As R&B hitmakers go, few boast the credentials Rico Love has.
The skilled songwriter and producer has been at the helm of chart smashes from the likes of Usher, Beyonce, and Kelly Rowland.
However, in recent years, he’s chosen to focus on his own record label Division 1 and his rap career (new album ‘Turn The Lights On’ arrives May 19th).
And there’s a reason for it, which he shares in a candid new interview with our friends over at The Boombox.
Details below…
It appears as though industry politics drove Rico from his position behind the scenes to taking charge of his creative output for all to see.
Peep this frank excerpt…
Did you write any songs for another artist, which you chose to keep for your album?
No. I haven’t written for any other artist in like two years. I don’t like it anymore. I don’t like writing songs anymore because you are powerless. I did a whole Brandy project and I was all excited about the songs and then she said, “Oh, I’m just going to do The Game. I am not going to put these songs out.” I am really passionate about this music.
The same thing happened with Usher, when he put out the bulls— “Scream” song — he thinks it’s bulls— by the way too.
So I fell out of love with the whole idea of writing for other people. You just give up too much. It’s like you have a baby and then you give it up for adoption and you never see that baby again. Now if I could executive producer a project, that’s something I would do because that is a lane I can control. I would do that.
Wow. It’s not often such candid tea is spilt.
In any case, it’s all rather unfortunate because he’s churned out a number of undeniable bangers for others artists.
Sure, pushing ahead solo may scratch an itch for him personally. However we’ve long admired the ability of writers such as Rico who can step out of themselves to create for others – whether male or female.
It’s a skill, one we hope he doesn’t “turn the lights off” on permanently.
Thank God. I hate “Scream” too…
He just served cold tea, not ice tea but cold. If he is the writer and producer of the songs he did for Brandy (or any other) and he thinks the songs are good enough he can pitch them to other artists
Anyway, instead of all these artists why is he not focused on Tierria Marie?
After watching love and hip hop LA,I don’t think she is his artist anymore. There was no mention of Rico, the only person she was working with was berg.
plus he is working with that tiarra thomas girl. Conflict of interest, huh? same name lol.
the big question here is how good where those songs Brandy recorded.
I highly doubt Brandy would scrap all of them, if they were hot. no way
Brandy is such a fraud. How do you have someone create songs for you only to cancel them?
If she paid for them what is the problem?
Dumbest s*** I’ve ever heard. Artists do it all the time. They are not required to use anything they don’t like or want. You’re just a hating Monica stan.
^^^^ Exactly!! Some children are too stupid to see this is a BOSS move in Brandy’s part – she decided she wasn’t feelin’ it enough to put out and opted to do something else. Producers are sensitive about their ishh – but at the end of day he wrote and produced it for HER and the client needs to love it.
This is just how the business works! It’s nothing to take personal. Several artists often record tons of music by different writers that isn’t guaranteed placement on the album.
He said she wanted to focus on The Game, that doesn’t mean she won’t ever use those songs…he sounds beyond upset. People record songs all the time and don’t use them til 5-10 years down the line. He’s upset that she didn’t use the songs when HE wanted them to be used.
Artists don’t sit on songs for 5-10 years come on. They do have some songs that become apart of their vault but they don’t work on a song and naturally release it 10 years later. Where they do that at? Songs that are released years from its creation are usually vault type songs released for a Greatest Hits, when artists die, free gift to fans, etc. It makes zero sense to work on a song in 1995 with plans to release it in 2005 (create in ’05, release in 2015). The music era and scene has COMPLETELY changed by then.
Srecam could have been a remix to it however he sound upset about what brandy had done well good luck to him
Brandy has hundreds of unreleased tracks (just like many artists)… Rico needs to stop being childish and be grateful that he is working with artists at this level.
Side note: Brandy’s fans have been waiting for over a decade to hear the full version of a track called “Black Pepper”. She will release the tracks when she is ready.
