Super Mario's On His Game!; Second Single "Braid My Hair" Heads Out as Album Certified Gold by RIAA

Business Wire, Sept 24, 2002

Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2002

R&B sensation Mario spent the summer breaking the rules and changing the game.

While his first single "Just A Friend 2002 " has stood firm as a top 10 single since hitting the airwaves, the young superstar unleashes another red-hot soul-stirring single from his debut album which went Gold after only being released July 23rd.

"Braid My Hair", a soulful smash hit - which is now at radio everywhere - has been confirmed this week as the most added at Rhythm/Crossover and Urban! Phone lines are going crazy early as the guaranteed hit is coming up as a top 5 requested single at stations across the country. Hungry listeners are insisting on this one - the audience went from 6 to 11 million before the official impact date! The single, a soulful yet sturdy ballad, seized 21 early adds at major stations across the board including KJLH in Los Angeles, WEDR in Miami, and WJLB in Detroit. "Instant phones from ALL DEMOS...You gotta play this one!!!" raves Skip Cheatham, PD KKDA Dallas. The single is exploding into homes everywhere. The requests are pouring in leaving it at #1 overall at WGCI Chicago and #3 overall at WKYS Washington DC.

The "Braid My Hair" video was recently shot in Los Angles. Behind the lens was director Bryan Barber whose credits include video direction for Outkast, Jagged Edge, Truth Hurts, and Cam'ron. The video, which is destined to win at both BET and MTV, depicts the trials of a superstar having to balance the bonuses of celebrity with the stresses that it can bring. "Traveling on the road, doing these shows...sometimes I just want to go home and tell my girl to braid my hair..." belts out the young crooner.

Mario is fast becoming one of today's brightest starts. His self-titled debut album was recently certified Gold by the RIAA. The album debuted at #9 on the Billboard top ten - grabbing rave reviews from Rolling Stone Billboard and People Magazines. The Los Angeles Times speaks - "On his debut Mario glimmers...recalling the more innocent days of Michael Jackson or Prince at his most sweet-talking." People Magazine raves "...Mario's jazzy, soulful delivery displays a vocal maturity beyond his years". HITS Magazine declares "He sings and dances and just exudes stardom!" Steve Jones of USA Today writes "Mario has a mature-for-his-age voice that sets him a part from the pack...he's only scratching the surface of what he has to offer." Print is not alone in loving him - the young heart-throb had a busy summer taking TV by storm performing on Regis and Kelly, the CBS Early Show, Good Day New York and the US Open at the Arthur Ashe Kid's Day Celebration.

Winter tour talks are beginning for the young star. After, regretfully, having to pass on the Scream 2 Tour featuring Lil' Bow Wow due to his busy working schedule, Mario is excited about connecting with his fans. "I'm excited about my first experience on tour. I just want to have fun doin' my own thing," says Mario. In the meantime, he continues to travel the country promoting his album picking up more and more die-hard fans along the way.