Vibe.com, January 24th, 2006
It’s Halloween afternoon at Ruby Tuesday’s restaurant in Atlanta, and Rico Love is decked out in the standard gangster rap- star costume — white tee, baggy jeans, white Air Force Ones, designer sunglasses, and draped-up jewelry. Even though he looks the part, don’t think Richard Butler Jr., 23, is your average material-obsessed, thugged-out MC. In fact, in this opportunistic world of hip hop where crime pays, he’s taking a higher road to success. “People hear me flossing in my lyrics, but I don’t mention selling dope not one time,” insists Love. “I’m not downing people who sell drugs, but that’s not the only option.”
That kind of thinking makes his old man proud. “I’ve always supported him because his foundation is right,” says Reverend Richard Butler Sr. But aside from his “just say no” mantra — perhaps a product of growing up a preacher’s son — there’s a lot more you should know about Rico Love.
You’ve probably heard him showing off on the frantic pop single “Settle Down,” from the soundtrack to Usher’s movie In the Mix. He’s the first artist to catch shine on Usher’s US Records. But before that, Rico Love was earning checks as the pen behind R&B; joints like Marques Houston’s “All Because of You,” Usher’s “Throwback,” and B5’s “You Got Me.” “When I first got signed, I wasn’t getting any money,” he recalls. “I asked Usher what I needed to do. He was like, ‘Write a song for me.’ The rest is history.”
Believe it or not, coming up under the multiplatinum-selling singer has improved Love’s rap game. “When I started writing R&B;, it taught me how to create better rap records,” says Love. “Usher knows more about hip hop than people think.” And the proof is in Love’s debut, The Fifth Element. His rich swagger, catchy hooks, and teeny- pop palatability are custom made for the airwaves and club rocking.
Love’s main focus, however, is to deliver a positive message to listeners. “I want people to appreciate wealth but understand you don’t have to kill somebody to get that,” he says. “As an artist, if I don’t let people know that, then the blood is on my hands.” And that isn’t fresh or clean.
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