Omarion | 21 | IN STORES NOW!! ("Beg For It")

[SHOOTER]

Made For TV.

[musicmania001]

He cant sing very well either. His voice is practically annoying......

[reception]

Reviewed by Steve Jones
USA Today

Omarion, 21: (* * 1/2 out of four) Post-teen-idol R&B

The former B2K frontman continues his transition from teen heartthrob to full-grown romantic on his second solo album. Thematically, it’s easy to see how all of that youthful yearning has now given way to more tangible experiences and morning-after contemplations. Omarion doesn’t have the range of some of his more dynamic contemporaries, but he conveys an easy likability that enhances his appeal. Not that that can save some of the songs from being somewhat innocuous. Still, he finds the right groove often enough to deliver a solid overall effort. The more mature material suits him, and he manages to be sexy without being overbearing. Omarion may still be a work in progress, but on 21, he is surely moving forward.

[SHOOTER]

I'm still wearing this album out. Had "Just That Sexy" been replaced with a stronger track, the album would be flawless (all things considered) for me.

[reception]

Omarion takes control with 2nd solo album

By Richard Harrington
Washington Post

On Dec. 30, 2003, Omarion played his last concert with chart-topping urban boy band B2K in Washington, D.C. At the time, no one, including Omarion, knew it would be B2K's last concert; it was just one of the last stops on another sold-out tour.

The end came a day later when Omarion was the only group member to show up for a Philadelphia concert, as simmering internal tensions finally reached a critical stage. As a result, it turned out to be his solo debut, albeit not the way he had expected.

That must have bugged the singer-dancer-actor, who headlined last year's "Scream" tour (aka "The Heartthrobs" tour) with pal Bow Wow, best bud Marques Houston, Bobby Valentino, Pretty Ricky and B5. This year's edition of the BET-sponsored tour, billed as "Ruff & Ready, Young & Sexy," finds Omarion headlining.

Omarion himself was 15 when he went out on the first "Scream" tour with B2K (the tour was named for the consistent, high-decibel audience reaction). At 22 — 1 1/2 months past the symbolic age celebrated on his sophomore solo album, just released.

The album "21" is reminiscent of Janet Jackson's "Control" or, going back further, Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life," in which young artists began taking more control over the content and direction of their careers.

"It played out wonderfully," Omarion says. "It was, 'Yes, I want to do this record. ... No, I don't really like this, let's try something else,' and not having everybody look at you with a raised eyebrow, like, 'He doesn't really know what he's talking about.' But I've been doing this since I was 15, and, for me, it was good to be able to make a suggestion or to have a comment or a question and not be overlooked."

Omarion made his solo debut in 2005 with "O," which opened at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. The singer addressed the B2K breakup in "Growing Pains," as well as in his concurrently released book, "O."

If "O" seemed a conscious move away from B2K's smooth R&B pop, with the occasional misstep into "adult" lyrics, "21" is the work of a singer (and more involved lyricist) with more traditional romantic interests.

For instance, the album's first single, "Entourage," asks a potential girlfriend not to be "in my entourage," but to "be my entourage."

"Made for TV" addresses fame, but in unexpected ways, as Omarion insists, "I don't want something that's made for TV/ I'd rather fall in love with something that's made for me."

[Cooler than ever!]

I like midnight.

[SHOOTER]

His label is going with "Electric" for the 3rd single.

[damnnnitzzjohn]

ok

[reception]

omariononline.com/icebox
Show us your lip sync'ing skills! Videotape yourself singing to
Omarion's "Ice Box" and enter to...

WIN A TRIP TO LOS ANGELES TO SEE OMARION
ON TOUR WITH NE-YO AND YOUNG JOC!

www.youtube.com/group/omarion

LOL!

[areyoureadytojump]

Last week:

3 EPIC 1 10 27 OMARION 21 23,852 -43 42,071 186,386

[SHOOTER]

I think he'll sell about what he sold last time. I'm glad "Ice Box" is picking up at radio though!

[d.t.m]

ohshooter said:

I think he'll sell about what he sold last time. I'm glad "Ice Box" is picking up at radio though!

Timbaland has the Midas Touch in music now.

[Linnethia Monique]

dointhamost said:

ohshooter said:

I think he'll sell about what he sold last time. I'm glad "Ice Box" is picking up at radio though!

Timbaland has the Midas Touch in music now.

Actually The Royal Court but im not into telling the story.

[ruby1]

areyoureadytojump said:

Last week:

3 EPIC 1 10 27 OMARION 21 23,852 -43 42,071 186,386

Wow thats not that good,maybe Ice Box will help it in the long run.

[areyoureadytojump]

2/10/07 chart:

34 Omarion - 21 20,857 22,776 -8% 228,948

[SHOOTER]

I'm glad this isn't sinking like a stone. "Ice Box" is picking up at radio!

[Rabbit]

ohshooter said:

I'm glad this isn't sinking like a stone. "Ice Box" is picking up at radio!

Me 2

[SHOOTER]

His official 3rd single will be "Midnight"!!!!!!

