Lil' Mo
 |
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page.
|
| Lil' Mo | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Born | November 19, 1978 Long Island, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, neo soul, hip hop[1] |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Jive (1995-2000) The Inc. (2000-2002) Elektra (2001-2004) Cash Money (2004-2006) H.C.E (2007-present) |
| Associated acts | Tupac, Fabolous, Missy Elliott, Ja Rule, Faith Evans |
| Website | http://www.thelilmoshow.com |
Cynthia Loving (born November 19, 1978), also known by her stage name Lil' Mo, is an American R&B singer, Washington, D.C. radio personality, songwriter & record producer. She is best known for collaborating with artists such as Tupac, Ja Rule, Tamar Braxton, Angie Martinez, Sacario, Missy Elliott, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Lil Wayne, and Fabolous.
Contents |
Early life[edit]
Born into a military family, Loving was raised primarily on Long Island, but moved about regularly as her family followed her father's military assignments. Along with her parents, Bishop Jacob and First-Lady Cynthia Loving Sr., she lived in Texas, Atlanta, Georgia, and Fayetteville, North Carolina before settling in Baltimore, Maryland. Dreams of becoming a famous singer began early and she always remained focused on this goal, performing in talent competitions wherever her family would settle.
Music career[edit]
Beginnings[edit]
Signed with Elektra Records Loving entered the music industry as a protégé of then-labelmate Missy Elliott. Her debut single was entitled "5 Minutes" from the Why Do Fools Fall In Love soundtrack, co-written by Kelly Price. She appeared on tracks for Elliott's Da Real World in 1999. "Hot Boyz" became Loving's breakout appearance. She was featured in the music video for the song's remix alongside guest rappers Nas and Eve, and Elliott subsequently became a trusted adviser and friend. She was featured on rapper Jay-Z's song "Parking Lot Pimpin'" from the 2000 The Dynasty: Roc La Familia album. Not very well known, she was the female voice on the 2000 hit "Wifey" by Next. She has performed with and written songs for many artists including Blackstreet, Next, Bow Wow, Keith Sweat, Changing Faces, Canela Cox, 3LW, Nicole Wray, Mocha and ODB.
Loving's next big exposure came in early 2001, when she was featured on Ja Rule's single "Put It On Me" alongside Ja Rule's Murder Inc. Records labelmate Vita. The single was a hit on both urban and pop radio, and reached number eight on the US pop charts, and more collaborations by Ja Rule and Lil' Mo followed, including "I Cry", which repurposed The O'Jays' 1978 hit "Cry Together". In the Summer of 2002 Loving collaborated with label mates Angie Martinez & Sacario on "If I Could Go".
Based On A True Story (1999 - 2002)[edit]
In 2001, Lil' Mo released her debut album Based On A True Story, on Elektra Records, and had a successful single of her own, "Superwoman (Part II)". The "Part II" remix, featuring hip-hop newcomer Fabolous, was an up-tempo, hip-hop flavored record, using an instrumental track producer DJ Clue had originally intended for M.O.P. reached #9 on the R&B charts.[2] The video was also a huge hit on MTV2 and BET. The album's second single, "Gangsta", contained a sample of Snoop Dogg's "Gin And Juice", was less successful reaching #57 on the R&B charts.[2] Her cousin Fabolous was also her adviser.
After a falling out with Ja Rule and Irv Gotti, caused by Loving's accusations that they now favored using new Murder Inc. artist Ashanti for collaborations instead of her, she ended all associations with Murder Inc. in 2002. Since, Ja Rule has taken some shots at former friend, Loving, calling her a "bitch", and crediting himself as the reason why she had any hits. She refused to fire back, calling the whole thing "juvenile."
Meet the Girl Next Door (2003)[edit]
During the mid-2003, Mo appeared on two important singles with Fabolous, who partially had Mo to thank for his own break into the industry, and who has since been more successful on both urban and mainstream charts than Mo herself. Their first duet was "Can't Let You Go", the first single from Fabolous' Street Dreams LP, was one of 2003's biggest rap and mainstream pop hits. The other duet, "4Ever", the first official single from Lil' Mo's own second album, Meet The Girl Next Door, was a major urban and R&B hit, but did not achieve pop success.
