Mario

Multi-platinum R&B sensation MARIO returns with his highly anticipated third album, Go (J Records), in stores July 31. The first single, "How Do I Breathe," produced by Stargate, is a lovesick anthem full of the signature crooning that has earned Mario the reputation as one of the best voices of his generation. The emotional ballad will impact radio on April 30.

The follow-up to 2004's double platinum Turning Point, Go features Mario's silky smooth vocals and showcases a more mature Mario, talking in equal breaths about romance, love, and even sex. While past hits have seen a young Mario skirting the issue in his chart-toppers, the now 20-year-old Mario tackles it head on in the sexually charged banger "Go" and the sensual "Lay In My Bed." Also on his mind are relationship challenges, asking why his girl can't let their relationship be what it is on "No Definition" and confessing to a roving eye on "Kryptonite." Mario is truly holding nothing back.

"Over the years in this industry, I feel like I've grown to a point where I'm comfortable in my own skin, and this album truly reflects that," says Mario. "Go is sexier and more passionate, but there's another, more personal side to the album as well."

In fact, Mario's new-found comfort extends to personal topics he's never before touched on, including his difficult upbringing. On "Do Right," Mario sings of his early years growing up with a drug-addicted mother and fighting for a better life. The confessional ballad was in part inspired by his star turn in the recent film "Freedom Writers" as Andre, a teen struggling to rise about life with an incarcerated brother and an addict mother. The "Freedom Writers" DVD will be out April 17 and Mario will appear on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson on April 25 to promote the DVD.

While his character Andre finds an outlet for his frustrations in writing, music is what inspired Mario, who became a star at the young age of 15 when he released his debut album, 2002's Mario, which spawned the Top 10 single "Just a Friend 2002." His follow-up album, 2004's Turning Point, featured the megahit "Let Me Love You," which skyrocketed to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for five weeks, propelling Turning Point to worldwide double- platinum status and earning Mario two Grammy nominations and two Billboard Award wins. In the summer of 2005, Mario made his foray into acting with a noteworthy performance in the teen dance movie "Step Up," which debuted at #2 and grossed over $21 million during its opening weekend.