Mario (album)

Mario
Studio album by Mario
Released	March 19, 2002
Recorded	July 2000 - January 2002
Genre	R&B Hip-Hop
Length	42:94
Label	J
Producer	Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Kelly "Krucial Keys" Brothers, Alicia Keys, Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell, The Underdogs, Gerald Issac, Amir Salaam, Kevin "KL" Lewis
Professional reviews
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Mario chronology
Mario (2002) Turning Point (2004) Singles from Mario "Just A Friend" Released: May 4, 2002 "Braid My Hair" Released: November 7, 2001 "C'mon" Released: January 9, 2002

Mario is a the debut album by singer Mario, released on March 19, 2002 when he was still 15 years old. It features hits "Just a Friend 2002," "Braid My Hair" and "C'mon". The album sold over 96,000 copies in the first week and was eventually certified Gold, selling over 596,000 copies^[1]. In 2006 a single called "Just a Friend [Old School Version]" was released in Japan.

Critical response

Dan LeRoy from Allmusic states the album "offers doses of the real thing; its combination of Nickelodeon-style charm and authentic substance are reminiscent of nothing so much as a young Michael Jackson, with none of the creepy subtext. While it misses out on the humor of the original, the cover of Biz Markie's "Just a Friend" proves a shrewd update of the unwillingly platonic classic, and serves as a gateway to better originals, including a few slow numbers most teens have neither the chutzpah to try or the chops to handle. "Chick Wit' da Braids" and the swirling, organ-laced "Never" lead that pack, and the second song about cornrows, "Braid My Hair," manages to evoke the downside of being a child star without sounding like an ungrateful punk. Naturally, you have to excuse a certain amount of filler to believe fully in Mario's potential, but most of these 11 tracks offer generous hints of it".^[2]

Promotion

2002-03 Pandemonium/Scream Tour 3 with Bow Wow, R.O.C., Denim, Nick Cannon, Marques Houston and B2K As a opening act^[3]

Singles

The debut single, "Just a Friend 2002", which is a cover of Biz Markie's hit "Just a Friend", was an instant hit. It outperformed the original song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart peaking at number 4, in Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs the song reached number 2, becoming the second most successful single in the U.S. by Mario. In the UK it reached number 18. Braid My Hair was the second single by Mario. In comparison with the debut single it was a disappointment, reaching only 74 on Billboard Hot 100 and 18 at Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The third and final single "C'mon" peaked 61 at Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and 21 in the UK.

Track listing

No.	Title	Composer(s)	Length
1.	"Just a Friend 2002"	Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell, Harold Lilly, John Smith & Biz Markie	3:36
2.	"C'mon"	Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell, Luther Campbell, David Hobbs, Chris Wong Won, Mark Ross	3:24
3.	"Braid My Hair"	Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell & Harold Lilly	4:07
4.	"2 Train"	Kerry "Krucial Keys" Brothers, Paul "L" Green & Alicia Keys	4:03
5.	"What Your Name Is"	The Underdogs, Damon Thomas, Harvey Mason, Jr. & Mario	5:57
6.	"Holla Back"	The Underdogs, Mischke, Steve Russel, Damon thomas, Harvey Mason, Jr.	3:38
7.	"Could U Be"	The Underdogs, Mischke, Steve Russell, Damon Thomas, Harvey Mason, Jr.	4:07
8.	"Put Me On"	Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, Bertram Reid, W.Cunningham, N. Durham, Ronald Miller & Alicia Keys	3:39
9.	"Chick Wit da Braids"	Gerald Isac	3:50
10.	"Never"	Gerald Isac	3:59
11.	"Girl in the Picture"	Anthony Akiens, Mario, Kevin "KL" Lewis & Daniel Mickens	4:35

Japanese Bonus Track
No.	Title	Length
12.	"Just a Friend" (Old School Version) (Japanese Bonus Track)

Personal and credits

Vocals: Mario Mixing: Manny Marroquin, Tony Maserati, Ben Arondale, Tony Black & Jon Gass Arranger: Mischke Vocals (Background): Mischke, Alicia Keys & Mario Vocal Producer: Mischke Guitar: John Jubu Smith Bass: Neil Stubenhaus Engineer: Layout Jan Fairchild, Dave Russell, Thor Laewe, Jeff Allen & Tony Black Guitar: Xavier Marquez Pro-Tools: Erik Steinert

Executive Producer: Troy Patterson, Peter Edge & Clive Davis A&R: Ronald B. Gillyard, Larry Jackson Photography: Michael Lavine Photo Production: Chris LeBeau Cover: Gregory Burke Stylist: June Ambrose Production Coordination: Jolie Levine-Aller Project Coordenation: Sandra Campbell Multi Instruments: Warryn Campbell & Alicia Keys

Charts

Chart (2002)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200	9
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	3

Release history

Region	Date	Label
United States	July 23, 2002	J
Japan	July 28, 2006	BMG Japan

References

1. ^ "Hot Product". http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000731827. 
2. ^ "Mario - Mario review". http://www.allmusic.com/album/r595159. 
3. ^ Shaheem Reid (14 October, 2002). "Mario Tour with Bow Wow". http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458119/20021014/bow_wow.jhtml. 

External links

• Mario Japan Bonus Track
• Mario (CD) By: Mario (Artist)