Bow Wow & Omarion "Face Off" (#11 DEBUT)

[busyboy]

Bow Wow, Omarion Teaming For 'Event' Album

May 09, 2007, 3:30 PM ET
Gary Graff, Detroit

Rapper Bow Wow and R&B heartthrob Omarion are getting ready to start work on a joint album project, a two-CD set the two plan to release before the end of the year.

Bow Wow tells Billboard.com that he and Omarion expect to hit the studio before the end of May. "Me and O have been trying to put this together for so many years, and now we've got the opportunity to do it," he says. "We're in the creative process right now, still trying to come up with a title and everything. Me and him are coming up with ideas daily, so the process is gonna go real smooth. We're anxious to get in the studio together and make this whole thing happen."

The Atlanta-based MC (real name Shad Gregory Moss) says he expects the resulting album "to be an event" when it's released. "I'm not even calling it an album," Bow Wow says. "It's gonna be a special event. It's gonna be crazy, something the people have been waiting on -- the girls have been waiting on -- for years."

The two performers are hardly strangers, having partnered on past Scream tours, while former B2K frontman Omarion (ne Omari Ishmael Grandberry) appeared on Bow Wow's 2004 single "Let Me Hold You."

"He's one of my best friends," Bow Wow says of Omarion. "So any time you get a chance to work with somebody you're best friends with, it's not even gonna be like work. It's gonna be like working with family."

Bow Wow is currently touring to promote his fifth album, "The Price of Fame," and will have an as-yet-unnamed song on the upcoming "Rush Hour 3" soundtrack, which will also feature Janet Jackson.

In addition, he's launching his own label, LBW Entertainment, which features fledgling artists such as Young Jinsu and Clee-O. The musical projects have, however, put a hold on his acting career, which includes roles in the films "Like Mike," "Roll Bounce" and "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," as well as TV's "Smallville."

"I think this year's gonna be more of a music year for me," Bow Wow says, "and I think that next year I'll have time to get into some movies. I may do some TV shows here and there, different things like that. But I'm devoting a lot of time to the next big thing, which is this Bow Wow/Omarion project."

[Jay D83]

5/5 yawns. Both of them need to sit down and leave this music thang for the grown ups.

[elementd5]

Wow a Bow Wow & Jant collabo? That sounds promising, shoot all of Bow Wow's R&B collabo's are hot & it must be produced by JD.

[diamond]

looking forward to this but only for Omarion. Bow Wow needs to quit.

[diamond]

Bow Wow & Omarion Join Forces to Create Collaborative Album
By Columbia Records
May 30, 2007, 09:30

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The chart-topping multi-platinum hip-hop dynamos Bow Wow and Omarion have joined forces to create a new collaborative collection that promises to become one of the major musical events of 2007. The top secret Bow Wow-Omarion project will be released Tuesday, November 13.

While details of the Bow Wow-Omarion project remain under wraps, the new album marks the culmination of a joint collaborative process dating back to 2005, when Omarion's vocal contributions to "Let Me Hold You," the first single from Bow Wow's fourth album, Wanted, peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Bow Wow his first-ever Top 10 single and Omarion his first Top 10 as a solo artist.

That same year, Bow Wow and Omarion hit the road as co-headliners on the SRO "Scream Tour IV Presents: The Heart Throb Tour."

"Me and O have been trying to put this together for so many years, and now we've got the opportunity to do it," Bow Wow told Billboard.com earlier this month. "We're in the creative process right now, coming up with ideas daily, so the process is real smooth. We're anxious to make this whole thing happen. It's gonna be a special event. It's gonna be crazy, something the people have been waiting on -- the girls have been waiting on -- for years. O's one of my best friends. Anytime you get a chance to work with somebody you're best friends with, it's not even work, it's like working with family."

Omarion shares his best friend's enthusiasm for the as-yet-unnamed project. "This isn't about money, this is about music," says Omarion. "We both started young and have grown up together, working on the same tours, and have developed our identity in the music world. Jay-Z and R Kelly were the first big R&B/Rap combo, and we have great respect for them and have been inspired by them, but we still want to create something we can call our own. We just want to do our own thing. We want to have a great time and make good music for our fans. This is gonna be fun, so 'World, Watch out! We're coming!'"

