Omarion - A Lot More Swag
Interview By: Quinton Hatfield
In this time and day in the music business the fad of the boy-band just seems to be dead. Don’t get it wrong these young teenage boys usually fifteen-eighteen years old are marketable as a “motherf*ka” and have girls all over the nation going crazy over them. Athough it usually only a matter of time before they break up and break away. We all remember popular boy-bands like “New Kids On The Block”, “O-Town”, “The BackStreet Boys” “N’Sync” and the last as I can remember “B2K”. I was feeling “B2K” when they came out with the banger “Uh Huh”. The crew just had it all with lead singer Omarion, Raz-B, J-Boog, and Lil Fizz.
As the usual story goes the boys just broke off as many expected it to happen. We don’t know the reason this crew went their separate ways, could be jealously, money, or whatever. Anyway when this happens you will always have that main artist that stays on his grind and just pushes for a solo career. Omarion as we all know is the only one still around from B2K. After the success of his first solo album “O” going gold Omarion came back with the new album “21” and is smashing the airwaves with the new single “Ice Box”.
The age of twenty-one is a major year of life for many according to “O” though I haven’t reached it yet, but it was a reason why this is the albums title. Wondering if there will ever be another “B2K”? Omarion lets you know. In the game right now artists are venturing into other hustles outside the music business and my man “O” has plans of opening a dance studio. Well it’s seems to be that Omarion has big plans for 2007 as he has new movies he will be in and it’s good the Black man doesn’t die first. besides that he’s keeping his braids incase you ladies were wondering. With the success of “21” Omarion gives some love to Nobodysmiling.com. Omarion Grandberry gives up some details on the new album and what fans are missing out on if they don’t have it in their collection.
Nobodysmiling.com: How do you feel about the new album and the success it’s having right now?
Omarion: Man God is the greatest and I’m really happy that I’m able to have a sophomore album continuing to be growing. I’m getting really good feedback from the album so I’m feeling good.
Nobodysmiling.com: For all the fans that don’t have the album what are they missing out on?
Omarion: Well truthfully you know, I want to get to know about ya’ll. People that don’t know me. I want to bring them into my world and things I go through. Truthfully it’s not like I’m starting over as I have a history with being in a boy-band coming in the game at fifteen. Now being twenty-two my whole approach is different and if that doesn’t get them with the hot producers like Timbaland, Pharrell, Eric Hudson, and others it just some good music.
Nobodysmiling.com: Tell me what you like most about this album... more than the one before?
Omarion: I think it has a lot more swag. It has some good grooves in it and some good melodies like I can play this all the way through. If you feel like you wanna be extra sexy you can throw on “Just That Sexy” for the chicks, I just think this album covers all grounds.
Nobodysmiling.com: Why did you name it “21”?
Omarion: Twenty-one is such a milestone in a lot of people’s lives. Anyone that’s under twenty-one wants to be twenty-one and for the ones that over they remember what it’s like. I felt like it was a perfect number.
Nobodysmiling.com: How long have you been working on this album?
Omarion: Truthfully, it took me like three months.
Nobodysmiling.com: If you had to choose... what would you say is your favorite track?
Omarion: My favorite would probably have to be “Ice Box” and the reason why is because it’s so personal.
Nobodysmiling.com: Tell me about working with Timbaland?
Omarion: Man Timbaland is a genius and what I find with a lot of successful people is that their really humble and kind. Timbaland is that way along with his whole crew their just so creative and just the way it came about I knew it was a blessing. Working with him is just a beautiful thing man Tim is outta here.
Nobodysmiling.com: What’s good with the touring?
Omarion: Well it’s just about to come up as I came out on top last year doing a tour. This summer is really gonna be poppin so we will see where I land.
Nobodysmiling.com: What do you like most about the overall touring experience?
Omarion: Well it’s always good to go out there and reach your fans... going out there performing night after night, it just feels good you know.
Nobodysmiling.com: Not to go back on your past, but will their ever be a “B2K” again?
Omarion: I don’t think so and the reason why is because we're all in such different places of our lives right now. I believe we all are trying to find our own outlet and what I mean by that is like I know Fizz is working on a solo album and J-Boog is working on some stuff. We're all in separate places and I feel like I’m in a place right now where I’m just really feeling comfortable and confident when I wake up in the morning that my goals solely rely on me with my understanding and my hard-work. It gets difficult when you rely on three other people to do things and at the end of the day when something went wrong you can blame somebody else. When it’s just yourself you can’t blame somebody else on what went wrong in your career. I can only blame myself and as a man I appreciate and like that responsibility.
Nobodysmiling.com: Being a solo artist how is that more difficult aside from being in a group?
Omarion: Really it’s a lot of pressure on you and it’s like they can point the finger that it’s all on you man. Really it’s just the work, it’s the same hard-work but it’s different.
Nobodysmiling.com: Who would you consider Omarion’s competition in the game if you have any?
Omarion: I would say everybody, because you know theres only one number “1”.
Nobodysmiling.com: What artists you feeling in the game right now?
Omarion: Everybody pretty much... to all the new cats that’s in the game to the previous ones that’s staying in it. Omarion loves artistry, I love music, and I love when people compare me to other people I think it’s all fun, I love everybody.
Nobodysmiling.com: Is there any thing else besides music you have going on?
Omarion: I have two new movies coming out this year, one is called “Somebody Help Me” with myself, Marques Houston, and Chris Stokes. It’s gonna be crazy and what’s dope about it is that in this scary movie the Black people don’t die first... so that should be fun. We have another one called “Reggaeton” and Jennifer Lopez actually produced that. Right along with the movies man there is no limit as I want to open my own dance studio. By the end of this year I want to open it up, I haven’t came up with a name but I just want to open up my dance studio.
Nobodysmiling.com: I got to give it to you, you're nice with the dance moves.
Omarion: [Laughs], thanks man.
Nobodysmiling.com: That’s crazy, you said in the movie the Black people don’t die first this time.
Omarion: [Laughs], that’s what’s up thanks man.
Nobodysmiling.com: What can fans expect next from Omarion and anything to say to the readers out here?
Omarion: I love everybody and please keep peace and Harmony in your life. Put God first and whenever you hear Omarion coming to your city please come see me.
Nobodysmiling.com: One more thing, I know you have your style and everything, but in the game most of the cats that had cornrows have change up.. do you see yourself hopping on that wagon?
Omarion: Well I think everyone tries to find their own identity and I feel like maybe if the braids change or grow in a different way. I’m sticking to the braids man and truthfully I had my hair long my whole life so if I cut my hair right now I don’t know how it’s going to look. I like to know when I cut my hair that it’s a decision that I’m fully confident in regardless of how I look. You have to have confidence in this industry and believe in yourself... so I don’t know.
Nobodysmiling.com: Plus you need the girls to playing in it.
Omarion: [Laughs], probably get the low-cut and have them stroke me down.