Rico Love facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rico Love
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Rico Love in 2010
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard Preston Butler Jr. |
| Born | December 3, 1982 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Origin | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
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| Children | 2 |
Richard Preston Butler Jr. (born December 3, 1982), known by his stage name Rico Love, is an American record producer, singer, songwriter, and rapper. He is famous for helping create hit songs for some of the biggest names in music.
Love was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Harlem, New York City. He attended Florida A&M University. Through his connections in the music world, he began working with the singer Usher. This partnership led to his first major success.
Love's first big songwriting credit was for Usher's 2004 song, "Throwback". The song was on the album Confessions, which won a Grammy Award. He later won more Grammy Awards for his work on Beyoncé's album I Am... Sasha Fierce and Usher's album Raymond v. Raymond.
He has written many popular R&B songs. These include Usher's "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)", Nelly's "Just a Dream", and Beyoncé's "Sweet Dreams". He has also worked with artists like Kelly Rowland, Mario, and Chris Brown.
As an artist himself, Love has released his own albums, including TTLO and Even Kings Die. He also started his own record label, Division1, in 2010.
Contents
From Poetry to Music
Rico Love was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His parents divorced when he was young, so he split his time between two cities. He lived with his mother in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and with his father in Harlem, New York City.
His mother encouraged him to write poetry as a child. He joined the African American Children's Theater, where he acted and recited poems. He was already writing his own poems before he discovered rap music in his early teens. After high school, he decided to pursue a career in rap while also going to college.
While attending Florida A&M University, Love participated in many rap battles and talent shows. On weekends, he traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to be part of its busy music scene. There, he met the group Jagged Edge, who influenced his songwriting.
Love eventually left college and moved in with some Atlanta music producers. This gave him the chance to rap on a remix for Usher. Usher was impressed with his work and signed him to a record deal. Usher asked Love to write lyrics for a song, which became "Throwback" on the hit album Confessions. This was the start of a successful career in songwriting.
Music Career
Working as a Solo Artist
As a recording artist, Rico Love is both a singer and a rapper. He was asked by Usher to contribute to the soundtrack for the movie In the Mix. He recorded a few songs for it, including "Sweat," which featured Usher.
In 2007, Love recorded a solo album but decided to focus on songwriting instead of releasing it. Even though he wasn't releasing his own albums at the time, he still appeared as a guest artist on songs by Fat Joe, Jamie Foxx, and T.I..
After an 8-year break from his solo career, Love released an extended play (EP) called Discrete Luxury in 2014. The first single, "They Don't Know," became his most successful solo song, reaching number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 2015, he released his first full studio album, Turn The Lights On. The album featured production from well-known producers like Danja and Benny Blanco.
Writing and Producing for Stars
Rico Love is one of the most successful songwriters and producers in modern R&B and hip hop. A record producer helps artists create their music, from the sound and instruments to the final recording.
Major Hits and Collaborations
- Natasha Bedingfield (2007): Love co-wrote and co-produced the hit single "Love Like This". The song was a huge success, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Fergie (2008): He co-wrote and produced the song "Labels or Love". It was featured on her album The Dutchess and on the soundtrack for the movie ... and the City.
- Beyoncé (2008): Love worked on her Grammy-winning album I Am... Sasha Fierce. He co-wrote and produced the hit single "Sweet Dreams", which reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Pleasure P (2008): He co-wrote and co-produced the single "Boyfriend #2". The song was a major R&B hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
- Usher (2010): Love worked on Usher's Grammy-winning album Raymond v. Raymond. He co-wrote and co-produced the single "There Goes My Baby", which won a Grammy Award. He also worked on the hit "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)".
- Nelly (2010): Love was a key part of Nelly's album 5.0. He co-wrote and co-produced the triple-platinum single "Just a Dream". He also worked on the single "Gone", which featured Kelly Rowland.
Love has also written and produced for many other famous artists. These include Chris Brown, David Guetta, Wiz Khalifa, and Mary J. Blige.
Starting a Record Label
In 2010, Rico Love started his own record label called Division 1. A record label is a company that helps artists record and sell their music. His label first partnered with Universal Motown and later with Interscope Records.
Through Division 1, Love has signed several artists. These include R&B singer Teairra Marí, rapper Young Chris, and singer-songwriter Tiara Thomas. He also has a production company with the same name.
Musical Style
Rico Love has been influenced by many great artists. These include Usher, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, and Queen.
When writing songs, Love has a unique method. He doesn't write lyrics down on paper. Instead, he listens to a beat and sings whatever melody and words come to his mind. He says this technique allows him to write songs very quickly.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Turn the Lights On (2015)
- Even Kings Die (2018)
- Rico Love Presents: Emerging Women of R&B (2020)
- EPs
- Discrete Luxury (2013)
- Singles
- "They Don't Know" (2013)
- "`...` Be Like" (2014)
- "Somebody Else" (2015)
Awards and Nominations
- 2005: Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album for Usher's Confessions.
- 2009: Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year for Beyoncé's I Am... Sasha Fierce.
- 2011: Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for Usher's "There Goes My Baby".
- He has also won awards from Billboard magazine as a top songwriter and producer.
