Lil' Mo | |
|---|---|
 Loving in 2023 | |
| Born | Cynthia Karen Loving[1] (1978-11-19)November 19, 1978 (age 47)[2] Long Island,New York, U.S. |
| Other names | |
| Education | E. E. Smith High School |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 5 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels |
|
| Website | thelilmoshow |
Musical artist | |
Cynthia Karen Loving[1] (born November 19, 1978), known professionally asLil' Mo, is an AmericanR&B singer. She is best known for her 2001 single "Superwoman Pt. II" (featuringFabolous), which peaked at number 11 on theBillboard Hot 100 and is credited with launching Fabolous' career.[6] Regarded asMissy Elliott's protégé, Elliott guest appeared on Lil Mo's 1998 debut single "5 Minutes", which was released for theWhy Do Fools Fall in Love film soundtrack. The following year, Lil' Mo appeared alongsideNas,Eve, andQ-Tip on Elliott's 1999 single "Hot Boyz".[7] She guest performed alongsideVita onJa Rule's 2000 singles "Put It on Me", as well as his 2001 single "I Cry", the former of which was nominated forBest Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the44th Annual Grammy Awards.
Mo was born into a military family. Her father, Bishop Jacob D. Loving, and her mother, First-Lady Cynthia Loving Sr.,[8] raised her primarily inLong Island, but moved regularly due to her father's military assignments. The family lived inTexas,Georgia andNorth Carolina before settling inBaltimore. As an adult, Mo moved to New York City'sManhattan borough to pursue her music career.[9]
Mo began her career as a backing vocalist, session musician and songwriter. In early 1998, while submitting demo material toElektra Records forNicole Wray's 1998 debut album,Make It Hot, Mo caught the attention ofMissy Elliott,[10] who helped land her a contract deal with Elektra. On June 29, 1998, Mo released her debut single "5 Minutes" from thesoundtrack for theFrankie Lymon biographical filmWhy Do Fools Fall in Love. The song was planned to appear on Mo's debut album, however when it underperformed in the US, it was pulled from the final track listing. Mo's debut album was originally set to be released in March 1999,[11] however, it was pushed back multiple times during Elektra's attempts to revamp Mo's image and sound.[12]
Mo gained further exposure during this time for her features onOl' Dirty Bastard's cover ofBillie Holiday's "Good Morning Heartache", Missy Elliott's record-breaking single "Hot Boyz", which spent 18 weeks at number one on theHot Rap Singles from December 4, 1999, to March 25, 2000, andJa Rule's single "Put It on Me", which was a hit on both urban and pop radio, and reached number eight on the US pop charts.[13] More collaborations by Ja Rule and Lil' Mo followed, including "I Cry", which repurposedThe O'Jays' 1978 hit "Cry Together".
On April 10, 2000, Mo released "Ta Da", her first solo single. After years of successful collaborations and features, Mo would finally release a successful hit of her own, "Superwoman Pt. II", her second single from her upcoming album. The single was released on March 6, 2001, and peaked at No. 11 on theBillboard Hot 100, helping bring then-underground rapperFabolous to mainstream attention.[13][14] On June 26, 2001, Mo's debut album,Based on a True Story was released to generally favorable reviews. The album peaked at No. 14 on theBillboard 200 and attained a gold certification from theRIAA, making it Mo's successful album to date. In August 2001, Mo released the follow-up single "Gangsta (Love 4 the Streets)", however, it failed to match the success of its predecessor.[13]
While recovering from being assaulted with a champagne bottle after a performance in San Francisco, Mo began her radio career, working as a part-time anchor forBaltimore urban radio stationWERQ-FM.[15] That same year, Mo began preparations for her second album,Meet the Girl Next Door. The album was released on April 29, 2003, preceded by the singles "4Ever" and "Ten Commandments".[16] While Mo promoted the singles on shows such asJimmy Kimmel Live! andSoul Train,[15] she would later criticise Elektra for their lack of support and minimal promotion for the album, which she attributed to being pregnant at the time.[17]
Mo's contract with Elektra expired as the label was absorbed byAtlantic Records, and in July 2004, she signed Universal'sCash Money Records to record her third album, then titledSyndicated: the Lil' Mo Hour.[18][19] The album was scheduled for an early 2005 release, before being pushed back to October, after its four singles (including "Hot Girls" and "Dem Boyz") failed to create any buzz. Following the destruction of Cash Money's New Orleans studio byHurricane Katrina,[20] Mo was dropped from the Cash Money roster andSyndicated was shelved.[20]
Mo began releasing singles as an independent artist under her production company HoneyChild Entertainment, which was first founded by Mo in 2000.[21] On August 28, 2007, Mo released the albumPain & Paper, distributed byKoch Entertainment and DrakeWeb Music Group and selling only 6000 copies.[20] Its singles, "Sumtimes I", featuringJim Jones, and "Lucky Her" failed to chart.
