Рико Лав: Американдық өндіруші, әнші және рэпердің өмір жолы

American record producer, songwriter, singer, and rapper

Richard Preston Butler Jr. (born December 3, 1982), better known by his stage name Rico Love, is an American record producer, songwriter, singer, and rapper. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but split his childhood between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and New York City's Harlem neighborhood. He attended Florida A&M and, while visiting Atlanta, Georgia, worked his way into the music industry through connections with singer Usher, who became one of Butler's frequent collaborators. Butler first wrote the song "Throwback", which was performed by Usher on his Grammy Award winning album Confessions (2004). Butler has since contributed to works which have received Grammy Awards, including Beyoncé's I Am Sasha Fierce, Usher's Raymond v. Raymond (2009), and the albums single, "There Goes My Baby". Throughout the decade, he would continue to write or produce other commercially successful R&B singles including Usher's "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)", Nelly's "Just a Dream" and "Gone", and Beyoncé's "Sweet Dreams". He has also been credited on releases for artists including Kelly Rowland, Mario, Chris Brown, Alexandra Burke, Keri Hilson, Fergie, and Fantasia. As a recording artist, Butler has released two studio albums: TTLO (2015) and Even Kings Die (2018); the former spawned the single "They Don't Know", which moderately entered the Billboard Hot 100. He launched the record label Division1 as an imprint of Universal Motown in 2010 and later Interscope Records in 2013; it has signed artists including Young Chris, Tiara Thomas, and Teairra Marí. He has guest performed on albums for T. I., Jermaine Dupri, Jamie Foxx, Rich Boy, and Fat Joe.

Love was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and his parents divorced at an early age. As a result of the divorce Love spent his childhood growing up in two different cities, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his mother and Harlem with his father. Love's mother encouraged him as a child to write poetry. Love wrote his own poems and went on to joining the African American Children's Theater where he recited Langston Hughes and acted. By the end of high school Love had decided to pursue a career in rap but would go to college simultaneously, "I'm [going] to go to school instead of just sitting on the block. If I hadn't gone to college I would've been a drug dealer." Love next toured with Usher where he met and connected with many music industry players. Love was asked by Usher to contribute to the soundtrack to the film In the Mix. Love contributed "Settle Down", "Sweat" featuring Usher, and "On the Grind" featuring Juelz Santana and Paul Wall. Love recorded a solo album in 2007 titled The 5th Element which he ultimately decided to focus on his songwriting and not release the recordings. Though Love may not be recording as a solo artist he still contributes his vocals and rhymes to other artists. Love has appeared as a guest artist on songs by Fat Joe, Rich Boy,

After 8 year hiatus from his solo career and signing his label Division 1 to a distribution deal with Interscope Records, Rico Love would release an extended play entitled Discrete Luxury, on February 27, 2014, which would be re released. It charted on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums at number 48. The first single from the album, "They Don't Know", it debuted and peaked at number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it Rico Love's highest charting single as a solo artist. The second single from the album, is entitled "Bitches Be Like". On December 9, 2013, Rico Love released a mixtape entitled El Presidente. On August 27, 2014, Rico Love released a mixtape entitled I Sin. On December 2, 2014, Rico Love would release the lead single from his debut studio album, entitled "Somebody Else". On February 18, 2015, Rico Love announced he would be releasing his debut studio album, titled Turn The Lights On, on May 19, 2015. On May 5, 2015, Rico Love would release the second single from Turn The Lights On entitled "Days Go By". On May 18, 2015, the album was released with production from, among others, Danja, Benny Blanco, Jim Jonsin and Robopop, along with the major record label Interscope Records. Rico recently supported singer Monica on 'The Code Red Experience Tour'.

Love wrote the song "Throwback" at the request of Usher which was a part of the 2004 triple Grammy winning album Confessions. Love also wrote "Seduction" which was a bonus track on the Confessions special edition release. These were the first of several collaborations between the singer and the writer/producer. In September 2007, Rico Love wrote and produced on the Platinum single "Love Like This" by singer Natasha Bedingfield featuring Sean Kingston. This song was popular with mainstream audiences reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was co written and co produced by Love for the Grammy nominated artist. The song was featured on the deluxe version of her triple Platinum album The Dutchess and also the Gold selling soundtrack to the film Sex and the City. In November 2008, Beyoncé's double Platinum and 5× Grammy winning album I Am Sasha Fierce included four songs featuring Love's songwriting and production. Love wrote and produced on the Platinum single "Sweet Dreams" which reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Boyfriend #2" reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. Love wrote and produced five songs on Mario's D. N. A. album released in October 2009. The songs included the single "Thinkin' About You" and "Hi", "Ooh Baby", "Soundtrack to My Broken Heart", and "Get Out". The Platinum and Grammy winning album featured four of Love's compositions including two of the album's singles. The Love co produced and co written single "There Goes My Baby" was a hit and stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart for four weeks and earned Usher a Grammy for his performance on the song. The other single featuring Love's writing and producing was "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" which rose to number two on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. Diddy is one of Love's mentors in the industry and he was honored to write for the performer/producer/mogul. Nelly's 5.0 album, released in November 2010 contained eight works featuring Love's songwriting and production skills. The first single, "Just a Dream", co written and co produced by Love, went Platinum and landed at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Love also worked on the single "Gone" featuring Kelly Rowland, a follow up to the 2002 Nelly hit "Dilemma" also featuring Rowland. Love's other work on the album were on the tracks "Broke", "Making Movies", "Don't It Feel Good", "K. I. S. S.", "Nothing Without Her", and "Move That Body". The album's first single "Living Better Now" features Rick Ross and was co written and co produced by Love. Love wrote "Freak", which also features his appearance as an artist, and "Sex On the Beach". Love is managed by Made Communication, Miami, Florida.

In November 2010, Love launched Division 1 which originally partnered with Universal Motown but later moved the venture to Interscope Records. In 2011, Love signed R&B artist Teairra Marí & rap artist Young Chris to his label. In 2013, Love's label venture signed the artist, Tiara Thomas, to its roster. Love also has a production company of the same name to which he signed producers, Earl Hood, Eric Goudy, and D Town. In 2014, Rico Love signed Trina to his label.