Currently on the road with his "Price Of Fame Tour," Bow Wow is riding the success of his latest Top 10 album, The Price Of Fame, which reached #6 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The Price Of Fame kicked out a string of hit singles including the #1 Hot Rap Tracks chartbuster "Shortie Like Mine" as well as "I'm A Flirt" and "Outta My System."

Released in December 2006, The Price of Fame is the first new studio album from Bow Wow since July 2005 when his RIAA platinum-certified Wanted debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 200 and generated the smash singles "Let Me Hold You" (featuring Omarion) (#1 Rap, #2 R&B/Hip-Hop, #4 Hot 100) and "Like You" (featuring Ciara) (#1 Rap, #1 R&B Hip-Hop, #3 Hot 100).

Bow Wow -- whose film credits include "Like Mike" (one of the 50 Top Grossing films of 2002), "All About The Benjamins" (2003), "Johnson Family Vacation" (2004), "Roll Bounce" and "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" (2006). This past year, he also starred in the CW hit television series, "Smallville."

Bow Wow first burst on the scene back in 2000 -- under the wing of super producer Jermaine Dupri -- with his debut album, Beware of Dog, which went on to sell more than three million copies while solidifying his status as an authentic hip-hop heartthrob.

Bow Wow took his brand of rap to the next level with 2001's Doggy Bag, hitting the road in support of his multi-platinum sophomore CD with the sold- out "SCREAM Tour II," wowing fans all over the country with hits like "Take Ya Home" and "Thank You."

With his third album, 2003's Unleashed, Bow Wow became more directly involved with writing and producing his music, creating a collection directly from the heart, conveying a more personal overview of life from Bow Wow's perspective.

He is the youngest musician to open the Grammy Awards, is the first "kid" to be included in Vanity Fair's prestigious annual music issue (October 2001), and entered "The Guinness Book of World Records" as the youngest solo rapper to hit #1 on the U.S. charts.

Bow Wow is launching his own media company, LBW Entertainment, which handles emerging artists including Young Jinsu and Clee-O.

With numerous hit singles, platinum-plus albums, sold-out tours, starring roles in hit films, and a place in "The Guinness Book of World Records" already on his resume, Bow Wow continues to prove that he's the 100% real deal with the indisputable goods: a bona fide superstar blessed with talent, tenacity, and a deep connection to his audience.

R&B superstar Omarion rang in 2007 with 21, the year's first #1 album. The performer's second solo album (and first on Columbia Records) entered the Billboard Top 200 best-selling albums and the R&B sales charts at #1, mirroring the achievement of his debut solo album, O, which entered both those charts at #1 in February 2005. An important new voice in contemporary R&B and hip-hop, Omarion is one of a select group of artists to have achieved back-to- back #1 debuts on both the Hot 100 and the R&B charts with two consecutive albums.

Born and raised in Inglewood, California, Omarion rose to fame while still a teen as a member of the groundbreaking urban "boy band" B2K. His soulful vocals, riveting stage presence, and undeniable charisma helped B2K score a hit with the group's very first single, "Uh Huh," in 2001; achieve gold status with the group's self-titled debut album in 2002; and go RIAA platinum with the group's best-selling sophomore outing, Pandemonium! in 2003.

Omarion's undeniable media-geniality has led to numerous television guest appearances including "Punk'd," "The Sharon Osbourne Show," "Regis & Kelly" and "Soul Train." In addition to his musical performances, Omarion has acted on the big screen with key roles in "You Got Served" and "Fat Albert." Omarion stars in "Somebody Help Me," an innovative horror film directed by Chris Stokes and may be seen in the upcoming films "Reggaeton" and Tyger ("Menace II Society") Williams' "Street Soldier."
www.urbanmecca.com/artman/publish/article_1064.shtml

[SHOOTER]

HORRIBLE idea.

[busyboy]

"Designated Driver" (first single?) has leaked.

