Last month, Mario delivered a brand new single titled “Closer,” which is produced by Theron Thomas, Sam Sumser, and Sean Small and sees the Baltimore veteran singing and rapping to a woman about getting physical:
“Take it off, let’s mess up the bed, don’t make it up, separate your legs, two worlds apart/
Nobody does it like you, nah, baby, nah, every night, don’t stop, damn girl, you do me right/
Tell me, how you, know what I like? Now I just can’t keep my cool/
I think me and you should skip the foreplay, baby I’ve been waiting on you all day, honestly, I think we had enough space, girl/”
This month, Mario reveals an animated video for the track, which sees silhouetted versions of him and his co-star acting out the song’s subject matter. Viewers can also see snakes, flowers and more popping in and out of sight for additional effect. He further explains via the clip’s description:
“‘Closer’ touches on the dark yet beautiful path of getting closer to someone you are deeply attracted to… Mario and a sexy dancer are represented as silhouettes, dynamically intercut with symbolic imagery that suggests attraction and intensity, tension and sensuality for a provocative, moody, visually striking, and unexpected experience.”
Prior to “Closer,” Mario delivered his fifth studio album “Dancing Shadows,” which was his first independent release under his New Citizen Music imprint. Prior to that, he was one of the premiere artists under the Clive Davis’ J Records, which ultimately folded into RCA Records back in 2011.
Mario’s also found some success on both the big and small screens, appearing in films like Freedom Writers and Step Up and taking part in shows like “Dancing With The Stars.” More recently, he appeared in the hit series “Empire,” working alongside award-winning actors Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.
You can press play on “Closer” below. The song is expected to appear on Mario’s Closer To Mars EP, due sometime in June.