At 21, Mario is already an old pro on the R&B scene. He released his debut album at the ripe old age of 16 and scored his first #1 hit ("Let Me Love You") when he was 18. He's dabbled in acting with roles in Step Up and Freedom Writers and confronted his personal demons head-on in the MTV documentary I Won't Love You to Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom, which chronicled his mother's addiction to heroin.
With his third album, Go, coming out in a couple weeks, we sat down with Mario when he stopped by the TRL studio Monday for Spankin' New Lyrics Week and chatted about his album, his mother's struggle with sobriety and the top secret movie he's working on.
Buzzworthy: Let's talk about your new album, Go…
Mario: This is my best album yet; my most introspective album yet; my most sexiest album yet. I don't care who you are or what age you are, you're definitely going to enjoy it.
BW: Would you say it's more grown up?
Mario: It's me. I feel like I've grown a lot, both in my music and as a person.
BW: In the spirit of Spankin' New Lyrics Week, what song is your favorite lyrically?
Mario: I would say "Music for Love" because music is the metaphor for love, and that song is just really creatively written. Sonically it sounds great and I think I push myself vocally.
BW: Was it hard to record "Do Right," which is about your relationship with your mother?
Mario: It was definitely a very emotional time during those two days I spent recording that song because it was so personal. I didn't want anyone in [the studio]; I just wanted to get my own vibe.
BW: You have been very open about your mother's addiction, especially in I Won't Love You to Death. Why did you decide it was time to open up?
Mario: Her addiction has really affected me as an adult, more than it did when I was younger because now I realize how serious it is. I want my fans to know why I do or say certain things 'cause I don't feel like I'm one of those artists that's here for right now; I'm gonna be here for a long time. My mother's been very open about it, too. She wanted to do it because she knew she was getting herself together. She felt like there was a lot being said about her in the media and this kind of put everything in perspective.
BW: Is she clean and sober?
Mario: Yes, she's been sober for probably five months. It's a blessing, but it's a lifelong battle for addicts. But I think that with the decisions that she's made, she's already made a huge leap into the future and her success.
BW: As an artist, it was very brave of you to put it all out there for the world to see…
Mario: Fearless. I think fearless is the right term. People go through this s--- every day; you just don't hear artists talk about it because they feel like it's going to ruin them. But it's what makes you who you are. It is what it is.
BW: Do you have any advice for kids that are caught in the same situation?
Mario: Get counseling. Their loved one and them, they need to get counseling. Without counseling, I don't think me and my mother could have gotten our relationship back together. Now we have a great relationship.
BW: Are you working on any upcoming movies?
Mario: I've got a project that's pending but it's top secret so I can't really talk about it.
BW: Oh, come on. Can you give us a hint?
Mario: I can say this … it has something to do with dragons and the last letter of the alphabet and there's a lot of fans out there.
BW: Dragon Ball Z?
Mario: I'm not saying nothin'!
Thanks, Mario, you made that totally easy. But until he's 100% ready to come clean, watch "Crying Out for Me" and tell us which Dragon Ball Z character you think he should play.
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