[areyoureadytojump]

3/3/07 chart:

8 COL 45 61 71 OMARION 21 15,280 -2% 15,609 280,480

[damnnnitzzjohn]

Wow...i thoght this was gold or close too

[SHOOTER]

It will get there soon enough.

[Speak!]

I really hope it goes up soon! The album comes out in the UK next week. 26th Feb.

[SHOOTER]

"Ice Box" is sooooooooo close to the top-10 on the Hot 100!! I hope he can crack it!!

[Speak!]

ohshooter said:

"Ice Box" is sooooooooo close to the top-10 on the Hot 100!! I hope he can crack it!!

SAME AS!!!!!!

It should really help the album too.

[Speak!]

The album is out in the UK and single cd is out March 5th.

How is the single and album doing in usa anyone?

[SHOOTER]

Album's sold about 290-300k and "Ice Box" is #12 on the Hot 100.

[areyoureadytojump]

3/17/07 chart:

10 COL 71 70 74 OMARION 21 11,010 -12% 12,458 303,948

[reception]

Mar 15, 5:14 PM EDT
Q&A With R&B Singer Omarion

By ALICIA QUARLES
Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- At an age when many are leaving college and embarking on their first professional job, Omarion is firmly cemented in his third career.

He started off as a rapper and has dabbled in acting, including the movie "You Got Served." But his biggest success has been as a singer. He fronted the platinum-selling boy band B2K, and after they broke up in 2004, released a successful solo debut, "O."

His sophomore album, "21," could be even more successful. Like his previous effort, it debuted at the top of the charts when it was released in late December and he already has two hit singles from it - "Entourage" and "Ice Box."

Though technically Omarion is 22, "21" represents Omarion coming of age, as an artist and a young man.

AP: Are you trying to show a more mature side on this album?

Omarion: For this album it was definitely a more mature side of me. Not just with the topics or the writing, but just my image as well. If you look at the front cover of the CD I am rocking the suit. There is a real grown-up feel. That is the image I was looking for.

AP: You might sing and dance everyday, but weren't you a rapper at one point?

Omarion: Yeah. I was a rapper before I was a singer. That is how I got the name Omarion because I used to be part of this rap crew called The Wild Kingdom. One of the guys, Ruckus, he gave me my name Omarion, the young king.

AP: Why did you decide to focus on singing?

Omarion: Truthfully I was really young when I started that rap group and my mom said something to me. She knew exactly what to say to me at that time. ... She said to me, "Omari, you might want to sing." I said, "Why?" She said, "Because you know singers get all the women." I was like, "Okay." It stuck with me.

AP: Speaking of women, on your single "Ice Box," you sing about a girl who breaks your heart. Is this a true story?

Omarion: Yes. "Ice Box" is a true story. It is something that I knew would connect with a lot of men as well as women out there. Women have their anthems like, "To the left. To the left" (Beyonce's "Irreplaceable"). They have their records. Truthfully this is a record to me being an R&B cat. It is not super sensitive. It is not super soft. It is basically saying what it is. I got this ice box where my heart used to be. I do love you and care about you, but I am so cold. It is for the fellas.

AP. Since this girl has supposedly made your heart ice cold, do you think there is a woman out there who can melt it?

Omarion: With my experiences with relationships and love, you might be missing out on a good thing if you don't let your guard down. People are going to be who they are going to be. Sometimes you have to let your guard down in order to find that out.

AP. Do you see yourself getting married young?

Omarion: The thing is, being that I started so young, I would consider myself a lot more mature than the (average) 22-year-old man. I wouldn't mind getting married early. I just want to know that it is right. ... I wouldn't mind having somebody that is my best friend or somebody that I could look at and say that is wifey.

AP: You collaborated with Timbaland for "Ice Box." He is having a huge amount of success right now. As an artist, what level did he push you to?

Omarion: For me, it is just the energy. Something that I find with a lot of people who have been in the game for a long time is that they are really nice people; so humble and kind. Having to work with Timbaland made me feel like everything that I have worked for was not done in vain. ... It wasn't like, "Let's make a phone call because I want to work with Timbaland." It was more like, "I really hope I work with that dude." It just happened. I give it up to the man upstairs, Jehovah, for helping me with that one.

AP: Is there any hope for a B2K reunion?

Omarion: I wouldn't want to jerk anyone's chain and say yes. We are all in different places right now. One thing we were all taught in being in B2K was that in order for a group to work you have to share on vision. I know we are all divided mentally in becoming our own men. I am becoming who I want to be. The other members are becoming who they want to be. The business side never mattered to me. We established a friendship and a brotherhood first. I can pick up the phone and call and check on them and they can do the same for me. More than anything, I love that we have a friendship. Besides anyone asking me will you guys do an album, I want them to know, our friendship is back. That is all that matters to me.

[Wavey✨️]

areyoureadytojump said:

3/17/07 chart:

10 COL 71 70 74 OMARION 21 11,010 -12% 12,458 303,948

Another Gold Plaque coming.

[SHOOTER]

I wonder who's gonna sell more in the long-run: O or Lloyd.