Yasss I am dying to heat black pepper
Yasss I am dying to hear black pepper
Dead at Sam talking bout “turn the lights off permanently. .that pun is always on point
Brandy doesn’t have Black Pepper. She lost it and has no idea how to find that song.
Ricolove girlbye 🙁
I don’t blame Brandy. Look at the MESS of a Brandy and Monica reunion he did with ‘It All Belongs to Me.’ That was some bulls—. Rico Love got lucky with Kelly Rowland’s ‘Motivation.’ It was a legit banger, but clearly he isn’t consistent.
Your in my head! I usually don’t care for his work. I wasn’t excited about Bran working with him at all.
I love Rico Love. He’s such an underrated songwriter. I bet the songs were real dope. He wrote and produced the hell outta “No Such Thing As Too Late,” “Hardly Breathing,” “Paint This House,” and “Can You Hear Me Now.”
And thing is Brandy needs a producer who will work with her for an album, look how it was when she worked heavily with Darkchild in 90s or Timbaland in 2004. Not to mention she needs R&B producers like Rico.
Rico love is a hit or miss as a producer, but he has a wider and diverse sound compared to other hit making producers.
Scream was one if my least favorite songs by usher, though the song is great during a work out. But the music video, corny edm beat and generic lyrics did not help the song but usher’s singing was good.
Brandy , idk, loved her since her debut and all, but she hasn’t been pushing her music as much as she should be. The fact she recorded an album, and scrapped it to be on the 9 episode a season tv show makes me scratch my head. Though the music coulda been bad, she needs to learn how to really promote and get her music out there and a weekly tv keeps her face out there. But again, Rico isn’t a mega hit maker so she might if been like never mind this is whack.
Rico Love don’t blame Brandy and Usher for you not writing songs, look at that wack ass song you gave B and Mo It All Belongs To Me, the ladies’ vocals good but that song failed to compete with The Boy is Mine so blame yourself! Hell the song you did on Two Eleven were basic and not single worthy.
^ Exactly, ridiculously basic! I’m shocked ‘Hardly Breathing’ came out of him! He wouldn’t even make a top 20 list of producers I’d pair up with Bran.
Facts: It all belongs to me was originally meant for R. Kelly. Monica asked for the song and it was her idea to bring brandy on it.
I think if they had reworked it to “the man belongs to me” the song would have been a hit lol people still want to pit them against each other.
As for Rico, he is a fillers producer. He makes great album fillers.
I think that “the man belongs to me” is a great idea, however, I don’t think Brandy or Monica would have wanted to continue to fight over a man. They said they wanted to come together as grown women, as opposed to how they were as teens. You’re onto something tho. I just feel like Rico dropped the ball on the song in general, not the concept. It was just a wack song. I don’t think it should have been as slow as it was either. Overall, I agree with you.
“Sweet Dreams” and “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)” say hello! All artists/songwriters/producers have their duds, but if you made one hit your clearly capable of more.
Sigh
I loved scream smh lol
It was super gimmicky throw away Pop and Usher is an R&B artist.
Rico needs to stop being so childish and be greatful
Rico Love sounds very angry and upset. To be honest his production is nothing special and IABTM was a major let down and other then motivation nothing stands out with Rico Love. Hopefully he can get past his bitterness and get back to perfecting his craft.
“Now if I could executive producer a project, that’s something I would do because that is a lane I can control. I would do that.” somewhere in the world Teairra Mari is laughing and side-eyeing this. you had that chance and then you blew it, beau! you shoulda kept working with Kelly R…
Brandy is dumb AF, She needs to be consistent with the music tip, Being all selective as if The Game was slaying, When It actually started to decline in ratings.
Very true. I will admit it was a good look for her because at the time she was nowhere to be seen. But she juggled music and TV and film in the 90s why couldn’t she now?
@musicmatters101 Brandy was a teenager in the 90s, with her youth of course she coukd juggle more. She’s now a woman in her mid 30’s with a pre-t*** child. Of course she can’t grind like she uses to.
Could have surprised me
You’re a really practical site; could not make it without ya!