Lil' Mo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lil' Mo
Loving in 2023
Born	Cynthia Karen Loving (1978-11-19) November 19, 1978 (age 46) Long Island, New York, U.S.
Other names	Godmother Girl Next Door Queen of Shade
Education	E. E. Smith High School
Occupation	Singer songwriter radio personality actress
Years active	1998–present
Spouse(s)	Gus Stone ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2007)​ Phillip Bryant ​ ​ (m. 2008; div. 2014)​ Karl Dargan ​ ​ (m. 2014; div. 2021)​
Children	5
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Origin	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Genres	R&B
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Penalty Astra HoneyChild Ent Krian Bronx Bridge Global Music Koch Roun'table Cash Money Universal Violator EastWest Elektra

Cynthia Karen Loving (born November 19, 1978), known as Lil' Mo, is an American singer and songwriter. She is famous for her 2001 song "Superwoman Pt. II" (with Fabolous). This song reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart. It also helped Fabolous become a well-known artist.

Lil' Mo was helped by the famous artist Missy Elliott. Missy Elliott appeared on Lil' Mo's first song, "5 Minutes", in 1998. This song was part of the movie soundtrack for Why Do Fools Fall in Love. The next year, Lil' Mo sang with Nas, Eve, and Q-Tip on Missy Elliott's song "Hot Boyz". She also performed with Vita on Ja Rule's songs "Put It on Me" (2000) and "I Cry" (2001). "Put It on Me" was even nominated for a Grammy Award.

Early Life and Family Moves

Lil' Mo grew up in a military family. Her father, Bishop Jacob D. Loving, and her mother, Cynthia Loving Sr., raised her. They lived mostly in Long Island, New York. But they moved often because of her father's military jobs.

The family lived in Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina. They finally settled in Baltimore, Maryland. When Mo became an adult, she moved to Manhattan, New York City. She went there to start her music career.

Music Career Journey

Starting Out in Music (1996–2000)

Lil' Mo began her career singing backup for other artists. She also worked as a songwriter. In 1998, she sent some of her sample songs to Elektra Records. She was trying to get a deal for another singer, Nicole Wray. But Missy Elliott noticed Lil' Mo's talent instead. Missy Elliott helped her get a record deal with Elektra.

On June 29, 1998, Lil' Mo released her first song, "5 Minutes". It was from the movie Why Do Fools Fall in Love. The song was supposed to be on her first album. But it did not do well enough, so it was removed. Her first album was planned for March 1999. However, it was delayed many times. Elektra Records tried to change Lil' Mo's image and sound.

During this time, Lil' Mo became more known. She sang on Russell Tyrone Jones's cover of "Good Morning Heartache". She also featured on Missy Elliott's popular song "Hot Boyz". This song was number one on the Hot Rap Singles chart for 18 weeks. She also sang on Ja Rule's hit song "Put It on Me". This song was popular on both urban and pop radio. More songs with Ja Rule followed, like "I Cry".

Big Success with Based on a True Story (2001)

On April 10, 2000, Lil' Mo released "Ta Da", her first solo song. After many successful collaborations, she finally had her own big hit. This was "Superwoman Pt. II", the second song from her upcoming album. It came out on March 6, 2001. The song reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also helped the rapper Fabolous become famous.

On June 26, 2001, Lil' Mo's first album, Based on a True Story, was released. Critics generally liked the album. It reached number 14 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album also earned a gold certification from the RIAA. This means it sold over 500,000 copies. It is Lil' Mo's most successful album so far. In August 2001, she released "Gangsta (Love 4 the Streets)". But this song was not as successful as "Superwoman Pt. II".

New Album and Challenges (2002–2005)

After an incident where she was hurt, Lil' Mo started a radio career. She worked part-time at a radio station in Baltimore. In the same year, she began working on her second album, Meet the Girl Next Door. The album was released on April 29, 2003. Before that, she released the songs "4Ever" and "Ten Commandments". Lil' Mo promoted these songs on TV shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Soul Train. However, she later said that Elektra Records did not support the album enough. She felt this was because she was pregnant at the time.

