Mario

Baltimore teen Mario has filed a lawsuit in an attempt to free himself from a production deal signed when he was still a minor.

Billboard reports that the ?Let Me Love You? crooner filed suit on Feb. 16 against Troy Patterson and Third Street Music Group, who have allegedly made "hundreds of thousands" of dollars from Mario's album sales. Mario says he?s only received about $50,000 of the over $20 million in sales of his two albums.

Patterson, who signed Mario in 2000, entered into a seven-album record deal for Mario with J Records. The label is not named in the suit.

According to the lawsuit, Mario says Patterson "insinuated" himself into his life eight years ago during a time when the singer's father was not in his life and his mother was addicted to drugs. Patterson eventually became Mario's legal guardian and acted as his personal manager, business manager, record company and publisher.

Patterson and Mario ended their business relationship in 2004.

R&B singer, Mario, has joined forces with Beyonce's father's company Music World/Sanctuary Urban Management to now management the hot new artist.

"I am very excited about being with MusicWorld/Sanctuary Urban," says Mario. "I am looking forward to a really great year, and for many great years to come. Beyond that, I'm leaving it in God's hands."

Knowles was impressed with Mario's success thus far, and snatched him right up. He's also as excited as the singer and predicts Mario to have a "long term career.

"I am very impressed with Mario and am happy to personally take on the challenge of maximizing all of his potential," Knowles said of his newest client. "Besides being extremely talented, he has his head and his heart in the right place, plus he?s hungry for success and a long term career. This is a winning combination that will take us very far together."