Grammy-nominated vocalist Mario – whose 2004 smash, “Let Me Love You,” spent nine weeks at number one and helped define early-2000s R&B – is back with a surprising but ultra-effective collaboration alongside Australian producer Levi. Their new single, “2 Little 2 Late,” reimagines JoJo’s “Too Little Too Late” with full Afro-house production flair, combining Mario’s timeless vocal tone with Levi’s driving rhythmic momentum. Already picking up traction across streaming platforms, the track is positioning itself as a standout crossover that bridges generations.
Levi has emerged as one of the most exciting voices in Afro-house and melodic club music, thanks to his breakout hit “JUMP” (which reworks Ginuwine’s “Pony”) – which has amassed over 200 million streams across DSPs – and sold-out sets spanning Australia to Europe. On “2 Little 2 Late,” he offers rich piano stabs, tribal percussion and a pulsing groove that lifts Mario’s vocal performance into peak dance-floor territory. The result is equally emotional and energetic – a rare feat in modern crossover singles.
This release also taps into a broader wave of nostalgia-driven collaborations, where artists from the 2000s revisit or repurpose past hits with today’s DJ/producers. Examples include Acraze & Cherish’s “Do It To It,” Dom Dolla & Nelly Furtado’s “Eat Your Man,” and Sebastian Ingrosso & Celine Dion’s “A New Day.” Mario and Levi’s version stands among these, proving that familiar voices and refreshed production can not only coexist, but shine.
Some of the biggest artists of the century have collaborated with DJ/producers since the dance music surge made its way Stateside in the early 2010s. With nostalgia having a cultural moment – and people wanting to hear things they’re already familiar with – artists who had smash hits in the early 2000s (and beyond) have teamed up with some of the strongest talents in the dance music circuit.
From the likes of Lady Gaga (White Shadow, Gesaffelstein, Madeon), Justin Bieber (Diplo, Skrillex), Britney Spears (Sebastian Ingrosso, BURNS, David Guetta, Afrojack), Ariana Grande (Zedd), The Weeknd (Daft Punk, Justice), Coldplay (The Chainsmokers), Dua Lipa (Martin Garrix), Selena Gomez (Marshmello, Zedd), Sia (David Guetta), OneRepublic (Alesso, David Guetta), Halsey (The Chainsmokers), Katy Perry (Calvin Harris), Jonas Brothers (Marshmello), Travis Scott (Calvin Harris), Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora (Avicii) and many more – these collaborations with DJ/producers resulted in chart-topping, buzzworthy, smash hits.
And we’re seeing it here between Mario and Levi. With its rich blend of soulful legacy and contemporary rhythm, “2 Little 2 Late” confirms Mario and Levi as a powerful pairing. It’s a track that embraces the global dance wave while honoring the emotional core of R&B — and it’s only the beginning.
