had paid him $50,000 for
the sale of more than 3 million records, which was later found to
be false accusations. Mario was later sued by Patterson and lost.
Mario's new manager is J. Erving and he was chosen by Mario.[4]
[edit] Go! (2007-2008)
Main article: Go! (Mario album)
Mario's third album Go! is dedicated to his mom Shawntia Hardaway
and was released in South Africa under Gallo Records on October 9,
2007, in the U.S. on December 11, 2007. The album includes collaborations
with Jermaine Dupri, Ne-Yo, Janice Robinson, Eric West, Lionell Davis,
Scott Storch, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Timbaland, Bryan-Michael
Cox, Zane' Lord, The Neptunes, Jim Jonsin, Akon, Dre & Vidal,
Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell, Sean Garrett and Mr. Collipark.[5]
Mario, who has described the album as "sex...more personal...more
passionate", had more creative control on Go than on his previous
two albums.[3] The first single to be lifted from the album was "How
Do I Breathe" which was released in May. The second single was "Crying
out for Me" after a poll on his website.[6] The single was later
certificated Gold by the RIAA.[7] On December 13, 2007, Mario was
on "106 & Park" where he stated that the third single
off the album will be "Music For Love". The entire album
was made available for the public to listen to on his Myspace page
before its release. He also has a new song that came out on December
11, "Do Right". Go! has sold 331,540 copies in the U.S.
In an interview with DJ "Z", Mario stated that problems
with the record label caused the album launch to be pushed back 6–8
months.[8]
[edit] D.N.A. and Mario's fifth studio album (2009-Present)
Main article: D.N.A. (album)
Before the release of his third album Go!, Mario confirmed in an
interview with that he was working on a new album "by the time
school starts back up, like after next summer” “But there's
really even more than that, 'cause I'm gonna start recording, like,
[at] the end of January".[9] The album is involving a wide range
of producers and songwriters such as Darkchild, Babyface, Polow da
Don, RedOne, CJ of Charlio Productions, Malay, Jazze Pha, Stargate,
KP, Tricky Stewart and The-Dream as confirmed by Mario.[10][11][12]
Mario said that he would like to work with no more than 4 producers
for this album.[9] Mario has described this album as World music,
an old school R&B influenced with a modern dance pop sound.[12]
The album is being described as his “most personal, colossal
album of his career.”
The album's lead single "Break Up" was released on April
28, 2009. The song features Sean "The Pen" Garrett and
Gucci Mane.[13] In the US, the song, have peaked at number 2 on the
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart and 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming
Mario's most successful single in five years. The single has been
recently certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of
America (RIAA) for a shipment of over 500,000 units as a ringtone.[14] "Thinkin'
About You", was released as the second single reaching number
forty-five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart. "Stranded" never
labelled as the third single due to the limited airplay that it received.
Lack of interest led to the single being cancelled, although in January
2010 the song entered on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
peaking at number 84. "Ohh Baby" was later confirmed to
be the third single from the album, it peaked on the week of March
19, 2010 debuting on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 95. The entire
album was made available for the public to listen to on his Myspace
page before its release. The album debuted at number nine on the
Billboard 200, selling 38,000 copies in its first week, becoming
Mario's lowest-selling debut in the United States. So far, it has
sold 93,385 copies in the US.
Mario is currently working on his fifth album. He says: "I’m
working on a new album right now. It’s gonna be totally different
than D.N.A. Not typical R&B style but more like club songs."[15]
Recently, Mario took CJ Hilton under his wing and asked the newcomer
to write songs for his next album.[16] Mario did an Ustream with
CJ Hilton and stated that a possible title for the album is "Mario
Barrett" which will show to people the real him, also he's going
to have a meeting with the record label about the scheduling of his
new album and play them ten records never heard before.[17][18] From
the sounds of it, we'll be hearing more songs like "Green Light", "Starlight",
and things of that nature on this new album. Mario wants to go with
a more Euro-Pop/Electro/R&B sound this go-round now whether it
catches on with the general public has yet to be determined. "The
new album right now, I'm just focused on the album", says Mario.
The Baltimore native explained that the genre's grooves were just
too appealing not to flirt with on his upcoming project. "Stay
tuned. I just came back from Europe — it's crazy out there," Mario
said. "I just did a DJ/ house [music] tour in Europe; I did
like 10 days. It was a huge thing, like 15,000-seat venue. It was
incredible to see how many people are into house music and R&B
music, and how house music influences R&B nowadays. You know,
[it has a] real strong presence over there." The collection,
due this summer, according to Mario, would be his fifth album and
the follow-up to last year's set, D.N.A. That project spawned the
hit "Break Up," featuring Gucci Mane and Sean Garrett.
Mario's yet-untitled album is tentatively slated to include a guest
appearance by Chris Brown, though nothing has been confirmed so far.
