Lil' Mo

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Lil' Mo
Loving performing in 2005
Born
Cynthia Karen Loving[1]

(1978-11-19) November 19, 1978 (age 45)[2]
Long Island, New York, U.S.
Other names
  • Godmother
  • Girl Next Door[3][4]
  • Queen of Shade[5]
EducationE. E. Smith High School
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • television personality
  • radio personality
  • actress
Years active1998–present
Spouses
Gus Stone
​
​
(m. 2001; div. 2007)​
Phillip Bryant
​
​
(m. 2008; div. 2014)​
​
​
(m. 2014; div. 2021)​
Children5
Awards
EastWest
  • Elektra
    • Websitewww.thelilmoshow.com

    Cynthia Karen Loving

    Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
    .

    Early life

    Mo was born into a military family. Her father, Bishop Jacob D. Loving, and her mother, First-Lady Cynthia Loving Sr.,[8] raised her primarily in Long Island, but moved regularly due to her father's military assignments. The family lived in Texas, Georgia and North Carolina before settling in Baltimore. As an adult, Mo moved to New York City's Manhattan borough to pursue her music career.[9]

    Career

    Beginnings (1996–2000)

    Mo began her career as a backing vocalist, session musician and songwriter. In early 1998, while submitting demo material to

    soundtrack for the Frankie Lymon biographical film Why Do Fools Fall in Love. The song was planned to appear on Mo's debut album, however when it underperformed in the US, it was pulled from the final track listing. Mo's debut album was originally set to be released in March 1999,[11] however, it was pushed back multiple times during Elektra's attempts to revamp Mo's image and sound.[12]

    Mo gained further exposure during this time for her features on Ol' Dirty Bastard's cover of Billie Holiday's "Good Morning Heartache", Missy Elliott's record-breaking single "Hot Boyz", which spent 18 weeks at number one on the Hot Rap Singles from December 4, 1999, to March 25, 2000, and Ja Rule's single "Put It on Me", which was a hit on both urban and pop radio, and reached number eight on the US pop charts.[13] More collaborations by Ja Rule and Lil' Mo followed, including "I Cry", which repurposed The O'Jays' 1978 hit "Cry Together".

    Breakthrough, Based on a True Story (2001)

    On April 10, 2000, Mo released "

    RIAA, making it Mo's successful album to date. In August 2001, Mo released the follow-up single "Gangsta (Love 4 the Streets)", however, it failed to match the success of its predecessor.[13]

    Meet the Girl Next Door, career struggles (2002–05)

    While recovering from being assaulted with a champagne bottle after a performance in San Francisco, Mo began her radio career, working as a part-time anchor for Baltimore urban radio station WERQ-FM.[15] That same year, Mo began preparations for her second album, Meet the Girl Next Door. The album was released on April 29, 2003, preceded by the singles "4Ever" and "Ten Commandments".[16] While Mo promoted the singles on shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Soul Train,[15] she would later criticise Elektra for their lack of support and minimal promotion for the album, which she attributed to being pregnant at the time.[17]

    Mo's contract with Elektra expired as the label was absorbed by Atlantic Records, and in July 2004, she signed Universal's Cash Money Records to record her third album, then titled Syndicated: the Lil' Mo Hour.[18][19] The album was scheduled for an early 2005 release, before being pushed back to October, after its four singles (including "Hot Girls" and "Dem Boyz") failed to create any buzz. Following the destruction of Cash Money's New Orleans studio by Hurricane Katrina,[20] Mo was dropped from the Cash Money roster and Syndicated was shelved.[20]

    Independent releases, Pain and Paper, P.S. I Love Me (2006–12)

    Mo began releasing singles as an independent artist under her production company HoneyChild Entertainment, which was first founded by Mo in 2000.[21] On August 28, 2007, Mo released the album Pain & Paper, distributed by Koch Entertainment and DrakeWeb Music Group and selling only 6000 copies.[20] Its singles, "Sumtimes I", featuring Jim Jones, and "Lucky Her" failed to chart.

