Culture
Omarion talks B2K reunion, allure in music videos, reclaiming the backflip & new millennium optimism
By: Ian Saint
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CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOUB) — R&B star Omarion, frontman of B2K, brings the Millennium Tour to Ohio with the group, alongside Bow Wow, Pretty Ricky, Amerie, Jeremih, Waka Flocka, Yung Joc, Crime Mob and Dem Franchize Boyz.
The tour stops at Cleveland’s Wolstein Center (2000 Prospect Ave. E) on Friday and Cincinnati’s Heritage Bank Center (100 Broadway) on April 24, the same day Omarion releases his new single, The One.
Omarion, who built his name with B2K and has sustained a solo R&B career while also appearing on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood, said Ohio holds a special place for him.
“Ohio is a special music place with amazing people,” he said. “Think about the cities around it: Ohio Players (Dayton), Bow Wow (Columbus), Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (Cleveland) introducing melody into rap. I can’t wait to play there.”
Omarion’s conversation with WOUB’s Ian Saint, edited for length and clarity, follows.
OMARION: Yeah, “optimism” is one word I lean on. Your attitude shapes your world. My career hasn’t always been positive; but optimism is a suit you can put on to shift what’s possible. It’s cool to step back (and realize how throughout) 20+ years being an entertainer, optimism has always been a conduit to landing places I’m meant to be. I’m grateful my group, along with Bow Wow and my peers, are still able to create that place for all the people that grew up with our music to come and relive those moments — because nostalgia is powerful in (inspiring) optimism to thrust forward, not just being a moment in time.
And you’re backflipping again.
OMARION: There’s something special about performing old songs and remembering your prior self. I stopped backflipping when I went solo. I remembered that in LA for our homecoming show. I’m seeing my man, Benson Boone, backflip off the piano; I said, “Nah, hold on. I’ve gotta bring my backflip back.” People might think it’s not smart at this age, but I’m working out every day. These knees are working, okay?
What’s your hardest choreography?
OMARION: I Get It In — literally singing upside-down, on my head. Shout-out to my choreographer, RoRo; coming off You Got Served, I was reaching for the ceiling of what I could do.
I love that you still produce proper music videos — production sets, special effects — even as an independent artist. Fantasy has only been out for a month, and already has over 1.4M views on YouTube. Some industry pundits argue, don’t spend money on music videos anymore; just post TikToks. Why do you still invest in music videos?
OMARION: “Going viral” didn’t exist in my core era; we (had) million-dollar videos, with the allure of dreaming — I feel that’s sometimes missing. Shout-out to my label, Create Music Group, for supporting my vision; and director Kimata, creating these vignettes of what the song truly represented: fantasy. Having a proper video serves purpose in being the catalyst for music’s dreaming element… that’s important to sell music, and I don’t think that will ever not be the case.
What excites you about The One video, that drops when you play Cincinnati?
OMARION: I was inspired by New Orleans’ second line — playing music through the streets, when they’re celebrating or someone passes away. The video takes you to a few of my favorite places through dance vignettes. Going through New York, I meet this girl and she takes me to Litefeet. Then we go to Chicago, do some Chicago footworking; then LA, with dances there.
We also created a line dance. I want to remind people that it’s important to dance through tumultuous times. Some of the greatest music happens when the country is in turmoil. The One also speaks to understanding the importance of loving yourself, then finding “the one” and understanding that relationships are you truly reflecting yourself. So, The One is this whole experience of finding yourself through love and dance.
You’re starring in and executive producing your ALLBLK TV series Wild Rose. How do you approach portraying Rose?
OMARION: Wild Rose is very special for me as an actor, stepping back onscreen in a very intentional way — shout-out to (creator) Deji LaRay. Rose is an interesting character; he’s gone through lots of emotional turmoil, being born into an assassin family. It’s furthest from all the roles I’ve ever played, (which) have never been this serious.
I’d say your acting was serious in the Ice Box video, which is very cinematic and co-stars Solange Knowles.
OMARION: Salute to Queen Solange; I want to thank her again for pulling up to that video. Shout-out to my man Anthony Mandler, who (directed). What a time in my career. I was 21, just truly stepping deeper into myself as a solo artist. I got to work with Timbaland, one of my favorite producers of all time — what an era. That video represented the emotion of not feeling loved, and being cold after a difficult breakup. That was an amazing moment, still one of my biggest songs. Shout-out again to choreographer RoRo, and to (Sony executives) Don Ienner and Lisa Ellis. That was the biggest check I’d received in the music business at that time: a million dollars. Doesn’t sound like much today; but a million dollars back then? Yeah, I was up.
Your O2 album and B2K’s long-awaited reunion album both drop this year. B2K hasn’t released an album since you were teenagers.
OMARION: Which is amazing, and it sounds incredible.
The group weathered unbelievable strains. How did you overcome that?
OMARION: It’s important to have difficult conversations. Sometimes, you didn’t even know you hurt someone. When we were kids, lots of people were in the way and in our ears. Our breakup was really the business (influence). Now, as grown men with kids, we’re able to take accountability and have those difficult conversations.
If you’d asked me a few years ago whether this (B2K album) was possible, I’d say “No.” During the shows on this tour, everybody speaks about their journey and takes accountability. Now that we’ve mended, it’s coming out in our performances and art. I’m so happy; because for a long time, I was upset and felt “I’ll take responsibility for myself. I don’t need to be in a group.” I had solo success, but coming back together has shown me how important it was for me and my fans. The purpose has deepened; the egos and attitudes lessened. We came back together and did the impossible — if we can do it, so can you.
For Omarion and B2K tour dates and tickets, visit his official website.
