40 Fun Facts About Austin Mahone

Which rapper, of whom Austin Mahone was a huge fan, guests on his 2012 single "Say You're Just a Friend"?

Flo Rida co-wrote the song as well as rapping on it. Mahone later called him a super nice guy, talented and very humble.

Austin Mahone's "Say You're Just a Friend" borrows its chorus from a 1989 single by which rapper?

Biz Markie took "Just a Friend" to number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, his most successful single. Mahone's song interpolates its chorus rather than sampling the recording.

Austin Mahone shares a first name with the Texas capital, but in which other Texas city was he born?

San Antonio is where Mahone was born and raised, and the title of his 2023 album A Lone Star Story nods to growing up there.

Austin Mahone built his first following as a Texas teenager by posting pop covers on which website?

YouTube is where Mahone began sharing cover versions in January 2011, promoting each clip so hard that he reached 20,000 subscribers within two months.

Austin Mahone's 2011 cover of "Mistletoe" paid tribute to which pop star he cites as his inspiration?

Justin Bieber's "Mistletoe" was the song Mahone chose for his first full music video, and the cover drew more than 3 million views within a couple of months.

Which rapper guests on both "Mmm Yeah" and "Lady", two Austin Mahone singles released three years apart?

Pitbull appears on both: "Mmm Yeah" reached number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Lady" gave Mahone his first number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart.

Austin Mahone was one of the opening acts for Taylor Swift in 2013 on which of her tours?

The Red Tour began its North American leg in March 2013 with Ed Sheeran opening every show there. Mahone was one of several acts added on selected dates.

Austin Mahone's 2023 album A Lone Star Story left teen pop behind for which genre he grew up on?

Country was new ground for Mahone, who said it still felt right because he grew up on the music. He began the album at the start of the pandemic, so it was years in the making.

Austin Mahone's "Dirty Work" became a surprise hit in Japan in 2017 after which kind of performer used it?

A comedian, Blouson Chiemi, used the song as background music for her popular "Career Woman" routine, sending the two-year-old single to number four on the Japan Hot 100.

Austin Mahone's "Dirty Work" video, with its to-camera interviews and dancing co-workers, was inspired by which sitcom?

The Office, in its American version, was the model, with Mahone as the workplace heart-throb chasing the new girl. An earlier black-and-white video was shot but never released.

Austin Mahone's video for "What About Love" won him which award at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards?

Artist to Watch went to Mahone for the Colin Tilley-directed clip, which later became his first video to pass 100 million views on Vevo.

Austin Mahone said his bouncy single "Dirty Work" had the vibe of which hit sung by Bruno Mars?

Uptown Funk was Mahone's own comparison for the bouncy, funky jam, which Billboard's reviewer called his best and most ambitious single to date.

Which singer recorded "Magik 2.0" with Austin Mahone for The Smurfs 2 soundtrack and later dated him?

Becky G made the song with Mahone in 2013, and two years later he starred in her "Lovin' So Hard" video while the pair were dating.

Austin Mahone briefly dated which member of the girl group Fifth Harmony in 2014?

Camila Cabello was still in the group at the time. She left in late 2016 to go solo.

What name do Austin Mahone's millions of devoted fans go by?

Mahomies became a brand of its own, with the name printed on shirts, snapbacks, phone cases and wristbands.

Which 2014 Austin Mahone EP, featuring the single "Mmm Yeah", debuted at number five on the Billboard 200?

The Secret sold 46,000 copies in its first week, and it reached Europe four days before its North American release.

Austin Mahone described his 2014 EP as pop, R&B and dance mixed with the 1990s sound of which boy band?

Backstreet Boys were the touchstone, and reviewers heard it too, tracing the EP's hooks to the late-1990s teen pop of producer Max Martin.

After fans said they couldn't hear his voice on "Say You're Just a Friend", Austin Mahone issued it again in which form?

A piano version arrived in February 2013 with its own video, because Mahone wanted to reassure fans that he could really sing the song.

Austin Mahone's "Say You're Just a Friend" and "Say Somethin" each earned which certification from the RIAA?

Gold status went to both 2012 singles and to "What About Love" as well, while "Mmm Yeah" went one better and reached platinum.

Austin Mahone gave away his 2015 mixtape This Is Not the Album as a free download on which audio platform?

SoundCloud hosted the 2015 release, which Mahone named to make clear that his real debut album was still on the way.

The 1989 rap hit behind Austin Mahone's "Say You're Just a Friend" has a video starring its rapper as which composer?