    In 2008, Mo signed a two-album deal with Global Music Group and began work her fourth album, tentatively titled Tattoos & Roses: The Rebellion Against My Pain.[22] The album was initially planned to include a second disc featuring Mo's live performances, however this was eventually scrapped. On May 8, 2011, Mo released the mixtape P.S. I Love You. On November 1, 2011, Mo released P.S. I Love Me in conjunction with Bronx Bridge Entertainment and distributed by Fontana Distribution. The album was preceded by the singles "On the Floor", "I Love Me", featuring Tweet, and "Take Me Away", featuring Maino.[23][24]

    Television career, The Scarlet Letter, retirement (2013–present)

    In 2013, Mo became a cast member of the reality television series

    TV One history.[26] On September 10, 2013, Lil' Mo released the song "I'm a Diva" via iTunes.[27] Another non-album single, "L's Up", was released the following week.[28]

    On October 28, 2014, Mo released her fifth album, The Scarlet Letter, under Penalthy Entertainment.[29][30] The album was preceded by the single "Should've Never Let You Go", as well as her second mixtape No Shit Sherlock, which featured contributions by Da Brat and songwriter Tiyon "TC" Mack.[31] On April 29, 2015, R&B Divas: Los Angeles ended after its third season.

    In January 2016, Mo began hosting the WKYS radio show The Fam in the Morning with DJ Quick Silva. She was fired from the show in February 2017.[32] Later that year, Mo joined the cast of VH1's Love & Hip Hop: New York and appeared in an episode of Couples Court with the Cutlers. She would also appear in We TV's Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars 12 — Hip Hop Edition.

    On October 25, 2018, Mo announced her retirement from the music industry to pursue a career in law.[33]

    Personal life

    Assault

    On June 22, 2001, while being escorted to a limousine, Lil' Mo was assaulted by a male at a San Francisco concert venue.

    Hunters Point housing project near San Francisco, California.[34]

    Marriages and children

    In 2001, Mo met her first husband, Augustus "Gus" Stone, at a Washington, D.C. gas station. After dating for five months, they wed on August 29, 2001. On August 19, 2002, Mo gave birth to her first child, Heaven Love'on Stone. On February 24, 2005, Mo gave birth to the couple's second child, God'Iss Love Stone. In December 2005, she filed for divorce. Their divorce was finalized in August 2007. Through the marriage, she became the stepmother to his son, Jerez Coleman, who in June 2014 appeared as "Kidd Cole" on an episode of MTV's television series Catfish: The TV Show.

    On June 22, 2008, Mo married Gospel recording artist Phillip Bryant. On January 16, 2009, Mo gave birth to her third child, Justin McKenzie Phillip Bryant.[36] On July 10, 2012, Mo gave birth to her fourth child, Jonah Maddox-Phillip Bryant.[37][38][39] The couple separated due to his infidelity[40] and officially divorced on September 15, 2014.[41]

    On October 1, 2014, Mo married professional boxer Karl Dargan.[41] On August 28, 2015, Mo gave birth to Karl Sharif Dargan Jr., her fifth child and Karl's third.[42] In 2018, at the reunion special of Love & Hip Hop: New York, Mo announced that she was expecting her sixth child. Mo admitted on social media that she had suffered a miscarriage a month before the reunion aired.[43] In May 2019, Mo announced that she had left Karl, after he had spat on her in front of their children during an argument.[44] Mo revealed in later interviews that he had been physically abusive throughout their marriage.[45] Their divorce was finalized in April 2021.

    Personal struggles

    In 2003, Mo revealed to Vibe magazine that she struggled with an eating disorder since 2000.[46]

    In 2019, Mo revealed that she had struggled with an opioid addiction.[47]

    Religion

    Mo was raised in a Christian household, her parents are Holiness preachers. In a 2017 episode of Love & Hip Hop: New York, Mo revealed that she had converted to Islam three years prior as a result of her marriage to Karl, and is seen praying in hijab.[48]

    Feuds

    Ja Rule

    A feud between Mo and former collaborator

    BET was going to edit out the shout, and did not think the gesture would cause an uproar.[46] Ja Rule released the diss track "Loose Change," which targeted Eminem, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Chris Lighty and Lil' Mo.[46][49] Rule credited himself as the reason why she had any hits.[49] In May 2003, Mo released a freestyle diss to Ja Rule.[50]

    In April 2003, controversy arose regarding payment for Lil' Mo's contributions on "

    Def Jam for over $15 million.[52] In 2010, the two reconciled,[53] and the next year, recorded a track together titled "U & Me".[54][55]

