Grammy-nominated R&B singer Mario has achieved a new milestone on Billboard.
His Chiiild-produced single, “Keep Going (Aaaaahhhhh),” has entered the top 10 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart at No. 10. It marks the Baltimore native’s first top 10 hit in 20 years and his second overall. He now has a total of nine entries on the chart.
Mario previously appeared in the top 10 with his hit single “Let Me Love You,” which peaked at No. 2 in March 2005. The Ne-Yo-penned track spent 34 weeks on the Adult R&B Airplay and remains his longest-charting single.
Mario was close to securing a top 10 spot in 2024 with his single “Space,” which peaked at No. 11 in December.
“Keep Going (Aaaaahhhhh)” and “Space” are lifted from the singer’s sixth album, Glad You Came. He co-wrote both songs with James Fauntleroy, who is the album’s executive producer.
Glad You Came was released Dec. 12, 2024, via Mario’s New Citizen imprint and Epic Records.
“The album’s title, Glad You Came, represents a full compass for me when it comes to bringing everything back to the center. That’s my love for music, my journey [and] my connection with my fans. [I am] reintroducing them to this new era of Mario and celebrating this era, journey and R&B. It is an invitation,” Mario explained to Rated R&B.
When asked what he hoped fans would take away from the album, Mario told Rated R&B: “I hope the fans are inspired. I hope they feel connected to me [and] to themselves. I hope it can ease some pain. I hope it can help them to understand how important the imagination is and how important being authentic is.”
Glad You Came is the follow-up to Mario’s 2018 album, Dancing Shadows. The former album includes additional production by Leon Thomas, Pop Wansel, Bynx and Dre Moon.
Mario, as well as Ne-Yo, are set to join Mary J. Blige’s For My Fans Tour, which begins Jan. 30 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The North American tour will make stops in Atlanta, Tampa, New Orleans, Houston, Chicago, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and more before concluding April 19 in Memphis.
Following the For My Fans Tour, Mario will embark on his headlining Glad You Came European Tour in the spring. Eric Bellinger will join him as a special guest.
Watch Mario’s “Keep Going (Aaaaahhhhh),” which he co-directed with James Bahman, here. Listen to the track below.