Pain & Paper (2007)[edit]
Under her independent label "Honeychild Entertainment" she finally released a new album, with support from Ike Morris and Morris Management Group. Pain & Paper was released on August 28, 2007 with production from Joey Cutless, Bryan-Michael Cox, Jules "Judah," Mike Moore, Troy Taylor, Adam "Streets" Arwine, Daniel "D-Up" Allen, Wesley "Mister Wes" Toone, among others. Along with recording her new album, Lil' Mo, together with Faith Evans, Fantasia, and R&B-turned-gospel singer Coko (of SWV fame), appeared on the remake of The Clark Sisters' "Endow Me" from Coko's gospel album Grateful, released October 31, 2006. Loving's Pain & Paper was released on August 28, 2007 distributed by Koch Entertainment. The first single off the album is "Sometimes I" featuring rapper Jim Jones). The video was directed by Gabriel E. Hart of Drew Barrymore's "VH-1's Shoot to Kill." She recently announced that her second single is "Lucky Her". She stated that "Lucky Her" is the final single from Pain & Paper. She is currently working on a new album tentatively titled Tattoos & Roses: The Rebellion Against My Pain (confirmed by Lil' Mo herself in an interview), a mixtape, and a reality show for 2008.
2008 - 2010[edit]
With Pain & Paper sales at barely below one-hundred thousand, Lil' Mo signed to Global Music Group for a two-album contract. She has said in a recent interview that the album will be a double disc; half of it being a live production. The album is currently titled P.S. I LOVE Me. In a 2010 interview, Mo confirmed that guest appearances on the album would include MC Lyte, Tweet, Fabolous and other performers that she has admired in the music industry.
In early 2010, Loving ended her feud with Ja Rule which started in 2001. The album was released at November 1, 2011.
2011 - present[edit]
P.S. I Love Me is the fourth studio album from American recording artist Lil' Mo, released on November 1, 2011 on HoneyChild Entertainment/ Bronx Bridge Entertainment; distributed by Fontana Distribution.
Prepping the release of the album, Lil Mo hosted a radio show in Washington D.C. and insisted the album dives into "everything I have been through on my hiatus." The album boasts features from Dawn Richard (Danity Kane/Diddy Dirty Money), PJ Morton and rapper Maino.
For the second single "I Love Me", Lil Mo brought back long time friend Tweet into the studio for a duet.
In 2013, Loving became a cast member of TV One reality show R&B Divas alongside Chante Moore, Kelly Price, Claudette Ortiz, Michel’le and Dawn Robinson. [3]The series will premiere sometime this coming summer.
Personal life[edit]
In 2001, she met her first husband, Al Stone, at a Washington, D.C. gas station; she initiated a conversation and asked for his number. He proposed to her in May, and they wed on August 29, 2001, after dating for only 5 months. Just two months later, Loving became pregnant, and on August 19, 2002, she gave birth to a daughter, Heaven Love'on Stone. Her second daughter, God'Iss Love Stone, was born on February 24, 2005. In December 2005, she filed for divorce from Al Stone.
