Mario (singer)

2.1. Birth and Childhood

Mario Dewar Barrett was born on August 27, 1986, in Baltimore, Maryland. His mother is Shawntia Hardaway, and his father, Derryl Barrett Sr., was a singer in a gospel group called Reformation. Mario also has a half-brother, Derryl "D.J." Barrett Jr., who is a professional drummer. He grew up in west Baltimore and other working-class neighborhoods within Baltimore County, Maryland. During his childhood, his single mother struggled with drug addiction, leading to his grandmother raising him.

2.2. Musical Development and Discovery

At the tender age of four, Mario declared his ambition to become a singer, a dream his mother supported by purchasing him a karaoke machine. His musical journey began with learning to play the piano, a skill that became foundational for his melodies and songs. He joined a musical group at Milford Mill Academy alongside comedian Mo'Nique's oldest son, his best friend Jaye Brebnor, and his younger god sister Chea Tyler. Mario's talent was discovered at age eleven by producer Troy Patterson after he performed "I'll Make Love to You" at a talent show held at Coppin State College. He continued his education at Milford Mill Academy until the tenth grade, where he was further inspired by his music teacher. This early development led to him being offered a record deal at the age of fourteen, when he signed with Clive Davis's J Records. Mario's musical influences are diverse, including iconic artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson, Usher, and Joe. His first professional introduction to the music industry came in 2001 with his contribution to the Dr. Dolittle 2 movie soundtrack. In 2002, he performed a cover of Stevie Wonder's "You and I" at Clive Davis's Grammy party, marking the beginning of his debut album recording.

3.1. 2001-2003: Mario

Mario commenced recording his major-label debut album, Mario, in July 2001, nearly a year before its official release in March 2002. The album's lead single, "Just a Friend 2002", a cover of Biz Markie's song, proved to be a commercial success, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Following this, he released additional singles such as "Braid My Hair" and "C'mon". During this period, Mario was also an opening act on the Scream Tour 3, where he performed alongside headliners like B2K, Marques Houston, Nick Cannon, Jhené Aiko, and AJA. By 2006, his debut album had sold over 700,000 copies, solidifying his popularity within the teen market.

3.2. 2004-2006: Turning Point

Following the release of his debut, Mario sought to create a more mature sound for his second album, Turning Point, which was released on December 7, 2004. He collaborated with renowned record producers such as Scott Storch and Lil Jon. The album's success was largely driven by its hit single, "Let Me Love You", which was penned by Ne-Yo. Reviewers lauded the track as "melodic and sweetly lilting, reminiscent of Michael Jackson's vintage romantic ballads." "Let Me Love You" achieved massive success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for nine consecutive weeks and recording over 1.6 million ringtone downloads. The song earned him the Top R&B/Hip Hop single award and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year at the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, in addition to receiving nominations for various prestigious awards, including Grammy Awards, BET Awards, Vibe Awards, MOBO Awards, and Soul Train Music Awards. Turning Point attained platinum certification in the U.S., with its lead single achieving double-platinum status. Other singles from the album included "How Could You", co-written by J. Valentine with a cameo by rapper Cassidy in its video; "Here I Go Again", featuring model and singer Cassie in its video; and "Boom", featuring Juvenile.

In February 2006, Mario initiated a lawsuit against his former manager, Troy Patterson, alleging that Patterson had paid him only 50.00 K USD for sales exceeding 3 million records, claims which were later found to be false. Consequently, Patterson counter-sued Mario, and Mario lost the case. He subsequently chose J. Erving as his new manager.

3.3. 2007-2008: Go

Mario's third album, Go, was dedicated to his mother, Shawntia Hardaway. It was released in South Africa through Gallo Records on October 9, 2007, and in the U.S. on December 11, 2007. The album featured collaborations with notable artists and producers including Jermaine Dupri, Ne-Yo, Janice Robinson, Scott Storch, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Timbaland, and Bryan-Michael Cox. Mario exercised greater creative control over Go compared to his previous two albums. The lead single, "How Do I Breathe", was released in May, followed by "Crying Out for Me", chosen via a poll on his website. "Crying Out for Me" later received Gold certification from the RIAA. On December 13, 2007, during an appearance on "106 & Park", Mario announced "Music for Love" as the album's third single. Ahead of its official release, the album was made available for streaming on his Myspace page. He also released the song "Do Right" on December 11, a track deeply connected to his personal experiences. Go sold 331,540 copies in the U.S. Mario later revealed in an interview that issues with his record label had caused the album's launch to be delayed by six to eight months.

In 2008, Mario participated in season six of Dancing With the Stars, partnering with Karina Smirnoff. The duo was eliminated in the eighth week of the competition.

3.4. 2009-2010: D.N.A.

