Boy band sells millions.
Lead singer in boy band causes friction in band with talks of his own album.
Lead singer goes about making an album, proving to the world he can do fine without his faithful backup singers in his corner.
It’s the perfect recipe for a disastrous solo debut.
And its latest victim is former B2K front man Omarion.
Slightly more than 53 minutes after popping in “O,” the debut from the boy band’s lead singer, I was left thanking his label (and WANM-90.5, The Flava) for the advance copy.
Had I spent my money to purchase this album, the result would’ve been more like an episode of the Osbournes.
“Ya body is bangin’/ Girl don’t leave me hangin/ So mami can you take it off/ Cause all I wanna do is see ya take it off,” Omarion sings on the track, “Take It Off.”
The CD’s low point is the lack of subtlety on many of its love (or lust) songs.
On “Drop That Heater,” Omarion sings about a girl whom he wants to get alone.
“Girl I know you wanna give it to me/ You got something I can’t deny/ Ooh won’t you drop it so I can see/ D*** I can tell that you ain’t shy” he sings to his lucky lady.
The CD isn’t missing the club beats that were present on both of B2K’s multi-platinum albums.
Songs such as “Drop That Heater” and the Neptunes-produced “Touch” provide get-out-of-your-seat-and-dance-to-the-beat moments.
Highlights of the CD include “I’m Gon’ Change,” a song to a woman whom he wronged.
Maybe it was the chick from the “Girlfriend” video, and he’s afraid if he didn’t say sorry, Mr. Biggs will retaliate.
“O” provides a much needed first single to get the buzz stirring about the disc.
From his early conversation for the girl to help him get some things “crackin’,” to the point where they’re both saying “O,” the song’s mellow beat and decent vocal tone make for a nice track.
The most touching song, “Growing Pains,” speaks of the bitter breakup between Omarion and the rest of B2K.
The breakup is followed by badmouthing from both sides, to the reunification, back to all parties doing their own solo projects.
In the song, Omarion sings about how, at one point, he did not want to go on without his bandmates.
He continues about how he was offended by the allegations towards their managemet headed by Chris Stokes, group member Raz B’s cousin – had been cheating them out of their earnings.
In the end, you still notice the feud has not yet been squashed.
As those before him – such as O-Town’s Nick Lachey, New Kids on the Block’s Jordan Knight, and even Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez, one third of girl group TLC – proved, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Omarion’s voyage into solo superstardom has hit a potentially fatal glitch.
Now might be the time to mend fences and try to regain some of that old B2K magic.
Contact Marlon A. Walker at marlonawalker@aol.com.