In 2008, Mo signed a two-album deal withGlobal Music Group and began work her fourth album, tentatively titledTattoos & Roses: The Rebellion Against My Pain.[22] The album was initially planned to include a second disc featuring Mo's live performances, however this was eventually scrapped. On May 8, 2011, Mo released the mixtapeP.S. I Love You. On November 1, 2011, Mo releasedP.S. I Love Me in conjunction with Bronx Bridge Entertainment and distributed byFontana Distribution. The album was preceded by the singles "On the Floor", "I Love Me", featuringTweet, and "Take Me Away", featuringMaino.[23][24]
In 2013, Mo became a cast member of the reality television seriesR&B Divas: Los Angeles, which premiered onTV One on July 10, 2013.[25] The season's reunion special garnered a total of 834,000 viewers, tying with the debut of the sitcomThe Rickey Smiley Show as the network's No. 1 telecast among adults 25–54 inTV One history.[26] On September 10, 2013, Lil' Mo released the song "I'm a Diva" viaiTunes.[27] Another non-album single, "L's Up", was released the following week.[28]
On October 28, 2014, Mo released her fifth album,The Scarlet Letter, underPenalthy Entertainment.[29][30] The album was preceded by the single "Should've Never Let You Go", as well as her second mixtapeNo Shit Sherlock, which featured contributions byDa Brat and songwriter Tiyon "TC" Mack.[31] On April 29, 2015,R&B Divas: Los Angeles ended after its third season.
In January 2016, Mo began hosting the WKYS radio showThe Fam in the Morning with DJ Quick Silva. She was fired from the show in February 2017.[32] Later that year, Mo joined the cast ofVH1'sLove & Hip Hop: New York and appeared in an episode ofCouples Court with the Cutlers. She would also appear inWe TV'sMarriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars 12 — Hip Hop Edition.
On October 25, 2018, Mo announced her retirement from the music industry to pursue a career in law.[33]
On June 22, 2001, while being escorted to a limousine, Lil' Mo was assaulted by a male at a San Francisco concert venue.[34][35] She was bludgeoned in the head by the man's champagne bottle and was immediately hospitalized atCalifornia Pacific Medical Center, where she received 20 stitches.[35] The incident traumatized Mo and left her suspicious of the attack, in which she felt it may have been a potential "set up".[34] Mo confirmed toMTV News that she had to cancel many shows and cease a double-music video shoot for her single "Gangsta" so she could recover from the incident.[34] A reward ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 was issued in hopes of catching the assailant.[34] Though the alleged male attacker was never found, local San Francisco police received anonymous tips that the attacker boasted about his actions at aHunters Point housing project near San Francisco, California.[34]
In 2001, Mo met her first husband, Augustus "Gus" Stone, at a Washington, D.C. gas station. After dating for five months, they wed on August 29, 2001. On August 19, 2002, Mo gave birth to her first child, Heaven Love'on Stone. On February 24, 2005, Mo gave birth to the couple's second child, God'Iss Love Stone. In December 2005, she filed for divorce. Their divorce was finalized in August 2007. Through the marriage, she became the stepmother to his son, Jerez Coleman, who in June 2014 appeared as "Kidd Cole" on an episode ofMTV's television seriesCatfish: The TV Show.
On June 22, 2008, Mo marriedGospel recording artist Phillip Bryant. On January 16, 2009, Mo gave birth to her third child, Justin McKenzie Phillip Bryant.[36] On July 10, 2012, Mo gave birth to her fourth child, Jonah Maddox-Phillip Bryant.[37][38][39] The couple separated due to his infidelity[40] and officially divorced on September 15, 2014.[41]
On October 1, 2014, Mo married professional boxerKarl Dargan.[41] On August 28, 2015, Mo gave birth to Karl Sharif Dargan Jr., her fifth child and Karl's third.[42] In 2018, at the reunion special ofLove & Hip Hop: New York, Mo announced that she was expecting her sixth child. Mo admitted on social media that she had suffered a miscarriage a month before the reunion aired.[43] In May 2019, Mo announced that she had left Karl, after he had spat on her in front of their children during an argument.[44] Mo revealed in later interviews that he had been physically abusive throughout their marriage.[45] Their divorce was finalized in April 2021.
