Lil' Romeo, Madea's Witness Protection
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$5 Million
"I feel like my biggest competition is myself. A lot of kids get caught up in the comparing game - comparing themselves with Michael Jackson, comparing themselves with Michael Jordan. You gotta be your best. You gotta overcome your own fears."
What hasn't Lil' Romeo done? A list of jobs he hasn't held would almost be shorter than the list of jobs he has. Son of iconic rapper Master P, Lil' Romeo was born into the music business, but far from getting buy as simply a junior version of his famous father, Romeo set out to make his own mark on the world as a rapper, singer, actor, businessman and all around renaissance man.
"I feel nobody has limits. It's all in your head. If you have a big dream, go after it and go get it."
No Limit
"Being the son of a father who works so hard, I always wanted to be able take a lot of load off of my dad so he can just relax."
Born August 19, 189 in New Orleans to rappers Master P and Sonya C, Romeo's family also includes uncles C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker, cousin Mo B. Dick, and sister Cymphonique Miller. Romeo may be the youngest rapper ever to be signed to a major label, becoming a No Limit soldier under his father's Soulja Music Entertainment subsidiary at just five years old, landing the deal by writing a rap for his dad.
In his early teens, Romeo adopted the stage name Lil' Romeo and recorded his self-titled debut album. The first single, "My Baby" (2001), hit the top spot on the R&B/Hip-hop singles chart, carrying the album to number six on the Billboard 200, and number five on R&B/Hip-hop albums, being certified gold in its first year, selling more than half a million copies in the US. The same year he featured on "That's Kool" with Silkk the Shocker, with Silkk's album hitting an incredible two million sales. Here was proof that Romeo was not merely getting by on nepotism, he actually had the talent to top the charts.
Throughout the early 2000s, Romeo maintained a strong career as a recording artist, releasing two more albums under the Lil' Romeo moniker, eventually changing his name to simply "Romeo" for his fourth album, Lottery (2006), and began working as an actor, featuring in small parts on a number of TV shows before getting his own series, Romeo! (2003-06) on Nickelodeon.
The same year that he dropped the "Lil'" from his name, Romeo starred in God's Gift (2006), directed by his father and featuring a soundtrack by Romeo. The film follows the struggles of a young boxer dealing with a troubled home life and matters of faith. A number of leading roles would follow, eventually leading him to a part in the Tyler Perry film Madea's Witness Protection (2012). Romeo plays Jake, a bumbling robber who ultimately shows that he has a good heart, if not always the best sense. The role allowed Romeo to show off his dramatic range to a wide audience, creating a character who could get a laugh while also drawing the audience's sympathy.
In 2007, Romeo won a scholarship to attend the University of Southern California to play for the USC Trojans. He made a strong showing but was ultimately dropped from the team in 2010.
Renaissance Man
As Romeo's career progressed he began to branch out more and more, no longer content to simply rap and act. In 2010 he launched his own clothing line, College Boyys, with the aim of promoting education while giving young people something hip to wear. "College Boyys clothing style is classy, cool, and urban with a message: It's actually cool to be smart." He began work on another clothing line, ROME Everything, in 2013. Miller again promoted education in 2013, appearing in a series of ads for ICDC College.
In 2011 he modeled for TROIX magazine, and appeared on Dancing with the Stars (2011) for the twelfth season. "I didn't even dance at my high school prom, and I have turned down so many movie roles because I didn't know how to dance."
In recent years, Romeo continues to perform and record, but is largely devoted to his record label, No Limit Forever Records. Romeo founded the label in 2010, drawing on his experience as a recording artist and son of hip-hop mogul Master P. In 2011 the label signed a number of underground rappers including Miss Chee, Jamaican singer Kay-I, and rock band SouthDown, expanding the label to cover more than just R&B and rap. In 2015 Romeo even signed his own dad, with the group Money Mafia, featuring Master P, Ace B, Eastwood, Flight Boy, and Maserati Rome, among other No Limit Forever artists. An independent label, No Limit Forever seeks out underground artists and gives them a platform to reach a wider audience through mixtape, collaborations and albums.
It's not hard to find examples of young actors and musicians who got their start thanks to famous parents, but it's difficult to find young artists who live up to the expectations placed on them because of their pedigree, and for every Peter Fonda or Jaden Smith, there are hundreds of celebrity kids who never fully capitalized on the opportunities they were given when it came time to shine. Romeo's ambitious career stands apart from pack as he has established himself as a chart-topping performer in his own right, a savvy businessman, a capable actor in both comedy and drama, and a public figure with an important message.
"My dad always taught me if I have my education, anything is possible."
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