Mario said the two crooners recently spent time together in a Los
Angeles studio — though admittedly Brown was working with Keri
Hilson and not him — and the pair have high hopes to get something
recorded between them soon. "For the ladies," he said[19]
on his official twitter, "This album is for the world. I'm taking
all my knowledge and love for music and puttin it out" and add "All
new shit nothing recycled".[20] On his twitter he made an announcement
saying that he was going to Miami to work with Rico Love and also
to finish the album on the same week.[21][22]
In an interview with Vibe, Mario was asked what direction he was
trying to go with on his 5th album, his answer was, "I wanna
give as much honesty as I can. I want to be honest, but grab the
attention of everybody, but still compete so when you hear it on
the radio it’s pushing the envelope. The melodies coming out
of me now are unorthodox— melodies I've never expressed before".
He also confirmed he has five tracks that are definitely going on. "These
tracks are like movies, they are intense", he added. Nevertheless,
the album will probably feature a song centered on his mother, written
by himself.[23] In another interview with Rap-Up TV Mario revealed
details on the new single and the album. Mario explained that the
first single "The Walls" featuring Fabolous really pays
homage to women who are comfortable with being sexy outside and they’re
sexy with their men when they get home. In addition to that he revealed
that he anticipates a November or January release.[24]
On October 7, RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding J Records
along with Arista Records and Jive Records. With the shutdown, Mario
(and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will
release his future material on the RCA Records brand. [25] [26]
[edit] Other ventures
[edit] Acting career
Mario starred alongside Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan in Step Up,
a dance-themed film released on August 11, 2006. For his next film,
Freedom Writers he acted opposite Academy Award-Winner Hilary Swank
and Patrick Dempsey of Grey's Anatomy. It was released on January
5, 2007. Mario did not take acting classes before undertaking the
role.[3] Mario has stated that he would like to own his own film
production company entitled "Inside Paris Productions" and
become a director.[27] On 5 March 2009, Mario said on Twitter that
he had made an ABC network testing for a new Pilot.[28] As result,
he made an announcement to "The Electric Company" on PBS,
with the "Soft G".[29] Also starred in One on One as Spirit's
date to the dance.
[edit] Knightwritaz
Knightwritaz is a production team of which Mario was part of. The
production team included Mario and includes Sterling Simms, Warren "Oak" Felder
and Marsha of Floetry. Aside from producing songs for Mario's album
Go!, the team has written and produced songs for Jennifer Lopez,
Chris Brown, Jordin Sparks, Usher and Raven-Symoné. Mario
claimed to be more of the songwriter in the team.[30] In an interview
with Rap-Up he sentenced that he was no longer part of the Knightwritaz.[31]
[edit] The Mario Do Right Foundation
Mario's Do Right Foundation was established on March 2008 to educate
and inspire kids who suffer from the drug addictions of their parents.[32]
In May, Mario published a notice on the Facebook page of the foundation,
saying that he had been in a studio in Miami all night re-recording
the hit song "Do Right" from his 2007 album "Go".
This remix "Do Right" will be the theme song for Mario's
Do Right Foundation. The song debut is expected to be at this years
African American Heritage Festival in Baltimore.[33]
[edit] Modeling
On 10 January 2009, Mario ventured to be the face of Pelle Pelle's
European Spring/Summer 2009 campaign with various press shots for
the campaign running throughout the next few months.[34]
[edit] Soul Truth Entertainment
In an interview with Rap-Up, Mario said that "Soul Truth Entertainment" was
his new entertainment company.[31]
[edit] PETA
Mario is the new face of PETA in the campaign against killing animals
entitled "Ink, Not Mink". He tells: "Be comfortable
in your own skin, and let animals keep theirs".[35]
[edit] Dancing With the Stars
Mario competed in Season 6 of Dancing With the Stars, being partnered
with Karina Smirnoff. They were eliminated in Week 8 of the competition.
[edit] Personal life
MTV aired a special on October 21, 2007, "I Won't Love You
to Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom," which dealt with
his mother's heroin addiction. The documentary is about how the singer
strives for help to stop his mother's addiction. While doing this,
he seeks help from family and friends.[36] Mario wrote a letter to
his mother stating how appreciative he is and begs her to stop her
addiction. At the end of the letter he says, "I love you, but
I won't love you to death".[37] The documentary, produced by
Gigantic! Productions, won a 2008 Prism Award for its accurate portrayal
of drug abuse.[38]
Mario has also written a song titled Do Right that is dedicated
to his mother. This song explains his mother's addiction and how
it affected his childhood.[39] The song is featured on his third
album Go.
Mario has homes in Baltimore, Atlanta and Los Angeles.[3]
[edit] Discography
Main article: Mario discography
Mario (2002)
Turning Point (2004)
Go! (2007)
D.N.A. (2009)
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Films
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Uncle P Himself minor role
2003 One on One Himself minor role
2006 Step Up Miles Darby lead role
2007 Freedom Writers Andre Bryant lead role
2009 Destination Fame Wizzy lead role