Background and career
Percy Romeo Miller (born August 19, 1989), also known by his stage name Romeo (formerly Lil' Romeo), is an American rapper, singer, actor and television personality. He gained fame as a rapper in the early 2000s after signing with his father, Master P's record label No Limit Records. His 2001 debut single, "My Baby" peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded his debut studio album Lil' Romeo, which peaked at number six on the US Billboard 200. In 2002, Miller released his second album Game Time, which charted at number 33 on the US Billboard 200. In 2004, Miller released his third album Romeoland, which charted at number 70, and in 2006, he released the digital album Lottery under the name Romeo. That same year, Miller released an accompanying soundtrack to his film God's Gift; his first explicit album. To date, it has sold over 300,000 units. In 2007, Miller was offered and accepted a scholarship to play basketball for the USC Trojans, at the University of Southern California. He played basketball for the Trojans under his birth name, and played for the team until 2010. Aside from music, Miller has also worked as an actor and was given his own television series on Nickelodeon titled Romeo! in 2002, which ran for three seasons. Miller starred in the feature films Jumping the Broom (2011) and Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection (2012). Miller founded the record labels Guttar Music, Take a Stand, The Next Generation and No Limit Forever Records in 2010.
Miller was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a son of rapper and entrepreneur Master P and former rapper Sonya C. He is a nephew of rappers C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker, cousin of producer, singer, and rapper Mo B. Dick, and a brother of singer and actress Cymphonique Miller. Romeo was signed to No Limit's subsidiary label Soulja Music Entertainment at the age of five, after he wrote a rap to his father.
As Lil' Romeo, his debut album was the self-titled Lil' Romeo. It contains the hit single "My Baby" that charted No. 1 for R&B/Hip-hop Singles. The album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. On July 28, 2001, it was certified Gold by the RIAA for selling 500,000 copies in the United States. Also in 2001, he was featured on his uncle Silkk the Shocker's remix single of "That's Kool", which was also featured on his own album.
In 2002, a year later after his debut album, Miller put out his second studio album, Game Time. It peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard 200 and No. 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It spawned the Billboard-charting single "2-Way" that charted to No. 66 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It also spawned a second single "True Love" which charted at No. 16 under the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
In 2004, Miller released his third studio album Romeoland via The New No Limit and Koch, it would be Miller's last studio album to feature himself billed as Lil' Romeo; it was not as successful in sales. Romeoland charted at No. 70 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 29 on the Top Rap Albums chart.
In 2005, Miller, along with his father Master P, founded a new record label titled Guttar Music Entertainment. Also in 2005, Miller, along with his brother Valentino Miller and their three cousins C-Los, Lil' D and Willie J, formed the rap group Rich Boyz. They released their debut album titled Young Ballers: The Hood Been Good to Us via Guttar Music on November 22, 2005. The group later disbanded. On April 4, 2006, Miller released his debut digital album Lottery via Guttar Music Entertainment, UrbanDigital and GoDigital Music Group, it was Miller's first album released with his official name changed to Romeo. On December 12, 2006, Miller released an album titled God's Gift via Guttar Music, UrbanDigital and GoDigital Music Group, it served as the soundtrack to the same name independent film Miller's father Master P had directed and produced, it was also Miller's first album to be classified as explicit. Both albums contained the song "U Can't Shine Like Me", which was a direct response to fellow rapper/actor Bow Wow, who fans believed dissed Miller and his father Master P in his song "Fresh Azimiz". In 2007, Miller and his father Master P started a non-explicit record label titled Take A Stand Records. They also formed a new group called Miller Boyz. On September 4, 2007, they would release their debut album titled Hip Hop History via Take A Stand Records, UrbanDigital and GoDigital Music Group.
