Discography

DEBUT ALBUM -: Released In USA -:- SELF TITLED ALBUM MARIO

Album Review

Personnel includes: Mario (vocals); Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell (various instruments); John "Jubu" Smith, Arty White, Xavier Marquez (guitar); Deon Kipping, Andre Boophe (keyboards); Rufus Jackson, Neil Stubenhaus (bass); Alicia Keys, Lil' Steve Russell, Mischke (background vocals).

Producers include: Warryn Campbell, Gerald Isaac, Alicia Keys, Damon Thomas, Harvey Mason Jr.

Recorded at Record Plant and Underlab Studios, Los Angeles, California, Quad Recording, Krucialkeys Studios, The Hit Factory New York, New York.

The front cover of young R&B upstart Mario's self-titled debut album tells a great deal of the story; the youngster doesn't look old enough to shave, but he's sporting that peach-fuzz moustache for all it's worth. Along those lines, these tracks find the youthful innocence of Mario's pliant voice stepping up to take on adult subjects amid some positively grown-up-sounding arrangements. Overseen in part by the seemingly indefatigable Clive Davis for his own hit-spinning J Records, the album boasts danceable, hook-laden production fully supporting Mario's engaging vocal style. While opening the album with a new, smoothed-out version of Biz Markie's quirky classic "Just a Friend" may be a questionable move, there's no doubting the chart-worthiness of MARIO as a whole.

Second Album -: Released In USA -:- Turning Point

Mario – Turning Point

 Remember back in High School, when you were day dreaming of what you wanted to become? What if what you wanted to aspire to be, is what you already are?

That’s the reality for Mario who was born and raised in Baltimore. He was only 15 when he released his single ‘Just a Friend 2002’ which peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts. In July of the same year he released his first self titled debut album with contributions by Alicia Keys, which reached No. 3 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and has sold nearly 596,000 copies in the United States.

Now that child’s play is over for 18 year old Mario, he is back with a different image a matured voice and of course a mature Mario. His second debut album ‘Turning Point’ is not only a more soothing album but it shows changes in his voice and most importantly the topics. “I'm talking about how she broke my heart and hurt me” as said by Mario about the track ‘How Could You.’ He’s 18 and has been through some things in his life as far as relationships and just life in general so it’s only natural that you’re going to hear that.

With tracks on the album produced by Scott Storch (‘Lean Back’), Lil Jon (‘Yeah!’), the Underdogs and Harold Lilly. The latter of who has worked with Mario's J label mates Luther Vandross and Monica and many co-written by Mario himself.

The first single released ‘Let Me Love You’ has already hit No.3 on the Billboard charts. ‘Let Me Love You’ has all the makings of a gigantic urban hit. It's by far the best song Mario has yet recorded it’s the sort of slow-dance song that endures over the years always bringing back treasured memories of tender love whether fulfilled or disallowed, as either sort befits the song's sense of longing for love. The other immediate highlight is ‘Boom’ which is very similar to Usher’s ‘Yeah’, which boasts Lil Jon’s trademark production and has guest vocals by Juvenile that makes this track a catchy dance theme.

Other guest vocals are Cassidy whom features on the track ‘18’, ‘Girl I Need’ features Cham and there’s an album-closing remix of ‘Let Me Love You’ which aims for the streets featuring Jadakiss and T.I with a much edgier and infectious beat.

Mario's talent is original and somewhat unappreciated. The beats and the topics have matured and you can tell he's no longer the young boy who only wanted to get his hair braided. Above all, it’s ‘Let Me Love You’ and its remix, ‘How Could You’ and ‘Boom’ that make Turning Point a noteworthy effort for this 18 year old and a fine second album overall.