Mozart, in a powdered wig and 18th-century clothes, is the costume the rapper wears to sing the chorus in a candlelit room.

Austin Mahone signed a 2012 deal to promote Trukfit, the clothing line of which rapper?

Lil Wayne's fashion line made the deal in November 2012, the same year Mahone signed his first record contract.

Which rapper joined Austin Mahone and Spanish singer Abraham Mateo on the 2017 single "Háblame Bajito"?

50 Cent said he knew it would be a success the first time he heard it. Mateo wrote and produced the song for his fifth studio album.

Austin Mahone played himself in the two-part 2013 series finale of which Nickelodeon show?

Big Time Rush bowed out with a finale set at a fictional awards show, where Nick Cannon and Karmin also appeared as themselves.

Which singer-songwriter wrote Austin Mahone's 2019 single "Why Don't We", a fusion of modern pop and old-school R&B?

Charlie Puth penned the song, which leans on 1990s influences. Mahone followed it that year with the singles "Anxious" and "Dancing with Nobody".

Austin Mahone made two appearances at fashion shows in Italy for which luxury fashion house?

Dolce & Gabbana was one of several fashion ties for Mahone, who began a campaign with Fossil in April 2017.

Which Dutch DJ joined Austin Mahone on "Creatures of the Night", premiered at Miami's Ultra Music Festival in 2017?

Hardwell issued the song through his own Revealed Recordings label. It topped the US Dance Club Songs chart, Mahone's second number one there.

Austin Mahone's 2017 single "Lady" reworks a chart-topping house hit from 2000 by which French duo?

Modjo became the first French group to debut at number one on the UK singles chart with the original, earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The moving-room concept of Austin Mahone's "Mmm Yeah" video recalls the 1996 "Virtual Insanity" clip by which band?

Jamiroquai's clip, directed by Jonathan Glazer, won four MTV Video Music Awards in 1997. Gil Green directed Mahone's take on the idea.

Austin Mahone filmed commercials for the Mexican snack Hot Nuts and for which fast-food chain?

McDonald's was one of several big brands to hire him. In December 2013 Aquafina named him a "Digital and Brand Strategist" for its FlavorSplash sparkling water.

After his fame cut short his time at high school, Austin Mahone was homeschooled at which relative's house?

His grandmother's house became his classroom once he and his mother had moved in with her parents, and the ballad "Not Far" on his first mixtape is dedicated to his grandmother.

In May 2016 Austin Mahone became a face of the American Icons campaign for which department store?

Macy's chose him months before his second mixtape, for which he said he recorded about 90 songs and kept the best eight.

Austin Mahone briefly attended a Texas high school named after which president's wife?

Lady Bird Johnson High School had Mahone for about a week: classmates kept photographing him in class, so his mother moved him to online lessons.

Which former American Idol judge wanted to sign Austin Mahone to Warner Bros. before he chose Chase and Republic?

Kara DioGuardi, a hit songwriter who judged the show's eighth and ninth seasons, made the most notable of the offers Mahone received in 2012.

Which Moroccan-Swedish producer, known for work with Lady Gaga, co-wrote and produced Austin Mahone's "What About Love"?

RedOne, born Nadir Khayat, made the track with Jimmy Joker at The Hit Factory in Miami and also sang backing vocals on it.

Which Philadelphia soul duo got a writing credit on Austin Mahone's "Say You're Just a Friend" via its borrowed chorus?

Gamble and Huff wrote "(You) Got What I Need" for soul singer Freddie Scott, and the 1989 rap hit that Mahone reworked had already borrowed from it.

Which singer, who broke through with "Cooler Than Me", co-wrote Austin Mahone's debut single "Say Somethin"?

Mike Posner shared the credit with Mahone, Brandon Green and Bruce Robinson. He has also written for Maroon 5, co-writing their hit "Sugar".

In 2013 Austin Mahone's record deal expanded to include which label co-founded by the rapper Birdman?

Cash Money Records, an imprint of Republic, had already released projects by Drake and Nicki Minaj when Mahone's contract became a three-way venture.

Which singer, cited by Austin Mahone as an influence, features on a free 2015 remix of "Dirty Work"?

T-Pain joined the remix in November 2015, a month before he also appeared among the guests on Mahone's first mixtape.

Which Atlanta rapper features on "Send It", one of two singles Austin Mahone released in August 2016?

Rich Homie Quan guested on one of the pair, and "Way Up" was the other. Mahone's second mixtape followed that December.