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Listen to Mario's sophomore CD and its clear that something's different. "Definitely there's been a change between this album and my last one, (2002's Mario), Mario affirms. "Changes as far as my voice my image and most importantly as far as the topics. They've matured because I've matured. I'm 18 and been through some things as far as relationships and just life in general and so its only natural that you're gonna hear that."
Hear it you do and feel it, even more so. Working with some of the hottest hands in the game including Scott Storch (Terror Squad) and Lil Jon (Usher) and featuring songs he co wrote, Mario has fashioned a record that shows you where he is and plans to be. Filled with aching ballads, introspective sentiment, flat out club banters and a focused approach that belies his years, Let Me Love You is a musical snapshot of an artist spreading his creative wings and taking flight with confidence, cool charm and a style of his own.
Let Me Love You is more than just an R&B album: it is the follow-up to one of 2002's biggest success and surprises. Containing the top ten smash "Just A Friend 2002" Mario set the charts on fire and ignited both fans and critics who were quick to praise Mario's superlative singing and appeal. Asked if he's concerned it might be difficult to make that segue from boy, (he was all of 15 when Mario dropped) to man, and Mario is forthright. "Any changes that have taken place between that album and this one have all been natural. I didn't have anybody saying to me, this is what you're gonna do. This is what your image is gonna be now. It wasn't made up, what everybody is hearing right now is me. It's all natural."
What's also natural is Mario's attitude about living up to past expectations. "When I went into the studio I wasn't \thinking about the last album. I was just thinking about the future, where I'm at now and even where I wanna be a year or two from now. I was thinking about how I want people to see me as an artist. On Let Me Love You I decided to just do what I felt because if you plan stuff out too much you can mess up what's real, and everything I do is real."
Evidence of that can be discovered in the lilting and heartfelt first single and title track. Produced by Scott Storch (who also did the honors on the raucous "Call The Cops", co written by Mario), "Let Me Love You" is Mario at his most emotional; ready to bare his soul and speak his mind. Mario offers" It's about a girl that's going through a lot with this person that she's with and I see that she's kind of in a transitional period. You know sort of half way between him and the next guy and so I just ask her why don't you just let me love you? You know what I could do for you. Make me your selection."
Also dealing with relationships is the passionate "How Could You", co written by Mario and produced by Underdogs. Drawn from a real life incident, "How Could You" breaks it down with an honesty that is hard to ignore. " I'm talking about how she broke my heart and hurt me. I felt like it was my time to say how I felt about the situation, to ask how could you let somebody lay where I lay? How could you do this to me?"
Throughout the album Mario mixes things up production wise by working with A listers and up and comers like Underdogs, Nephew and Harold Lilly. The reason? "The new guys give me a fresh sound and make my album different from everyone else's. That's how I've felt I've always been even when I came out with (2002"s)"Braid My Hair". Nobody would think that somebody would come out with a song like that and be serious about it!" Mario's unique POV is evident on his current CD, as well. Just check out the sexy and hushed "Nikes Fresh Out Tha Box" which subtlety uses the metaphor of a pair of kicks to describe the thrill of new love.
One of the album's highlights is the jacked up "18", produced by Nephew and featuring Mario's label mate Cassidy. "As soon as I got the track I knew it was a straight up club record and that it was perfect because I wanted to have something that let everybody know that I was coming back. "18" goes out to anybody who felt as though people were holding them back from doing what they're doing do what they wanna do or not understanding where they're coming from. Cassidy came in and dropped some hot verses, he laced it! Now that I'm 18 myself the song is to let people know how I feel."
In an industry that has seen its share of baby stars Mario's dedication to his art and his appreciation for how much he's accomplished is worth nothing." I think the thing that I've really noticed is that I'm starting to understand what it really means to appreciate people, relationships, my fans and life, period. The success I had was so unexpected I didn't really get a chance to think about it, I just did what I did and didn't say, Oh now I have a hit record. I was just being myself."
Born in Baltimore, MD and now living in Jersey, Mario has wanted to sing since he was 4 years old and honed his gift singing along with a karaoke machine and plunking out melodies on the piano his mother bought him. By the time he was in elementary school Mario was developing harmonies, constructing melodies and finding inspiration in Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Usher and Joe.
As a young teen Mario was a frequent talent show contestant and it was through those competitions that he got the chance of taking his boyhood dreams to a higher level. Mario signed to J and immediately began work on his infectious debut; one that showcased a voice label mate Alicia Keys declared (was) "one of the most beautiful I've ever heard".
Mario's first single "Just a Friend 2002" shot up the charts and the video featuring Biz Markie became a BET and MTV fixture. The attention and response threw Mario for a loop. " I didn't know people would accept it. God was on my side and I thank him every day for the blessing". Soon after his debut Mario hit the road as part of the Scream 3 Tour, which also boasted B2K, Nick Cannon and Marques Houston. "Being on tour taught me how to handle the stage on my own and now I'm ready to do it again. I'm excited."
With plans to attend college, a role in the feature film "Destination Insane" and hopes of more acting on the horizon, Mario's future is bright and his outlook even more so. Asked what Let Me Love You offers his fans and Mario replies, "I'm letting everybody know that I'm creative, controversial and not stuck on one thing. I'm ready to do it all."
