Take a peek into the future of R&B when Mateo and Dawn Richard co-headline a show at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood next month. Mateo, whose single “Say Its So” features appearances from Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, is working on his debut with Kerry “Krucial” Brothers. Dirty Money diva Dawn is prepping her conceptual solo album GoldenHeart, with the first single expected later this fall. Get your tickets to see them perform live in an intimate setting on October 20. Mateo gears up for the gig and previews new music in his first “Road to The Roxy” webisode, below.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mateo hopes to achieve stadium status on his new mixtape Love & Stadiums, presented by producer Kerry “Krucial” Brothers and Krucial Noise. The R&B newcomer serves up 17 tracks for listeners, boasting reinterpretations of Kanye West’s “POWER,” Lil Wayne’s “A Milli,” Nicki Minaj’s “Right Thru Me,” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” Guest appearances include Pusha T, Kardinal Offishall, Ab-Liva, and Goapele.

“I don’t necessarily want to sing the song over the beat that someone else did—I want to infuse my own style into it,” Mateo explained at his mixtape listening session earlier this month.

Find out why Mateo is worthy of all the buzz by downloading his mixtape below.

Read the rest of this entry »

“I’m kind of nervous,” were the first words out of Mateo’s mouth to a room full of bloggers at Premier Studios in NYC. When the butterflies in his stomach had settled, he greeted everyone graciously. “I’ve been doing this for a few years. The people who have really been holding me down are everybody in this room.”

The singer has a reason to be thankful for all of the support he has received in his recent departure from MySpace Records. He’s getting his feet wet in a new venture with Krucial Noise, started by Alicia Keys’ famed producer Kerry “Krucial” Brothers, whom Mateo met while recording in MySpace’s studios. The two are working closely on Mateo’s upcoming mixtape, Love & Stadiums.

According to the former financial consultant, the 17-track freebie sports over-the-top production, or “big stadium, big arena sounding music,” all poured over love songs. Fans will hear some of their favorite tunes sampled, with a Mateo spin of course. “I don’t necessarily want to sing the song over the beat that someone else did—I want to infuse my own style into it,” he explains.

Check below for Rap-Up.com’s 7-track preview of Love & Stadiums.

Read the rest of this entry »

Alicia Keys’ longtime producer Kerry “Krucial” Brothers is bringing some more R&B goodness to the masses. The Grammy-winning beatmaker has joined forces with singer-songwriter Mateo for Love & Stadiums—the former financial consultant’s upcoming mixtape. To give listeners a taste of what’s to come, Mateo’s sticking with the familiar. The crooner’s first single off the effort is a reworked version of Kanye West’s “POWER” featuring Pusha T and Ab-Liva. Check the track’s strength below.

Read the rest of this entry »

“Like clouds in a sky/ Some men do cry/ Just look in my eyes,” alternative-R&B singer Mateo sings on his self-penned single “Human.” The “urban-mod” singer-songwriter, who happens to be in touch—and rhythmically in tune—with his more sensitive half, is the exotic new face of MySpace Records. Originally discovered by his manager (and former MTV VJ alum) Quddus Philippe, after placing “Human” on his label’s social networking site, Mateo, a former business consultant, has paid his dues and then some over the past three years. From writing music for UPN’s “Eve” sitcom to performing songs off his five-part cinematic mixtape series, Underneath the Sky, in L.A. showrooms, the piano-touting newcomer is at last unveiling an intimate introductory course to the masses with his EP, Get to Know Me: Live at Swing House.

Read the rest of this entry »

On a chilly fall evening outside New York City’s performance venue Canal Room, everyone from teens to couples formed a line that snaked around the block, awaiting their turn to catch an earful of two R&B heartthrobs: one, veteran crooner Mario, and the other, newbie Mateo. The two joined forces for MySpace Music’s “The Release” to celebrate Mario’s latest effort, D.N.A.

Read the rest of this entry »