In a 2009 interview with Rap-Up, Mario announced the establishment of his new entertainment company, "Soul Truth Entertainment." Prior to the release of his third album, Go, Mario had already confirmed plans for a new album, with recording slated to begin by the end of January. For his fourth album, D.N.A., he worked with a wide array of producers and songwriters, including Darkchild, Babyface, Polow da Don, RedOne, CJ of Charlio Productions, Malay, Jazze Pha, Stargate, KP, Tricky Stewart, and The-Dream. Mario expressed a preference for collaborating with no more than four producers for the album. He characterized D.N.A. as "world music," blending an old-school R&B influence with a modern dance-pop sound, and described it as his "most personal, colossal album of his career."

In January 2009, Mario became the face of Pelle Pelle's European Spring/Summer campaign, featured in various press shots throughout the first half of the year. The lead single from D.N.A., "Break Up", was released on April 28, 2009, featuring Sean Garrett and Gucci Mane. This song became Mario's most successful single in five years, peaking at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart and number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was certified Gold by the RIAA for shipping over 500,000 units. "Thinkin' About You" was released as the second single, reaching number 45 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart. Although "Stranded" was never officially labeled as a third single due to limited airplay, it eventually entered the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 84 in January 2010. "Ooh Baby" was later confirmed as the third single, debuting at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 19, 2010. Similar to his previous work, the album was previewed on his Myspace page before its release. D.N.A. debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200, selling 38,000 copies in its first week, making it Mario's lowest-selling debut in the United States. To date, it has sold 93,385 copies in the U.S.

3.5. 2011-2016: Cancelled Albums and RCA Records Departure

Between 2010 and mid-2011, Mario recorded an album under the working title Restoration with producer Rico Love. This project included songs such as "My Bed," "Killa," "Bermuda," "The Walls" (also known as "The Walls (Are Closing In)"), "Recovery," "Falling Down," and "Computer Love." However, during an appearance on BET's 106 & Park on July 10, 2013, Mario announced that he had decided to scrap Restoration, feeling it did not align with his career vision. He then proceeded to record a new album, initially titled Evolve, which was slated for a September 2013 release but was subsequently delayed to 2014. For this fifth album, Mario stated his intention to include "love songs, ballads, club records and general R&B," explicitly ruling out EDM tracks. He mentored writers Jeremiah "Sickpen" Bethea and Jimi Bonet, among others, to contribute to the album. Production credits were expected from Glass John, Bam Alexander, Polow da Don, and potentially Ne-Yo.

In an interview with Vibe, Mario articulated his artistic direction for the fifth album, expressing a desire for maximum honesty in his music while still capturing widespread attention and pushing boundaries on radio. He described the melodies emerging from him as "unorthodox" and unlike anything he had expressed before, confirming that five "intense" tracks were definite inclusions. He also indicated that the album would likely feature a self-written song centered on his mother. In August 2011, RCA Music Group announced the disbandment of J Records, along with Arista Records and Jive Records. This restructuring meant that Mario, along with other artists previously signed to these labels, would release future albums under the RCA Records label.

On May 17, 2013, Mario confirmed via his official Twitter page that he had been working with Polow Da Don on the lead single, "Somebody Else", featuring rapper Nicki Minaj. He later expressed gratitude to Polow Da Don, Jeremiah Renaldo, Nicki Minaj, and CJ Hilton for their contributions to the song, which was made available on the iTunes Store on May 21, 2013. He initially announced his album would be released in September 2013, possibly featuring guest appearances from Minaj, J. Cole, and Sevyn Streeter. He named "Fatal Distraction" as his next single, which was released on September 10, 2013. Following this, Mario and RCA Records mutually parted ways due to creative differences.

In the summer of 2015, Mario announced plans for a new album titled Never 2 Late, scheduled for release on December 4, 2015. However, this album also never materialized due to disagreements with management. It was intended to be supported by the single "Forever," featuring Rick Ross and produced by Scott Storch and Draydel, which was leaked online but never commercially released. The entire album, produced solely by Storch, has since been indefinitely shelved.

3.6. 2016-present: Independent Label and Recent Activities

In May 2016, Mario premiered his new single, "I Need More," on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 show. Alongside this, he announced that his fifth studio album would now be titled Paradise Cove and would be released under his newly established independent record label, New Citizen LLC. On December 13, 2016, he released the second single from the album, "Let Me Help You."

In March 2017, during an interview with Music Choice, Mario revealed another title change for his fifth album, now named Cosmo 17. He explained that while he still loved Paradise Cove, the album's developing sound had taken on a life of its own, moving beyond an "island vibe." He described Cosmo 17 as a message to his younger self, reminding him that love still exists and encouraging him not to give up, even if it meant searching for it in the "cosmos." He released a new single from Cosmo 17, "Pain is the New Pleasure," on June 16, 2017, a song that explores themes of mental health. In October of the same year, he collaborated with THRDL!FE and Kelli-Leigh on a charity single titled "For Love."

