On tour with 'Scream 5,' singer Omarion grows up

The former member of B2K is doing more than performing these days.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Justin Timberlake's jump from boy band member to fabulously successful solo artist is the improbable leap dozens of group-member artists have pondered with envy.
For ex-B2K singer/dancer/actor Omarion, that dream is quickly becoming a reality as the 22-year-old California native readies his recently released sophomore solo effort "21." The 12-track album is a quintessential growing-up project. Gone is the bubblegum flavor with adult-based themes taking hold.
More importantly, Omarion is one album further from his B2K past. He feels he's becoming a solo artist and a man at the same time.
"It makes me especially happy because I know what people think about me," said Omarion, calling from New York City. "Before, it was like Omarion from B2K but now it's just like Omarion. Really to have my destiny in my hand, I really love that position. I know if something doesn't go right, it's because of me and not anyone else. I really like that responsibility, stepping into my manhood."
Moving forward is Omarion's goal but he's also looking back in the form of "The Scream Tour 5," which rolls into Cleveland for a show Friday at the Wolstein Center at CSU. While the popular outing has attracted teenage fans for years, including stints by B2K and even a solo Omarion last year, the vibe has changed.
About 'Scream Tour'
"This year, it's a little bit different," Omarion said. "I'm really excited. 'The Scream Tour' was something that was created for young artists at the time, like B2K and Bow Wow. And throughout the years, that's pretty much what the tour has been about, young people coming out and having a good time. But now the tour has taken a different turn. A lot of the artists on tour have grown so it's not just a kid tour now. We're expanding."
The tour lineup includes headliners Omarion and Ne-Yo with Pretty Rickey, Yung Joc, Mario, Sammie, Jibbs, Once Chance and 2 Much. In fact, it's the latter act that finds Omarion expanding his business operations. The fledgling hip-hop quartet is the first artist on Omarion's new label, O Records. 2 Much's debut single, "Fire," is already getting airplay on MTV Hits, MTV Jams and BET. The outfit's debut, "We 2 Much," is due out in the spring.
"I feel like this is something I want to do," Omarion said. "More than anything, it's the business side of me. I'm young, 22 years old, and I don't feel like a lot of youthful men in the entertainment business take up wanting to know the business side."
He added, "2 Much is a great group to try out in my beginning stages with this. They're guys I'm really close to. They're my family. We chill, hang out and dance. I share stories with them. I tell them things they have to be careful of and the mistakes that B2K made that I don't want them to make."
Omarion's future looks bright as well. Not only is he going to be touring "21" in 2007 but there's talk of a feature film with Jennifer Lopez. For now, it's "The Scream Tour 5."
"Fans better come out because it's going to be the hottest show rocking," Omarion said. "And be ready to scream."