My Baby

Background:

American rapper and actor Romeo, formerly known by the stage name Lil' Romeo, rose to prominence with his debut single “My Baby” (2001), which became a No. 1 hit on the U.S. R&B and Rap Charts. It emerged from the platinum album “Lil' Romeo” (2001). He enjoyed even bigger commercial success with the sophomore album “Gametime” (2002), which debuted at No. 1 in the U.S. and received two-times platinum certification. Since then, the young rapper has released the albums “Greatest Hits” (2006) and a collaboration album titled “Hip Hop History.” With his rap group, Rich Boyz, Romeo had a debut album in 2005 called “Young Ballers: The Hood Been Good To Us.” Romeo also serves as the President and CEO of Guttar Music, a record company he founded in 2005 with his famous father, entertainment director/producer/actor/rapper Master P. As an actor, Romeo is probably best recalled as Romeo Milleron on Nickelodeon's series “Romeo!” (2003-2006), from which he won a Kids' Choice Award, an Image nomination and a Young Artist nomination. He also received a Teen Choice nomination and a Black Reel nomination for his role of Benny in the movie “Honey” (2003, with Jessica Alba). His more recent film credits include “Uncle P” (2007), “Down and Distance” (2008) and “Sweetwater” (2008).

Romeo is also a talented basketball player.

Basketball

Childhood and Family:

Percy Romeo Miller was born on August 19, 1989, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Master P., a multi-millionaire rapper, producer and entertainment baron. In addition to his father, Romeo's uncles, C-Murder and 'Silkk the Shocker,' were also superstars in the hardcore rap scene during the mid to late 1990s. Romeo said, “I used to see my dad and all his brothers rhyming and I knew I wanted to do that one day. Me and my cousin used to sneak in my dad’s studio and record songs with his engineer just for fun.”

Romeo attended Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills, California. He was a point guard on the school's basketball team. In 2007, he won a full athletic scholarship to play basketball at the University of Southern California.

The oldest of the family, Romeo has a younger brother named Young V. They formed their own rap group called the Rich Boyz, along with cousins Lil' D and C-Los.

Romeo!

Career:

The son of the founder of the highly successful No Limit Records and rapper, Master P., Lil' Romeo decided to follow in his father's footsteps when he was 11 years old. His debut album, “Lil” Romeo,” was released in 2001. Thanks largely to the No. 1 R&B/rap hit “My Baby,” the album debuted at No. 1 in the U.S. and went platinum in its first week of release by selling more than 2.9 million copies. With “My Baby,” Romeo established himself as the youngest person to achieve the No. 1 spot, breaking the record previously held by pop star Michael Jackson.

Also in 2001, Romeo branched out into acting and made his debut in a 2001 episode of the comedy series “The Brothers Garcia.” He went on to make a cameo appearance as himself in the Tim Hill-directed film “Max Keeble's Big Move” (2001), starring Alex D. Linz in the title role, and Marvin in an episode of “Raising Dad” (2002). Romeo resumed his musical career by launching a second album called “Gametime” on December 17, 2002. Released under his dad's No Limit Records and featuring his uncles C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker, the album scorched through the U.S. charts and landed at number one. It went on to gain double platinum certification.

2003 saw Romeo appear with his father in the reality TV show “Crashing with Master P,” guest star as Eric in an episode of the award winning comedy series “One on One” and land the costarring role of Benny in “Honey,” a film also starring Jessica Alba and Zachary Isaiah Williams and directed by Bille Woodruff. For his effort, he was handed a Teen Choice nomination for Choice Breakout Movie Star - Male and a Black Reel nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance. However, the multi-talented entertainer did not enjoy real fame as an actor until he was cast as Romeo Miller on the Nickelodeon series “Romeo!” (2003-2006), alongside his father Master P. The role brought Romeo a Blimp Award for Favorite Television Actor at the 2005 Kids' Choice Awards, an Image nomination for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program - Series or Special (2007) and a Young Artist nomination for Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actor (2005). In addition, Romeo also acted in the direct-to-video releases “Still 'Bout It” (2004) and “Decisions” (also 2004), both of which were directed by his father, and provided the voice of Li'l Q for “It's Cupid, Stupid,” a 2004 episode of the animated series “All Grown Up.” It was also in 2004 that Romeo released his third studio album, “Romeoland” (2004), which peaked at No. 70 in the U.S. and went on to receive gold status. It included material from his TV show “Romeo!” and featured his new band, Rich Boyz. Later that same year, he dropped the “Lil'” from his stage name.

In 2005, Romeo appeared as himself in the TV miniseries “The Team” and teamed up with his father to set up a new record label named “Guttar Music Entertainment,” which is the main distribution label for and the parent company of The New No Limit. Serving as the CEO and President of Gutter Music, Romeo and Rich Boyz released a debut album titled “Young Ballers: The Hood Been Good To Us” in 2005 under the newly founded Guttar Music. It was followed by his unsuccessful solo albums, “Lottery” and “God's Gift” (both 2006), and a compilation album, “Greatest Hits” (also 2006). As for acting, he appeared in the direct-to-video “Don't Be Scared,” which was written and directed by his father.

2007 saw Romeo collaborate with his father on the album “Hip Hop History,” which also featured guest performances from Playa, Bblak, Tank, Mizz Kitty, Young V and Marques Houston. He also played Rome in “Crush on U,” a comedy that went straight to video release, and appeared in director Bernard Gourley's film “Uncle P,” starring his father as the title character.

Romeo's new studio album, “Gumbo Station” is set to be released in 2009. Two singles released from the albums are the Top 60 R&B hit “Special Girl” (2007), featuring Marques Houston, and “I'm So Fly” (2008), featuring his brother Young V. He also portrayed Darren Sheehan in the sport-themed movie “Down and Distance” (2009), opposite Gary Busey and father Master P, and younger Sweetwater in the biopic “Sweetwater” (2008), which was about Sweetwater Clifton, the first African-American basketball player signed by the NBA.

Aside from acting and music, Romeo is also known as an excellent basketball player. Starting his basketball career at the famed Beverly Hills High School, in 2007 he signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the University of Southern California.

Awards:

Kids' Choice: Blimp Award, Favorite Television Actor, “Romeo!,” 2005