During the Oh My! Music Festival in June 2018, Mario spoke with FunX radio station, confirming that Cosmo 17 had been re-titled once more to Dancing Shadows, set for a late fall release with a new single, "Drowning." He explained that changing album names is part of the creative process, akin to giving birth to something. "Drowning" and its accompanying music video were released on July 20, 2018. Mario described the song as reflecting the reality of having love for multiple women for different reasons. On September 14, 2018, the title track, "Dancing Shadows," was released. Finally, Dancing Shadows was officially released on October 5, 2018.

Mario released the single "Closer" on April 24, 2020, which is featured on his extended play (EP), Closer to Mars, released on October 16, 2020. He also indicated that his upcoming sixth album was set for a 2021 release. "Mars" was released as the second single from the EP on October 2, 2020, accompanied by its music video. The third single, "Pretty Mouth Magick," followed on October 16, 2020, also with a music video.

In 2024, Mario participated as "Wasp" on season twelve of The Masked Singer, where Ne-Yo served as his Mask Ambassador. He finished in second place in the competition. During his appearance, he performed an encore of "Let Me Love You" and correctly identified "Buffalos" as Boyz II Men.

4.1. Acting Career

Mario has pursued an acting career, taking on various roles in films and television. He starred as Miles Darby in Step Up, a dance-themed film released on August 11, 2006. The following year, he appeared as Andre Bryant in Freedom Writers, which premiered on January 5, 2007. Notably, Mario undertook these roles without prior acting classes. He has expressed aspirations to establish his own film production company, "Inside Paris Productions," and to pursue directing. On March 5, 2009, Mario announced on Twitter that he had completed an ABC network test for a new pilot, which led to his appearance on The Electric Company on PBS, particularly known for his segment on the "Soft G." He also appeared in One on One as Spirit's date for a dance. In 2019, Mario portrayed Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III in the Emmy Award-winning live television musical production, Rent: Live.

4.2. Production Team (Knightwritaz)

Mario was a member of Knightwritaz, a production team formed in 2005. The team included Sterling Simms, Warren "Oak" Felder, and Marsha of Floetry. Besides contributing to songs on Mario's third album, Go (2008), Knightwritaz also wrote and produced tracks for prominent artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Chris Brown, Jordin Sparks, Usher, and Raven-Symoné. While they rarely worked together as a collective fivesome, Mario stated by 2007 that he primarily functioned as a songwriter within the group. By 2009, he announced his departure from Knightwritaz.

4.3. Philanthropy (Do Right Foundation)

Mario established the Do Right Foundation in March 2008, driven by a commitment to support children affected by parental drug addiction. The foundation's mission is to educate and inspire these children, drawing a direct connection to Mario's personal experiences with his mother's struggle with addiction. In May 2010, Mario posted an update on the foundation's Facebook page, mentioning that he had been in a Miami studio re-recording the song "Do Right" from his 2007 album Go, a track dedicated to his mother and her addiction.

4.4. Business Ventures (New Citizen LLC)

In 2016, Mario founded his independent record label, New Citizen LLC. This venture marked a significant step in his career, allowing him greater artistic control over his music. Initially, New Citizen LLC established a partnership with Empire Distribution for music distribution. In 2020, Mario further expanded his distribution network by partnering with The Orchard for future music releases, following his departure from EMPIRE. This independent model underscores his dedication to creative freedom and direct engagement in the business aspects of his career.

5.1. Mother's Drug Addiction and Documentary

A significant aspect of Mario's personal life is his mother, Shawntia Hardaway's, struggle with heroin addiction. This experience deeply impacted his upbringing and career. In an effort to raise awareness and support his mother, MTV aired a special documentary on October 21, 2007, titled I Won't Love You to Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom. The documentary chronicled Mario's efforts to help his mother overcome her addiction, showing him seeking support from family and friends. A poignant moment in the documentary featured Mario writing a letter to his mother, expressing his appreciation while imploring her to cease her addiction, concluding with the powerful statement, "I love you, but I won't love you to death." Produced by Gigantic! Productions, the documentary received critical acclaim for its accurate portrayal of drug abuse, earning a 2008 Prism Award. Mario also dedicated the song "Do Right," featured on his third album Go, to his mother. The song articulates the challenges of her addiction and its profound impact on his childhood. Mario maintains residences in Baltimore, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.

5.2. Animal Rights Advocacy

Mario has publicly demonstrated his commitment to ethical and social causes through his involvement in animal rights campaigns. In 2009, he endorsed PETA for their "Ink, Not Mink" initiative, which advocates against the use of animal fur. In this campaign, he famously stated, "Be comfortable in your own skin, and let animals keep theirs," promoting a message of compassion and respect for animal welfare.

7.1. Film

7.2. Television

8.1. Virtual Concert

• The Luxury of Love. Live. (2021)