She is currently married to Gospel recording artist Phillip Bryant; the couple welcomed a son, Justin McKenzie Phillip, on January 16, 2009.[4] She currently lives in Odenton, Maryland.[5][6] She gave birth to their second son, Jonah Maddox-Phillip Bryant, on July 10, 2012.[7]
Discography[edit]
Albums[edit]
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | |||
| 2001 | Based on a True Story | 14 | 6 | |
| 2003 | Meet the Girl Next Door | 17 | 4 | |
| 2005 | Syndicated: The Lil' Mo Hour | — | — | Shelved |
| 2007 | Pain & Paper | 112 | 14 | |
| 2011 | P.S. I Love Me | — | — | |
Mixtapes[edit]
2011: P.S. I Love You
Singles[edit]
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | |||
| 1998 | "5 Minutes" (feat. Missy Elliott) | — | — | Why Do Fools Fall in Love Soundtrack |
| 2000 | "Ta Da" | 95 | 21 | Based on a True Story |
| 2001 | "Superwoman Pt. II" (feat. Fabolous) | 11 | 4 | |
| "Gangsta" | — | 57 | ||
| 2003 | "4Ever" (feat. Fabolous) | 37 | 13 | Meet the Girl Next Door |
| "Ten Commandments" (feat. Lil' Kim) | — | 101 | ||
| "21 Answers" (feat. Free) | — | 50 | ||
| 2005 | "Yeah Yeah Yeah" (feat. Miri Ben-Ari) | — | — | Syndicated: The Lil' Mo Hour (Unreleased Album) |
| "Hot Boys, Hot Girls" (feat. Lil Wayne) | — | 28 | ||
| "Mother of Your Child" | — | — | ||
| "Dem Boyz" | — | 86 | ||
| 2007 | "Sumtimes I" (feat. Jim Jones) | — | — | Pain & Paper |
| "Lucky Her" | — | — | ||
| 2011 | "I Love Me" (feat. Tweet) | — | — | P.S. I Love Me |
| 2012 | "Take Me Away" (feat. Maino) | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||
Guest singles[edit]
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | US Rap | NL[8] | |||
| 1999 | "Hot Boyz" (Missy Elliott feat. Lil' Mo) | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | Da Real World |
| 2000 | "I'll Trade (A Million Bucks)" (Keith Sweat feat. Lil' Mo) | — | 36 | — | — | Didn't See Me Coming |
| "Whatever" (Ideal feat. Lil' Mo) | 47 | 11 | — | — | Ideal | |
| "Put It On Me" (Ja Rule feat. Lil' Mo & Vita) | 8 | 2 | 11 | 9 | Rule 3:36 | |
| 2001 | "I Cry" (Ja Rule feat. Lil' Mo) | 40 | 11 | 25 | — | |
| "Lay It Down" (Jermaine Dupri & R.O.C. feat. Lil' Mo) | — | 117 | — | — | Instructions | |
| 2002 | "Pray For Me" (Mobb Deep feat. Lil' Mo) | — | — | — | — | Infamy |
| "Where's My..?" (Adam F feat. Lil' Mo) | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "If I Could Go" (Angie Martinez feat. Lil' Mo & Sacario) | 15 | 26 | 11 | — | Animal House | |
| 2003 | "Can't Let You Go" (Fabolous feat. Lil' Mo & Mike Shorey) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | Street Dreams |
| 2004 | "Thick & Thin" (E-40 feat. Lil' Mo) | — | 120 | — | — | The Best of E-40: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow |
| 2006 | "Endow Me" (Coko feat. Lil' Mo, Fantasia & Faith Evans) | — | — | — | — | Grateful |
| 2008 | "Bulletproof Love/One Love" (Foxy Brown feat. Lil' Mo) | — | — | — | — | Brooklyn's Don Diva |
| "Cry" (LL Cool J feat. Lil' Mo) | — | 119 | — | — | Exit 13 | |
| 2009 | "It Ain't Love" (MSTRKRFT feat. Lil' Mo) | — | — | — | — | Fist of God |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||||
References[edit]
- ^ All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap and Hip-Hop. Amazon.com. ISBN 9780879307592. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
- ^ a b "Lil' Mo - R&B Artist Bios - R&B Haven". Rnbhaven.com. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
- ^ http://tvone.tv/shows/randb-divas/inside-the-show/r-and-b-divas-la-announces-cast.html
- ^ Little Mo and Phillip Bryant Welcome a Son Celebrity Baby Blog, January 21, 2009
- ^ "LIL' MO IS EXPECTING - Black Celebrity Kids". Blackcelebkids.com. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
- ^ "Lil' Mo And The Family Is On The Right Track - Black Celebrity Kids". Blackcelebkids.com. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
- ^ "Lil' Mo Welcomes Fourth Child In Time For Fourth Album - Black Celebrity Kids". Blackcelebkids.com. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
- ^ "Dutch Top 40 > Lil' Mo" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
External links[edit]
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