In 2003, Mo revealed toVibe magazine that she struggled with aneating disorder since 2000.[46]
In 2019, Mo revealed that she had struggled with an opioid addiction.[47]
Mo was raised in a Christian household; her parents are Holiness preachers. In a 2017 episode ofLove & Hip Hop: New York, Mo revealed that she had converted to Islam three years prior as a result of her marriage to Karl, and is seen praying in hijab.[48]
A feud between Mo and former collaboratorJa Rule embroiled in late 2001, whenMurder Inc. began favoringAshanti over her. In January 2003, while co-hosting106 & Park: Prime, Mo sent a shout-out to50 Cent, just seconds after she premiered aJa Rule video.[46] The incident angered Ja Rule and Murder Inc.[46] Mo had told the press she assumedBET was going to edit out the shout, and did not think the gesture would cause an uproar.[46] Ja Rule released the diss track "Loose Change," which targetedEminem, 50 Cent,Dr. Dre,Chris Lighty and Lil' Mo.[46][49] Rule credited himself as the reason why she had any hits.[49] In May 2003, Mo released a freestyle diss to Ja Rule.[50]
In April 2003, controversy arose regarding payment for Lil' Mo's contributions on "I Cry" and "Put It on Me".[51] In 2005, Lil' Mo filed a lawsuit against Ja Rule, Murder Inc. andDef Jam for over $15 million.[52] In 2010, the two reconciled,[53] and the next year, recorded a track together titled "U & Me".[54][55]
The feud between Lil' Mo and R&B singerKeyshia Cole originated in August 2005 via the radio seriesStar and Buc Wild Morning Show. Mo was reported to have dismissed the vocal talent of a new crop of R&B performers, saying that they relied on dancing. Cole took offense and went to Dream Hotel in New York City, where she encountered Lil' Mo's manager Phil Thornton and a stylist, allegedly stating "You all are traitors. [Lil' Mo] is the enemy.".[56] Lil' Mo shrugged off the incident, saying she was told that Cole was intoxicated at the time,[56] which Cole denied.[57]
In March 2013, Cole was criticized by urban media outlets for her Twitter critique ofBeyoncé's "Bow Down/I Been On".[58][59] This led to Mo and Cole exchanging hostile tweets over the next few days.[60][61] Despite the exchanges, in May 2013, Mo said there was no beef between her and Cole,[62] which led to the two exchanging hostile messages again viaInstagram and Twitter.[63]
Studio albums
| 2013–15 | R&B Divas: Los Angeles | Herself | Main Cast |
| 2014 | Black Dynamite | The Voice | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Love & Hip Hop: New York | Herself | Main Cast |
| 2019 | Marriage Boot Camp | Herself | Main cast |
| 2023 | Power Book II: Ghost | Herself | Episode: "Your Perception, Your Reality" |
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best Rap Video | "Put It on Me" (withJa Rule andVita) | Nominated |
| The Source Awards | Single of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2002 | 44th Grammy Awards | Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | Nominated | |
| ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards | Award-Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | Won[64] | ||
| BMI Urban Music Awards | Songwriter of the Year (shared withIrv Gotti andJa Rule) | Won[65] | ||
| BMI Pop Music Awards | Publishers/Writers of the Year | Won[66] | ||
| BDS Certified Spin Awards | 50,000 Radio Spins | "If I Could Go!" (withSacario andAngie Martinez) | Won | |
| 100,000 Radio Spins | Won[67] | |||
| 2003 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice R&B/Hip Hop Track | "4Ever" | Nominated |
| Choice Rap Track | "Can't Let You Go" (withFabolous and Mike Shorey) | Nominated | ||
| The Source Awards | Best Rap/R&B Collabo | Nominated | ||
| ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards | Award-Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | Won[68] | ||
| Award-Winning Rap Songs | Won[68] | |||
| BDS Certified Spin Awards | 50,000 Radio Spins | Won | ||
| 100,000 Radio Spins | Won | |||
| 200,000 Radio Spins | Won | |||
| 2004 | ASCAP Pop Music Awards | Award-Winning Pop Songs | Won[69] | |
| 2005 | BDS Certified Spin Awards | 100,000 Radio Spins | "Superwoman, Pt. II" | Won |
| International | |
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| Other | |
