Rico Love | |
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 Rico Love in 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard Preston Butler Jr. |
| Born | (1982-12-03)December 3, 1982 (age 42) New Orleans,Louisiana, U.S. |
| Origin | Milwaukee,Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels |
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| Children | 2 |
| Website | welovemusicconference |
Richard Preston Butler Jr. (born December 3, 1982), better known by his stage nameRico Love, is an American record producer, singer, songwriter, and rapper. He was born inNew Orleans,Louisiana, but split his childhood betweenMilwaukee,Wisconsin, andHarlem,New York City. He attendedFlorida A&M and, while visitingAtlanta, worked his way into the music industry through connections with singerUsher, who became one of Butler's frequent collaborators.
Usher's 2004 song, "Throwback", was Butler's first major songwriting credit; its parent album,Confessions (2004), wonBest Contemporary R&B Album at the47th Annual Grammy Awards. Butler's contributions to Beyoncé'sI Am... Sasha Fierce,[2] Usher'sRaymond v. Raymond (2009),[3] and the latter album's single, "There Goes My Baby", each yielded Grammy Awards.[3] He also co-wrote "Heart Attack" forTrey Songz, which received a nomination for the award.[4] Throughout the decade, he was credited on commercially successful R&B singles including Usher's "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)",Nelly's "Just a Dream" and "Gone", andBeyoncé's "Sweet Dreams".[5][6][7] He has worked with artists such asKelly Rowland,[8]Mario,[9]Chris Brown,[10]Alexandra Burke,Keri Hilson,[11]Fergie,[12] andFantasia.[13]
As a recording artist, Butler has released two studio albums:TTLO (2015) andEven Kings Die (2018); the former spawned the single "They Don't Know", which moderately entered theBillboard Hot 100. He founded the record label Division1 in 2010; it was first an imprint ofUniversal Motown, and laterInterscope Records before becoming an independent label. Division1 has signed artists includingYoung Chris,Tiara Thomas, andTeairra Marí.[14][15][16]
Love was born inNew Orleans,Louisiana, and his parents divorced at an early age. As a result of the divorce Love spent his childhood growing up in two different cities, inMilwaukee,Wisconsin, with his mother andHarlem,New York City, with his father.[17] Love's mother encouraged him as a child to write poetry.[18] Love wrote his own poems and went on to joining the African American Children's Theater where he recitedLangston Hughes and acted.[17][18] Love had already been writing his own poems before he was introduced to rap in his early teens.[19] By the end of high school Love had decided to pursue a career in rap but would go to college simultaneously, "I'm [going] to go to school instead of just sitting on the block. If I hadn't gone to college I would've been a drug dealer."[18]
While in college atFlorida A&M University Love stayed involved in his music by winning many rap battles and talent shows.[18] On the weekends Love would leave forAtlanta,Georgia, for the benefit of its studios and popular music scene.[18] While visiting Atlanta, Love met members ofJagged Edge who were an influence on Love's songwriting development.[18] Love eventually left college because of a paperwork error made by the college's administration's office.[18] Love went to live with some local Atlanta producers the Corna Boyz.[18] This relationship provided Love the opportunity to rap on a remix the producers were creating forUsher.[18] Usher liked Love's work on the remix and eventually signed him toUS Records andJ Records. Usher requested Love compose lyrics for a song written byJust Blaze.[18] This song eventually became "Throwback" and was featured on Usher's Diamond-selling (10× Platinum) albumConfessions.[18][20] Love next toured with Usher where he met and connected with many music industry players.[18] Usher encouraged Love to become a songwriter and requests for Love's compositions began coming from artistsChris Brown,Omarion, andMarques Houston.[17][18] Love currently lives in Miami. He has two children with photographer Robin Thompson known as Robin V; a son, Carys Preston, and a daughter, Believe Beyond.
As a solo recording artist, Love is both a singer and a rapper.[21] Love was asked byUsher to contribute to the soundtrack to the filmIn the Mix.[22] Love contributed "Settle Down", "Sweat" featuring Usher, and "On the Grind" featuringJuelz Santana andPaul Wall.[23] Love recorded a solo album in 2007 titledThe 5th Element which he ultimately decided to focus on his songwriting and not release the recordings.[24] Though Love may not be recording as a solo artist he still contributes his vocals and rhymes to other artists. Love has appeared as a guest artist on songs byFat Joe,[25]Juvenile,[26]Rich Boy,[27]Jamie Foxx,[28]T.I.,[15] and his own artist,Young Chris.[29]
After 8-year hiatus from his solo career and signing his label Division 1 to a distribution deal withInterscope Records, Rico Love would release anextended play entitledDiscrete Luxury, on February 27, 2014, which would be re-released. It charted on theTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums at number 48. The first single from the album, "They Don't Know", it debuted and peaked at number 60 on theBillboard Hot 100 making it Rico Love's highest-charting single as a solo artist. The second single from the album, is entitled "Bitches Be Like". On December 9, 2013, Rico Love released a mixtape entitledEl Presidente.[30][31][32]
On August 27, 2014, Rico Love released a mixtape entitledI Sin.[33][34][35] On December 2, 2014, Rico Love would release the lead single from his debut studio album, entitled "Somebody Else".[36]
On February 18, 2015, Rico Love announced he would be releasing his debut studio album, titledTurn The Lights On, on May 19, 2015.[37] On May 5, 2015, Rico Love would release the second single fromTurn The Lights On entitled "Days Go By".[38] On May 18, 2015, the album was released with production from, among others,Danja,Benny Blanco,Jim Jonsin andRobopop, along with the major record labelInterscope Records.[39][40]
Rico recently supported singerMonica on 'The Code Red Experience Tour'.
