Main One (song)

"Main One" is a song by American singer Mario originally released on July 15, 2022, featuring Canadian singer Tory Lanez. Following Lanez's 2023 arrest for the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion, the prior version was removed from all streaming platforms, and "Main One" was re-released as a single featuring American rappers Tyga and Lil Wayne on July 21, 2023.

Background and release
Following his successful performance on the Verzuz stage against singer Omarion, Mario released "Main One", in collaboration with Tory Lanez, on July 15, 2022, as the follow-up to his 2021 single "Get Back" featuring Chris Brown. The collaboration received some controversy on social media, due to Lanez being accused of shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. Mario indirectly addressed the controversy during a livestream and stated: “As an independent artist doing his thing, it’s a lot of artists that don’t work as hard as [Tory Lanez] do so regardless of whatever, the music is what it is […] the music is what you love people for. If y’all f**k with the music, f**k with it. If you don’t, we’re just gonna keep creating.” However, following Lanez's 2023 arrest for the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion, the prior version was removed from all streaming platforms, and "Main One" was re-released as a single featuring American rappers Tyga and Lil Wayne on July 21, 2023.

The re-release marked Mario's first single following the sign of his deal with Epic Records in partnership with his imprint, New Citizen, being his first major-label deal in nearly a decade and his return to Sony Music Entertainment, the parent company of Epic Records. He was previously signed to RCA Records but left in the early 2010s to pursue his independent journey. “Right now, Epic comprises some of the greats in the music game like Sylvia Rhone and Ezekiel Lewis. I’ve been independent for eight years, so this is definitely a new chapter for me and New Citizen,” says Mario about his new label home. “We’re going to be one of the chariots for R&B, and we’re bringing it back.”

Mario commented on the song's lyrical content in 2023: "I think one of the most powerful things a man can do is give a woman the option to choose. It’s basically telling a girl, ‘I got options, and I’m sure you do too, but I’d rather you be the main one.’", further talking about Tyga and Lil Wayne's apprearences: “A night out in Cali turned into a studio session with Tyga. We went back and forth wiring the verses and hook, and I knew Wayne would be the perfect addition. I worked with Wayne on the ‘Crying Out for Me’ remix so it’s legendary to have three vets on this record!”.

Music video
The music video for "Main One" was directed by Ben Marc, and released on August 3, 2023. Rap Radar commented that in the video "the R&B singer’s in great company at his lavish pad filled with bikini-clad women at the pool".