Lil' Mo's contract with Elektra ended when the label joined Atlantic Records. In July 2004, she signed with Cash Money Records. She planned to record her third album, called Syndicated: the Lil' Mo Hour. The album was supposed to come out in early 2005, then later in October. But Hurricane Katrina destroyed Cash Money's studio in New Orleans. After this, Lil' Mo was no longer with Cash Money Records, and her album was not released.

Independent Music and Later Albums (2006–2012)

Lil' Mo started releasing music on her own. She used her company, HoneyChild Entertainment, which she started in 2000. On August 28, 2007, she released the album Pain & Paper. It sold about 6,000 copies. The songs "Sumtimes I" (with Jim Jones) and "Lucky Her" did not appear on music charts.

In 2008, Lil' Mo signed a deal for two albums with Global Music Group. She began working on her fourth album, Tattoos & Roses: The Rebellion Against My Pain. It was planned to have a second disc with live performances, but this idea was later dropped. On May 8, 2011, Lil' Mo released a mixtape called P.S. I Love You. On November 1, 2011, she released P.S. I Love Me. This album included the songs "On the Floor", "I Love Me" (with Tweet), and "Take Me Away" (with Maino).

Television Appearances and Later Career (2013–Present)

In 2013, Lil' Mo joined the TV show R&B Divas: Los Angeles. It started on TV One on July 10, 2013. The show's reunion special had many viewers. On September 10, 2013, Lil' Mo released the song "I'm a Diva". Another song, "L's Up", came out the next week.

On October 28, 2014, Lil' Mo released her fifth album, The Scarlet Letter. It was released under Penalty Entertainment. The song "Should've Never Let You Go" came out before the album. The show R&B Divas: Los Angeles ended after its third season on April 29, 2015.

In January 2016, Lil' Mo started hosting a radio show called The Fam in the Morning. She was fired from the show in February 2017. Later that year, Lil' Mo joined the TV show Love & Hip Hop: New York. She also appeared on Couples Court with the Cutlers and Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars — Hip Hop Edition.

On October 25, 2018, Lil' Mo announced she was leaving the music industry. She said she wanted to work in law.

Personal Life and Family

Marriages and Children

In 2001, Lil' Mo met her first husband, Augustus "Gus" Stone. They got married on August 29, 2001. On August 19, 2002, Lil' Mo gave birth to her first child, Heaven Love'on Stone. On February 24, 2005, she had their second child, God'Iss Love Stone. She filed for divorce in December 2005, and it was final in August 2007. She also became a stepmother to Gus's son, Jerez Coleman.

On June 22, 2008, Lil' Mo married Gospel singer Phillip Bryant. On January 16, 2009, she gave birth to her third child, Justin McKenzie Phillip Bryant. On July 10, 2012, she had her fourth child, Jonah Maddox-Phillip Bryant. The couple separated and divorced on September 15, 2014.

On October 1, 2014, Lil' Mo married professional boxer Karl Dargan. On August 28, 2015, she gave birth to Karl Sharif Dargan Jr., her fifth child. In 2018, Lil' Mo announced she was expecting her sixth child. However, she later shared that she had a miscarriage. In May 2019, Lil' Mo announced she had left Karl. Their divorce was final in April 2021.

Personal Challenges and Faith

In 2003, Lil' Mo shared that she had struggled with an eating disorder since 2000.

Lil' Mo was raised in a Christian home. Her parents are Holiness preachers. In a 2017 episode of Love & Hip Hop: New York, Lil' Mo said she had become a Muslim three years earlier. This was because of her marriage to Karl. She was shown praying while wearing a hijab.

Music Albums

Studio Albums

• Based on a True Story (2001)
• Meet the Girl Next Door (2003)
• Pain & Paper (2007)
• P.S. I Love Me (2011)
• The Scarlet Letter (2014)

Tours and Performances

• Lilith Fair (with Missy Elliott) (1998)
• Missy Elliott: Live in Hamburg/Germany (1998–1999)
• Sprite Simon Dtour Live (with 3LW) (2003)
• Rock the Mic Tour (with Jay-Z and 50 Cent) (2003)
• Seagram's Gin Live Tour (with Xscape) (2005)

Television Shows

Awards and Nominations