    Keyshia Cole

    The feud between Lil' Mo and R&B singer Keyshia Cole originated in August 2005 via the radio series Star and Buc Wild Morning Show. Mo was reported to have dismissed the vocal talent of a new crop of R&B performers, saying that they relied on dancing. Cole took offense and went to Dream Hotel in New York City, where she encountered Lil' Mo's manager Phil Thornton and a stylist, allegedly stating "You all are traitors. [Lil' Mo] is the enemy.".[56] Lil' Mo shrugged off the incident, saying she was told that Cole was intoxicated at the time,[56] which Cole denied.[57]

    In March 2013, Cole was criticized by urban media outlets for her Twitter critique of Beyoncé's "Bow Down/I Been On".[58][59] This led to Mo and Cole exchanging hostile tweets over the next few days.[60][61] Despite the exchanges, in May 2013, Mo said there was no beef between her and Cole,[62] which led to the two exchanging hostile messages again via Instagram and Twitter.[63]

    Discography

    Main article: Lil' Mo discography

    Studio albums

    Tours

    Filmography

    Television

    Television
    2013–15 R&B Divas: Los Angeles Herself Main Cast
    2014 Black Dynamite The Voice 4 episodes
    2017 Love & Hip Hop: New York Herself Main Cast
    2019 Marriage Boot Camp Herself Main cast
    2023 Power Book II: Ghost Herself Episode: "Your Perception, Your Reality"

    Awards and nominations

    Year Ceremony Category Nominated work Result
    2001 MTV Video Music Awards Best Rap Video "Put It on Me"
    (with Ja Rule and Vita)     		Nominated
    The Source Awards
    		 Single of the Year Nominated
    2002
    44th Grammy Awards
    Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
    		 Nominated
    ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards
    		 Award-Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Won[64]
    BMI Urban Music Awards Songwriter of the Year
    (shared with Irv Gotti and Ja Rule)     		Won[65]
    BMI Pop Music Awards Publishers/Writers of the Year Won[66]
    BDS Certified Spin Awards
    		 50,000 Radio Spins "If I Could Go!"
    (with Sacario and Angie Martinez)     		Won
    100,000 Radio Spins Won[67]
    2003 Teen Choice Awards Choice R&B/Hip Hop Track "4Ever" Nominated
    Choice Rap Track "Can't Let You Go"
    (with Fabolous and Mike Shorey)     		Nominated
    The Source Awards
    		 Best Rap/R&B Collabo Nominated
    ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards
    		 Award-Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Won[68]
    Award-Winning Rap Songs Won[68]
    BDS Certified Spin Awards
    		 50,000 Radio Spins Won
    100,000 Radio Spins Won
    200,000 Radio Spins Won
    2004
    ASCAP Pop Music Awards
    		 Award-Winning Pop Songs Won[69]
    2005
    BDS Certified Spin Awards
    		 100,000 Radio Spins "
    Superwoman, Pt. II
    "     		Won

    References

    1. ^ a b "P.S. I Love You – Lil' Mo". AllMusic. November 1, 2011. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
    2. ^ Adhikari, Dibya Raj (March 18, 2016). "Lil' Mo". Frostsnow.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
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    4. ^ R&B Singer Lil Mo to Release Her New CD 'Pain and Paper' on August 28, Singersroom.com, July 12, 2007, retrieved August 13, 2013
    5. ^ J. Smith, Panama (May 6, 2013), "Power 105 crowns Lil Mo as the Queen of Shade", Persona, PersonaMagazine.net, archived from the original on October 26, 2013, retrieved August 13, 2013
    6. ^ OLLISON, RASHOD D. (July 12, 2003). "ON HER OWN TERMS". Baltimoresun.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
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    30. ^ LIL' MO [@THELILMOSHOW] (August 21, 2014). "the scarlet letter album will be available Oct 28!! the song i sang "just not that into you" on #rbdivasla will be featured on there as well" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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    36. ^ Little Mo and Phillip Bryant Welcome a Son Archived January 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Celebrity Baby Blog, January 21, 2009
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    63. ^ Vaughn, Karen (May 29, 2013). "Lil Mo and Keyshia Cole GO AT IT on Twitter and Instagram (Pics)". 106.7 WTLC. tlcnaptown.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
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    External links
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lil%27_Mo&oldid=1216542022"