Omarion

Omarion will be the first to tell you that his positive vibrations are high and this year is looking different. “I been actin' hel R&B earworm is setting precedent for an “Omarion 2020”. Currently on his second Millennium Tour, an album on the w emotions has enabled him to have longevity, a devout fan base, and undeniable star power. Tuesday afternoon, Omario media era , and what’s to come.

You’re currently touring on the second Millennium Tour. You posted on your Instagram story after the first show for you to thank the staff and share that with your fans? It’s always important for people to know that there is a lot of energy that goes into putting on such a big production. Thes pay homage for an amazing experience for the fans. I think it’s important!

You’ve been in the game for about 21 years, do you come across moments where you are still in shock by

I don’t know if I would use the word shocked. It is very refreshing. To know that the connections that were made many, mreal. It wasn’t a moment in time. It has stood the test of times. I am always so thrilled and very happy when people share

You’ve had so many huge cultural moments- B2K, Icebox, “O”, the Bow Wow collab in the early 2000s, “Yfavorite cultural moments that you were a part of?

54

Currently the #Unbothered vibration. A lot of the time, artists are self- proclaimed and that’s cool. It’s better when the fan

Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

la different lately, can you hear me?” he sings on his latest single, “Can You Hear Me?” featuring T-Pain, the bouyoutay, and the #Unbothered movement- Omarion’s authenticity, artistry, and natural ability to connect to people’sn dialed in from New York to get candid about being in the game for twenty-one years, how he transcends in a social

had ended of you thanking everyone. Everyone that has helped put the show together- why is it important

e are people that have families too! In respect and in light of all of the hard work that everyone is doing- it’s natural to

the support you receive?

any years ago are still in effect. It reminds me that love, admiration, respect, inspiration, and infectiousness- was alltheir experiences with me about my music. How it has affected them or helped them, I’m always appreciative of that.

ou Got Served”, Post to Be running the 2014 summer, Millennium Tour, #Unbothered. What is one of your

s rally with your move to create that thing for you. I didn’t create it, the fans created it. It’s a connection.

55

Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

As your life changes, how do you imagine that it will shape your music in the future? It will continue to shape my music in a major way. One of the things that I believe people forget and that people don’t use as much is the truth. The truth resonates, it is a powerful tool to have within your own scope of creativity. I use the truth all the time to connect with people. It is something that people can connect to. I would imagine in the future my music would continue to resonate with the truth. As long as I keep that ingredient in there I will be able to keep connecting.

56

Being a vet in the industry, when creating new music is there a destination you are trying to reach? Is there a final point, award, recognition that you are trying to achieve?

At this moment, as an artist, you want to be able to win a Grammy or get certain accolades. To be honest, as long as I can continue to do what I love and share my creativity, I’m all good- I’m going to be here! I was just telling someone, Ron Isely is in his late 70’s and he’s still putting on shows til’ this day. I just want to continue to perform and do what I love.

Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

Music consumption has changed since the late 90’s when your career first began- there is a multitude of ways to sell it and consume it. How do you create a timeless song when we are now in the culture of hyping a song for a week and then getting over it by the next?

Let’s talk about all the songs that are timeless- “Happy Birthday”, nursery rhymes. Timeless music is connected to good memories. It has to do with the context and the content of your lyrics whatever vibrations you are speaking to through your music. Those are the ingredients that will never change because music connects us all. As long as there are connective elements in the music, the good elements- love, relationships, adversity- those are things we all face and things we have to deal with. If you have those ingredients in there, then you are able to create timeless music.

Do you feel like you have to do things outside of just making a great song for people to appreciate it, or for it to get the recognition it deserves?

57

Every special song- has a special case. There are so manydifferent mediums that songs can blow up on. For instance,there are certain people that are introducing their songs via new apps like Tik Tok or Triller. Songs are blowing up from apps because there are so many users. It’s cool that there are so many unconventional ways to support your music. Everyone can have a small fan base in the world now because everyone has Instagram. You have to put the work in, in order for people to see and feel the record. All and all it has to do with the music! It starts with the music and the vibration- then seeing where that vibration carries you. There are so many songs that aren’t popping in the world but lit locally. As an artist, you have to put in that groundwork and do what’s necessary to amplify and bring awareness to your music. Again like I said it starts with the lyrics, the song, and music.

Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

58

You seem like an artist that makes your own choices artistically. Do you feel as your vision has been limited by the control of other people or other people’s perspectives of who you are? I used to feel that way a lot when I was younger. I didn’t feel like creative people were giving me the reverence and the respect that I deserve. I started out so young and I worked with many different writers. At times, it was like “sing this”, and I would be like, “well, I wouldn’t sing that because I didn’t feel that way.” It was a challenge for me at times. When you are an artist, and you are presenting music or any type of product you will have to be inside of it too or it will just be a moment in time. What if I did not go through Icebox, what if I was not able to connect to getting my heart broken- that song would be sung differently. I was able to tap into true emotion because I actually experienced it! Being truthful in your product is key to selling it and marketing it to people.

