Rico Love 4413025 226023600 2008-07-16T14:12:15Z 70.146.65.172 /* Other notabilities */ {{Refimprove|date=July 2007}} {{Infobox musical artist |Name = Rico Love |Img = Superstar Music.JPG |Img_capt = Rico on the cover of ''Superstar Music'' mixtape w/ [[Don Cannon]] |Img_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels --> |Background = solo_singer |Birth_name = Richard Butler, Jr. |Alias = The President of the United State of Milwaukee |Born = December 3, 1982 |Died = |Origin = [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]] |Instrument = |Genre = [[Rap|hip hop]], [[Midwest Rap]], [[Pop-rap]] |Occupation = [[rapper]], songwriter |Years_active = 2003 - present |Label = [[Division 1 Records|Division 1]]/[[Crownworld Entertainment|Crownworld Ent.]]/[[US Records|US Records]]/[[J Records|J Records]]/The Union Party |Associated_acts = [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]]<br>[[One Chance]]<br>[[CornaBoyz]]<br>[[Mase]]<br>[[Hell's Angels (rap group)|Hell's Angels]]<br>[[Le'Che Martin]]<br>[[Scottie Knoxx]]<br>[[B. Rossi aka Ay-Wun]]<br>[[Juelz Santana]] |URL = [http://www.ricoloveonline.com www.ricoloveonline.com] |Current_members = |Past_members = }} '''Rico Love''' (born '''Richard Butler, Jr.''' on [[December 3]], [[1982]] in [[New Orleans, Louisiana]]) is an American [[rapper]] and [[songwriter]]. ==Biography== Rico was born in New Orleans, but when his parents divorced he split his time between [[Milwaukee]] and [[Harlem]]. He enrolled at the legendary [[African-American Childrens Theater]] at 10, but soon left to become part of the hip-hop circuit, where he won many various rap battles & talent shows. Later on he went to college at [[Florida A&M University]] in [[Tallahassee, Florida]]. In Milwaukee, he attended Believer's In Christ Christian Training Academy, which allowed for him to express his musical talents. After graduating, he moved to [[Atlanta]] to pursue a career as a rap artist. While there, he opened at a concert for [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]], leading to him becoming the first artist signed to Usher's label, [[US Records|US Records]], a subsidiary of [[J Records]].<ref>[http://www.emimusicpub.com/worldwide/artist_profile/rico-love_profile.html Artist Profile - Rico Love<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===Division 1 Records=== Rico manages his own independent record label, [[Division 1 Records]], based in Milwaukee. Artists on the label include [[R&B]] singer [[Le'Che Martin]] (who was on [[MTV]]'s [[Making the Band|Making tha Band 3]]) and rappers [[Scottie Knoxx]], [[B. Rossi]] aka ([[Ay-Wun]]), [[RayNitti]], [[Killa Khalid]], and [[Kashus]]. ===Other notabilities=== * Protege of rapper [[Mase]]. * Rico is also a songwriter, writing hits such as Usher's "Throwback," and Marques Houston's "All Because of You." In fact, [[VIBE]] magazine hails him as the second-best songwriter in R&B, behind only [[Ne-Yo]].{{Fact|date=July 2007}} * Despite having lived in five different cities in his lifetime (and currently living in [[Lithonia, Georgia]]), Rico considers Milwaukee his hometown.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} * Often mentions in his raps that he has never sold any drugs, but still makes very much money and gets a lot of women. (His track, "Money Right", dissed the drug-rap culture, citing its negative influence on today's youth, and could be interpreted as a shot at [[Young Jeezy]], [[Rick Ross (rapper)|Rick Ross]], and/or several others.) * Currently on hiatus from active rapping; part of songwriting/production team [[Runawayz]] with [[Ryan Tedder]] (of [[OneRepublic]]), [[Sam Watters]] (formerly of [[Color Me Badd]]), [[Wayne Wilkins]], and [[Louis Biancaniello]]. *He is also currently finishing work on a few singles for [[Ciara]]'s new album "[[Fantasy Ride]]", including one titled "Click, Flash". Her album is set for release in November. ==Songwriting credits== * "Throwback" by Usher (feat. [[Jadakiss]]) * "[[All Because