[busyboy]

R. Kelly Gives Bow Wow & Omarion Thumbs Up On Collabo Album

by Janeé Bolden

With their collaborative album Face Off due out this December, SOHH caught up with rap heart throb Bow Wow and R&B sensation Omarion to address the inevitable comparisons to R. Kelly and Jay-Z's Best of Both Worlds project.

The partnership between hip-hop and R&B is nothing new, but when it comes to rapper/singer joint ventures there aren't any more storied than the one between Kells and Hov. Despite the Best of Both World's legacy, Omarion and Bow Wow are already doing their best to distance Face Off from the project that preceded it.

"We definitely respect Jay-Z and R. Kelly because I would say they have influenced not even just us, but the game," Omarion told SOHH. "But one thing that we want people to understand is that they [are] who they are and Bow and O is who [we] are. And what we're going to bring to the table is totally different than what they brought to the table."

"Totally different," Bow Wow added, "I can see the comparisons but musically... totally different."

Since they've both made successful transitions from child to adult superstars, made big chips for their roles in the Scream tours, and hit the studio together ("Let Me Hold You"), the young music stars say the major difference between them and the elder duo is that shared history.

"Our story is different than theirs," Omarion said. "Our story is that we really grew up together in the industry."

While the story may be different, some of the players may well be the same. In fact, Bow Wow says that when R. Kelly heard about the Face Off project, he jumped at the opportunity to get involved.

"Rob's like 'Yall doin the best of both worlds? What? That's me, that's what I do. Ya'll need to go ahead and let me bless that track. Ya'll know I got something for ya'll. Ya'll need to just come on ahead with it.'"

"We already got they blessings on it now the people gotta respect it and we gon' make them respect it with the music," Bow Weezy continued.

Anticipated for release sometime this December, the dual project follows solo releases for both Omarion (21) and Bow Wow (The Price of Fame) which were both released last year.

[Player211]

I thought Bow Wow was retireing? Anyways, I'm interested in hearing this. Bow Wow's last album was decent. Omarion's last album was half way decent.

[sdot23]

That "Designated Driver" track is alright...

[SHOOTER]

If Bow Wow nor Omarion can sell 1 million copies of a CD on their own, I guarantee they won't get there together.

[rehab]

Combine the sales of Bow Wow and Omarion's latest cd and you have the sales of this album...800k?

they're both singles artists...

[Live Your Life]

Bow Wow's sold way more albums than Omarion. I think his first two albums went multiplatinum. Omarion's first album sold like 800k, and "21" sold a little over 350k.

[busyboy]

Bow Wow, Omarion Brush Off Rumored Relationships While Working On Joint Album
'We're gonna smack them upside the face,' Bow promises of Face Off, due December 4.

By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Sway Calloway

NEW YORK — Does Bow Wow want to be one of the Hottest MCs in the Game? Sure. Is Omarion interested in living up to his potential as an R&B superstar? No doubt. But what do the guys think about their exes or rumored girlfriends? The duo say they're definitely not sweating the ladies.

While the two friends were in town last week recording their December 4 joint LP, Face Off, they enjoyed some loud laughs when asked about their love lives — both current and defunct.

First it was Bow, answering the question about Ciara, the muse for his hit record "Outta My System". Of course he's seen the video for her "Can't Let Him Go" and heard the talk that she is supposedly dating 50 Cent now. So is he salty that Fif may be getting with his ex-girl?

"Not at all," he insisted. He also said he's fine with her going out with anybody she wants to.

"Once you solidified what's gonna happen, let them live life," Bow said. "That's what life is all about. She's gonna go 'head and see other guys as she should, 'cause please believe, I'm definitely gonna get mine in. That's just how the cookie crumbles. I've been on these Web sites [in pictures] with about four [rumored girlfriends]. I'm living my life and having fun. It is what it is."

One of the ladies Bow has been linked to is Reverend Run's youngest daughter, Angela Simmons. Photos of the two at various events have been all over the Web.

"Yeah, what's up with Ang?" Omarion chuckled.

"We kickin' it," Bow said. "We go out, have dinner, lunch, little stuff like that. Breakfast. Nothing wrong with breakfast." He also urged us to "stay tuned" to see how that relationship develops.

