Rico Love, born on December 3, 1982, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He goes by the stage name Richard Preston Butler Jr. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but spent his childhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the Harlem district of New York City. He attended Florida A&M and earned his way into the music industry through ties with Usher, who would become one of his frequent collaborators, while visiting Atlanta, Georgia. Let us join him in celebrating his special day.
Fast Facts
Birth date:
December 03, 1982
Age:
41 years, 4 months
Zodiac Sign:
Sagittarius
Background
Richard Preston Butler Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 3, 1982. His parents divorced when he was a child. As a result, Butler spent his childhood in two cities: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he lived with his mother, and Harlem, New York, where he lived with his father. He kept his interest in his music while in college at Florida A&M University, winning numerous rap battles and talent competitions. He moved in with the Corna Boyz, a group of local Atlanta producers. Butler was allowed to rap on a remix the producers were working on for Usher because of their relationship. Usher was impressed with his remix work and signed him to ‘U.S. Records/J Records.’Butler wrote the song ‘Throwback’ at Usher’s request for the triple Grammy-winning album “Confessions” in 2004. Usher urged him to pursue a career as a songwriter, and he received requests for compositions from musicians such as Chris Brown, Omarion, and Marques Houston. Usher’s “Raymond v. Raymond” album, released in March 2010, was written and produced by Love. Butler’s compositions were used on the Platinum and Grammy-winning album, including two of the album’s hits. ‘There Goes My Baby,’ the co-produced and co-written single, was a success and spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list, earning him a Grammy for his performance. ‘Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),’ another track written and produced by Butler, reached number two on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list.Butler was responsible for seven songs in the Top Ten of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart between 2005 and 2012. These include Usher’s ‘There Goes My Baby,’ Mary J. Blige’s ‘Mr. Wrong, Trey Songz’s ‘Heart Attack,’ Kelly Rowland’s ‘Motivation, and Melanie Fiona’s ‘4AM.’ His first solo E.P., “Discrete Luxury,” was released in February 2014 by Interscope Records. Billboard’s R&B chart placed “They Don’t Know” in the Top 15. In May 2015, he released his debut studio album, “Turn the Lights On.” Butler presently resides in Miami with Robin Thompson, sometimes known as Robin V, a photographer. They are the parents of two children.
Career timeline
Impressing Usher, he signs on to US Records/J Records.
Butler writes the song, ‘Throwback’ at Usher's request for the triple Grammy-winning album "Confessions.”
He gets a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year for Usher’s album “Confessions.”
He launches Division 1, initially a partner with Universal Motown, but later moves the venture to Interscope Records.
He releases an extended play (E.P.) titled “Discrete Luxury” on February 27.
In May, he releases his debut studio album, "Turn the Lights On.
Rico Love FAQs
Does Rico Love dance?
No, Love does not dance.
Does Rico Love have twins?
No, his son, Carys Preston, and daughter, Believe Beyond, are not twins.
Is Rico Love a rapper?
As an artist, he is both a singer and a rapper.
5 Surprising Facts
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He was a poet
As a child, his mother encouraged him to write poetry, which he did, and he eventually joined the African American Children's Theatre.
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He has an unreleased album
In 2007, Butler recorded a solo album titled “The 5th Element,” but he ultimately terminated the project as he decided to focus on songwriting.
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He loves Champagne
Give him a glass when he's working, and he'll thank you for it!
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How he got his name
A lady in his neighborhood called him Rico because he was “dark-skinned, chocolate, rich, and tasty.”
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He’s a fan of Beyonce
Well, that's expected since he worked on her ‘Sweet Dreams’ single.
Why We Love Rico Love
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He is honest
“I don’t like lies,” he says. That’s his problem with the music business; sometimes, things get tainted and not portrayed for what they are. People should always be given credit for what they do.
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His musical taste is diverse
Songwriters he looks up to are legends like Smokey Robinson, R. Kelly, and Ne-yo. Vocally, he is a fan of Usher and Beyonce.
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He is spiritual
God is first in Butler’s life. For him, he feels like writing uses his spirituality. He is very close to God and prays daily to keep in touch with him.
Rico Love’s birthday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | December 3 | Saturday |
| 2023 | December 3 | Sunday |
| 2024 | December 3 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | December 3 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | December 3 | Thursday |