Love wrote the song "Throwback" at the request of Usher which was a part of the 2004 tripleGrammy-winning albumConfessions.[17][41] Love also wrote "Seduction" which was a bonus track on theConfessions special edition release.[42] These were the first of several collaborations between the singer and the writer/producer.In September 2007, Rico Love wrote and produced on the Platinum single "Love Like This" by singerNatasha Bedingfield featuringSean Kingston.[43] This song was popular with mainstream audiences reaching No. 11 on theBillboard Hot 100.[43] The song was also a hit in dance clubs, reaching number one on theBillboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[43]
In May 2008, "Energy" was released as the first single byKeri Hilson from her Gold albumIn a Perfect World....[44][45] The song was co-written and co-produced by Love for the Grammy-nominated artist.[44]The song "Labels or Love", co-written and produced by Love and performed byFergie was released in May 2008.[46] The song was featured on the deluxe version of her triple Platinum albumThe Dutchess and also the Gold-selling soundtrack to the filmSex and the City.[12][47] In November 2008, Beyoncé's double Platinum[48] and 5× Grammy-winning albumI Am... Sasha Fierce included four songs featuring Love's songwriting and production.[49] Love wrote and produced on the Platinum single "Sweet Dreams" which reached No. 10 on theBillboard Hot 100.[49] Love's work was also featured on "Scared of Lonely", "Radio", and "Save the Hero".[49]By the end of 2008 in December, another Love co-written and co-produced track was released as a single for the Grammy-nominated artistPleasure P.[50][51] "Boyfriend #2" reached No. 2 on theBillboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[52]Love wrote and produced five songs onMario'sD.N.A. album released in October 2009.[53] The songs included the single "Thinkin' About You" and "Hi", "Ooh Baby", "Soundtrack to My Broken Heart", and "Get Out".[53]
Love wrote and produced on his former mentor Usher'sRaymond v. Raymond album, released in March 2010.[54] The Platinum and Grammy-winning album featured four of Love's compositions including two of the album's singles.[3][55] The Love co-produced and co-written single "There Goes My Baby" was a hit and stayed at number one on theBillboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for four weeks and earned Usher a Grammy for his performance on the song.[3][56] The other single featuring Love's writing and producing was "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" which rose to number two on theBillboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[56] Love's other contributions to the album included the songs "Making Love (Into the Night)" and "So Many Girls".[54]At the end of March 2010 the single "Hello Good Morning" penned by Love forDiddy – Dirty Money was released.[57]Diddy is one of Love's mentors in the industry and he was honored to write for the performer/producer/mogul.[17] The song went on to achieve Gold status and was performed by DDM and Rico Love on season nine ofAmerican Idol.[57][58]Nelly's5.0 album, released in November 2010 contained eight works featuring Love's songwriting and production skills.[59] The first single, "Just a Dream", co-written and co-produced by Love, went Platinum and landed at number three on theBillboard Hot 100.[60][61] Love also worked on the single "Gone" featuringKelly Rowland, a follow-up to the 2002Nelly hit "Dilemma" also featuring Rowland.[62] Love's other work on the album were on the tracks "Broke", "Making Movies", "Don't It Feel Good", "K.I.S.S.", "Nothing Without Her", and "Move That Body".[59]Love wrote, produced, and appeared as an artist onJamie Foxx'sBest Night of My Life album released December 2010.[63] The album's first single "Living Better Now" featuresRick Ross and was co-written and co-produced by Love.[64][65] Love wrote "Freak", which also features his appearance as an artist, and "Sex On the Beach".[64][66][67]Love is managed by Made Communication,Miami,Florida.[7]
He has also written and produced forFergie,Chris Brown,ASAP Rocky,David Guetta,Wiz Khalifa, andMary J. Blige.[68]
In November 2010, Love launched Division 1 which originally partnered withUniversal Motown but later moved the venture toInterscope Records. In 2011, Love signed R&B artistTeairra Marí & rap artistYoung Chris to his label.[69][70] In 2013, Love's label venture signed the artist,Tiara Thomas, to its roster. Love also has a production company of the same name to which he signed producers, Earl Hood, Eric Goudy, and D Town.[17][71][72] In 2014, Rico Love signedTrina to his label.[citation needed]
Love has cited various artists as influences such asUsher (who originally signed Love),Sean "Diddy" Combs,Michael Jackson,Marvin Gaye,R. Kelly,Queen,Smokey Robinson,Elton John, andMiles Davis.[17][18][73]
Love has explained when composing he does not write lyrics down or even spend many hours working on songs.[7] He simply listens to a beat and then sings what comes to him.[18] He was quoted as learning this technique fromJagged Edge.[17][18] Love claims that his technique gives him the ability to write songs very quickly which affords him the opportunity to place more songs on any single album than what most writers could.[17]
rico love usher in the mix.
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