of You (Marques Houston song)|All Because Of You]]" by [[Marques Houston]] (feat. [[Young Rome]]) * "I Wasn't Ready" by Marques Houston * "I Wish" by [[Omarion]] later done by [[Danity Kane]] * "I'm Gone Change" by Omarion * "U Got Me" by [[B5 (band)|B5]] (feat. [[Sean Combs|P. Diddy]]) * "I Bet" by [[TLC (music)|TLC]] (was the song [[Rozonda Thomas|Chilli]] and [[T-Boz]] performed with [[O'so Krispie]], the winner of their UPN reality show [[R U the Girl]], and made the album [[Now and Forever: The Hits]]) * "Seen the Light" by [[Chris Brown (singer)|Chris Brown]] (feat. Rico Love) * "U Make Me Say" by [[Q]] originally recorded by [[Donell Jones]] * "Baby it's You" by [[Donell Jones]] * "You Didn't Love Me" by [[Donell Jones]] * "Silly of Me" by [[Donell Jones]] * "Want It From Me" by Danity Kane * "Could This Be Love" by [[One Chance]] * "Everything You Need" by [[Nephu]] * "Smile" by [[Lea (singer)|Lea]] * "Read My Mind" by Lea * "Love Me Like You Used To" by [[Megan Rochell]] * "Let It Go" by [[Tenesha]] * "All I Can Say" by [[Tank (singer)|Tank now by L2]] * "I Wish You Loved Me" by [[Tynisha Keli]] * "[[Love Like This]]" by [[Natasha Bedingfield]] (feat. [[Sean Kingston]]) * "Beautiful Nitemare" by [[Beyonce]] * "Hello Heartbreak" by [[Michelle Williams]] * "Click, Flash" by [[Ciara]] * "Energy" by [[Keri Hilson]] * "The Greatest" by [[Michelle Williams]] ''Note: Since August of 2007, several demos of songs Rico wrote for other artists have leaked via file-sharing sites and urban music blogs. This happened without Rico's permission, and in numerous cases, the songs were obviously written for female artists. Here is a list of such demos-should you spot them on any streaming sites, report them to site management immediately!'' *"So Beautiful" (written for [[Tynisha Keli]], produced by [[Timbaland]]) *"Body Talk" *"Still In My Heart" *"Get Away" <small>(with Aaron; an unrelated Rico Love collabo with [[Le'Che Martin]] and produced by [[Rich Harrison]] with the same name is legitimate)</small> *"Slow Down" *"LA Girls" *"Driving Like A Bitch" *"Killa" *"Human Nature" <small>(with K. Smith)</small> *"Watch Me Go <small>(with Yui)</small> *"As Good" <small>(demo for Usher)</small> *"Fight For Love" *"Wanna Know" *"Bad Ass" == Discography == === Albums === * ''[[The 5th Element (album)|The 5th Element]]'' ยท (scheduled to be released summer 2008)'' === Singles === ''from soundtrack to [[In the Mix (film)|In the Mix]] ([[2005]])'' * "Settle Down" * "Sweat (Feat. [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]]) * "On the Grind" feat. [[Paul Wall]] and [[Juelz Santana]] ''from '''The 5th Element''' '' ([[2007]]) * "I'm a Pimp" (Feat. [[Bo Hagon]] & [[Jody Breeze]]) * "Don't Stop" * "What You Sayin'" (Feat. [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]]) * "Catch My Breath" * "Best in the World" * "Money Right" * "It's OK" * "Bang Out" feat. [[Rock City]] *"Bad ass" [2oo8] ''Album appearances'': * "Break 'Em Off for Life" ([[Bone Crusher]] feat. [[Hezo]], [[Dano]], [[Jack Frost (rapper)|Jack Frost]], & Rico Love) from [[AttenCHUN!]] - [[2003]] * "Gotta Getcha (Remix)" ([[Jermaine Dupri]] feat. Rico Love and Usher) from [[Young, Fly & Flashy, Vol. 1]] - [[2005]] * "I'm So" ([[Le'Che Martin]] feat. Rico Love) from [[Let's (album)|Let's]] - [[2006]] * "Get Away" (Le'Che Martin feat. Rico Love) from ''Let's'' - [[2006]] * "That's Me" ([[Omarion]] feat. Rico Love) from [[21 (Omarion album)|21]] (digital bonus download) - [[2006]] * "Look At Her" (remix) ([[One Chance]] feat. Rico Love and [[Fabo]]) - [[2007]] * "Take a Chance" (One Chance feat. Rico Love) from ''Private'' - [[2007]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.ricoloveonline.com Rico Love Online] [[Category:African American musicians]] [[Category:American rappers]] [[Category:American songwriters]] [[Category:People from Milwaukee, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Musicians of New Orleans]] [[Category:1982 births]] [[Category:Living people]]