Omarion had his own explaining to do as well. His fans want to know what the deal is with him and Rihanna. Gossip pages have linked them as well.

"That's my homegirl," O answered a little bit more seriously. "That's a good friend of mine. We go out."

So would it be fair to say they have a romantic relationship?

"No, it wouldn't be fair," he retorted. "We are just friends. She's a really cool girl. She's a cool friend. Bow knows, we all hung out together. We're all friends."

Bow and O have had their own share of ups and downs as friends, but for the most part, things have been cool and they finally decided to join forces for an LP. They had momentum swinging their way.

"I said, 'It's only right. If we don't do it now, we'll probably never get the opportunity to do it again,' " Bow explained about getting the project off the ground.

"It felt right," O chimed in.

Obviously, supergroups have been forged and have disintegrated in the past, forever damaging the friendships of the parties involved — à la Jay-Z and R. Kelly's Best of Both Worlds album and tour and the group Lucy Pearl, which was made up of members from Tony! Toni! Toné!, En Vogue and A Tribe Called Quest.

"It's not going to happen because of the relationship," Omarion said, nixing any possibility of a blowup. "We actually went through a point in our relationship where we wasn't talking. A couple of times. It's to me what makes our relationship real. The other day we were debating about a record, going back and forth yelling. That's what makes this relationship real. This bond is unbreakable. We really grew up together in the industry."

A record featuring Bow and O called "Designated Driver" hit the Net on Monday. There's no word on whether the song will make the Face Off cut. In the song, they tell girls who may have had a little too much to drink that they will drive them home.

"I'm your designated driver, buckle up girl, 'cause I'm taking you home tonight/ I'm laying you up in my bed," O sings on the hook.

"If I throw it at you, can you throw that a-- back?" Bow raps.

"We're going to make them respect our grind and our hustle, the both of us," Bow promised. "They ain't gonna have no choice. It's automatically gonna catch their attention. It's gonna be like nothing they never heard before. They know it's in me to become one of the hottest MCs. They know it's in him to become one of the hottest R&B entertainers, period. We know it's in us, so we gonna bring it out. We're gonna smack them upside the face."

[rehab]

Designated Driver is a hot Shut Up And Drive response! LOL. I liked how they talked about Ciara and Rihanna,

[sdot23]

First single "Hood Star" is out now.

[SHOOTER]

Horrible.

[sdot23]

I actually like it.

[**βécky**™]

^ me too! im looking forward to the album!

[busyboy]

Bow Wow, Omarion Set Date For Collaborative CD

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Bow Wow and Omarion's collaborative album, news of which was first reported here in May, will be out before the end of the year. "Face Off" will arrive Dec. 11 via Columbia as a standard 12-track CD or as a CD/DVD combo featuring behind-the-scenes footage and videos from the artists' prior albums.

Album track "Hood Star" has been making the rounds online since last month, and another song, "Girlfriend" is also at radio now. A video for the latter is scheduled to premiere on BET next week, while a video for album track "Hey Baby" is being timed to the album's release week.

The two performers are hardly strangers, having partnered on past Scream tours, while former B2K frontman Omarion appeared on Bow Wow's 2004 single "Let Me Hold You."

"He's one of my best friends," Bow Wow told Billboard.com of Omarion. "So any time you get a chance to work with somebody you're best friends with, it's not even gonna be like work.

Bow Wow will be on the road starting in early December with Chris Brown, with Omarion scheduled to make select appearances on the bill in major markets.

[calispartan]

aren't they dating each other?

[Player211]

It ain't long now before they do!

[sdot23]

"Slam" featuring Chris Brown leaked...sounds good.

[**βécky**™]

^ yeah I just heard it, I like it!

[busyboy]

A clip of "She's Leaving Me" leaked too.

[SHOOTER]

[The Northern Star⭐]

Ew. lol

[marcjm]

That has to be either one of the best or worst CD covers anyone has seen. I don't know which category it fits in for me. It's just weird. It would've been nice for it to come out today on Halloween cuz it sholl is freakish.

[sdot23]

Ummm....WTF! That is a HORRIBLE album cover!

[Taylor.]

This is the "censored" version. The other one is for the deluxe uncensored edition.