On November 19, a star was born. Cynthia Loving-Bryant would show the world why they would all know and come to love her by her stage name Lil' Mo. Lil' Mo is an accomplished American singer, songwriter, vocal producer, radio personality, wife and mommy of 4. As if that wasn't enough she can now add reality TV starlet to her resume. Her best known feature credits are with Missy Elliott, Fabolous, Ja Rule, Jay-Z and the late ODB to name a few. She has vocal produced for the Tamar Braxton, Keith Sweat, as well as the greats we all adored while on earth Gerald Levert and Whitney Houston. Born into a military family, her father Bishop Jacob D. Loving and Lady Cynthia Loving, both whom are Holiness preachers raised their family primarily in New York. Due to her father's military assignments, they have "been on tour all their life," as Mo would coyly say. From living in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, to finally settling down in Maryland, Lil' Mo's dreams of becoming a famous singer and superstar led her to many local talent competitions and eventually back to NYC.
Touring with former emcee, the late Guru on his domestic and international Jazzmatazz Tour and her uncle, The Prince of Gospel John P. Kee, is what Lil' Mo feels equipped her with the tools she needed to bridge the gap between her church upbringing and hip-hop culture. Because of the word of mouth buzz around NYC about Lil' Mo, she was contacted and signed immediately with Elektra Records by Senior Execs Sylvia Rhone and Merlin Bobb. She entered the music industry as a protégé of label mate Missy Elliott. Lil' Mo's breakout single, off the "Why do fools fall in love" soundtrack entitled "5 Minutes" was a great introduction of her tutelage with Missy. She would appear on more tracks with Missy on her 1999 album "Da Real World'. The "Hot Boys" remix single featuring Nas and Eve, sat at the top of the charts for over 16 weeks. This caught the attention of Ja Rule and Jay-Z and others to have Lil' Mo lend her vocal and writing skills.
She has performed and written for many artists, including BlackStreet featuring Janet Jackson, Next, Bow Wow, Angie Martinez, Keith Sweat, Jaheim, Tyrese, Changing Faces, 3LW, Nicole Wray and the list goes on. The smash hit "Put it on Me" released in 2001 with Ja Rule and Vita, was such an instant urban and pop radio chart topper, that Murder Inc. Records decided to feature Lil' Mo on a second single entitled "I Cry" which repurposed the 1978 O'Jays classic "Cry Together". With these successes back to back, Lil' Mo decided now is the time to step away from the shadows of being a featured artist and step into the solo artist arena.
In 2001, her first commercial released album "Based on a True Story," was a major urban success. The first single, "Superwoman" featuring Fabolous, was well received by the fans at retail and radio. Anticipation for the album was through the roof. Sadly, 3 days before its release, Lil' Mo was attacked and physically assaulted by an unknown assailant that left her with 23 stitches in her forehead. That didn't keep her down. Soon as she was cleared by doctors' to travel, she was back on the road. In 2003, she released her follow-up album "Meet the Girl Next Door" in which the first single "4Ever" also featured Fabolous. She would then settle down and hone in on her relatable communication skills to radio with "The Lil' Mo Show" to X 105.7 which was a CHR station in Baltimore. This afternoon drive show swiftly became Number 1 and placed Mo at the top of being one of the most sought after on air personalities.
In 2003-2005 she signed on with Cash Money Records, but later requested a release due to business issues beyond her control. From 2005-2007 she performed and toured on the Jay-Z & 50 Cent headlined Roc the Mic Tour, from second act to headlining the Seagram’s Gin Tour, and the Sprite Simon Mall Tour. Fast forward to mid 2007; Mo released an album entitled "Pain & Paper" independently. No longer on a major label, she didn't want to leave her fans in limbo, so this mix tape CD was to hold them over as she would soon take a hiatus and concentrate on her family and restructuring her brand.
After a 4 year break, in 2011 Lil' Mo dusted off her cape and hosted another afternoon drive show called "The Lil' Mo Show" on Viacom/CBS Radio WPGC 95.5 in Washington, DC. During her brief stint back on air, Lil' Mo would sign off and head straight to the theater. She performed in a play, "Sanctified" as well as having a huge placement in the Alice Walker's inspired book, off-Broadway play "The Color Purple" at the National Theater. When her 1 year contract expired, Mo released another indie album, "PS iLove ME". Mo describes this album as "everything I have been through since I've been away." The album boasts features from Dawn Richard (Danity Kane/Dirty Money), Maino and PJ Morton. For the female empowerment anthem "iLove ME," she paired with her friend and fellow Missy Elliot discovery, Tweet.
Lil' Mo has taken 2013 by storm. She has officially been casted on the TV-One/ThinkFactory Media hit series, "R&B Divas, LA". She will co-star alongside Kelly Price, Chante Moore, Michel'le, Dawn Robinson and Claudette Ortiz. Lil' Mo will share her journey back to the spotlight with husband/manager/producer Phillip Bryant and their 4 children ranging in ages from (10 to 9 months old). The show's intro song "I'm a Diva" was written and performed by Mo in less than 2 hours. She will be headlining tours in the UK as well as traveling the US to share her God given gift. Mo declares this will be the biggest and best REBIRTH of her life. She concludes "I am over ready, not only for my fans, but to prove to my children I am the greatest".
Besides touring and new endeavors, Mo has teamed up with Krian Music Group to release two heavily anticipated singles performed on TV One's #1 reality series R&B Divas LA. "I'm a Diva" which is the theme song, and "L's Up" was performed during the Divalogues finale. The future can only get brighter. As Mo says, "I'm ready for the spotlight."
[ARTIST] Lil' Mo