Are there any lessons that you havereceived from your musical career thatyou carry over into fatherhood?

Don’t take things personally! My kids have their own ideas and they want to do their own thing. People’s comments and the things that they want to see from you, don’t take it personally. Listen, hear it, if you can apply it- that’s dope but if not cool, keep it pushing. [Laughs] That’s definitely something that I would be telling my kids.

Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

59

Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

So Icebox is a classic record- one of my favorite moments is at the end of the record when you say “Omarion, bitch”. It’s unexpected but I feel as if it was necessary as an announcement to your arrival. Why add that part to the end? Oh yeah, that’s funny! In the studio, you always have these moments. I’m cutting all these backgrounds, going line for line, note for note, and then it is like oh okay you are finished. Then it was like alright let me say something at the end. [Sings] Girl, I really want to work this out because I’m tired of fightin’, fightin’ Omarion, bitch. [Laughs] I was actually leaving the studio and cut all my vocals. So it was like I was done, I’m out! That’s really what that was, it was like I’m out. That was the vibe.

If you could start your musical career over again,would you do anything differently? Why, andwhat would you do?

60

The only thing I would do differently is to spend more time with the creative process with certain producers. I sat there and watched Pharell make Touch and some other songs that we worked on, that never came out- I would ask more questions, have more input. I don’t know if I would change anything. A lot of the special songs that I have had over my career like O, the songs were made with me in mind. I was still considered rather than a writer’s pool and them stating, “This is a hot record who can this work on? Oh, Rihanna or Usher.” With those types of songs, you can get wrapped up as a creative trying to find those songs in reference to business and record company. Versus truly being able to express yourself as a creative. Even if it doesn’t work, you are expressing yourself and that is the main component of creativity. You have to express yourself!

If I had to change anything, I wouldn’t. The only thing I would add is in the moments where I was sitting next to one of the worlds best writers I would ask about the formulas they use, the format, why they choose that sound, what that sound base is and where they are getting it fromstuff like that.

Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

You started out as a backup dancer, your passion for dancing has remained constant throughout your career. Outside of just being a performer what keeps you dancing? Dancing is a passion of mine and something very personal to me. Growing within the scope of dance and learning new styles, there is so much to learn and know. There is so much I’ve learned already. Within the vast knowledge of dance, I’m not satisfied with how I dance now- I want to continue to grow. Some of my biggest influences is Jimmy Fly, a tap dancer, he danced until he was gone. Gregory Hines, Nicholas Brothers, Michael Jackson, when you’re a true dancer you never stop dancing. Dancing is joyous! I keep learning more there is just so much to know.

Do you view your contributions to music as successful? Inwhat ways?

Yes, I invoke feeling, emotion, and thought. That is one of the elements of music that I grew up with and will continue to carry on throughout my career. I can’t say music always provides those things but they’ve always provided a mood and a vibe. When you listen to me, you are definitely inspired rather you want to dance, or you are in the mood. I like that element, for sure. That is my contribution, my music gets people going. If you listen to Touch, you might want to dance. You listen to Icebox, you might be feeling cold. You listen to Can You Hear Me?, which is my new joint featuring T-pain, you want to dance and catch a vibe. That is the main purpose of music- I want people to move, feel good, and be positive.

61

When you think of the future of r&b, what gives you a sense of hope? What makes you concerned or worried? Nothing makes me concerned or worried about the transformation of any genre or class of music. Things change and things have to change in order to grow and transform. R&B will be around for the end of time. To be able to express yourself through melodies is a special thing. If you are really good it could truly capture a moment in time. Everything will be alright! People will always talk about love- it’s a great thing.

Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

62

Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

You’re often being asked about your past bandmates is that something you hope ends or don’t mind talking about? I understand why I’m being asked now. We just came off the 2019 Millenium Tour, and it’s been 15 years prior to that tour. I understand it, I don’t know if I would feel that way in a year in a half or two years. People didn’t ask Michael in his solo career about his other brothers, Beyonce about Destiny’s Child, or Jay-Z about Roc-a-fella. The natural progression happens in everybody’s life. It doesn’t bother me, it’s obviously a part of my history. So I understand it but at times I do not because 5 years from now we'll all be in different places in life.

What’s the best part about the next thing you’re working on?

The best thing about not only the next thing but all things is preparing a really high volume 2020, Omarion year. I have an album already ready, being released at the end of the year entitled Passport. I and the amazing James Fauntleroy did this project and along with that, I will be dropping more songs doing more collabs. Shooting movies, mini-movies- we are going to be doing a lot this year! There won’t be a shortage of Omarion vibrations. We got the Unbothered essential oil by Omarion coming out. We are going to be providing you all with the vibrations!

63

Word-up.How do you want to be remembered?

It is a bit of a taboo thing. What you truly leave here when you are gone, is up to the people to champion and be your voice. Just like Unbothered, I did not come up with that, the fans did. I would want to see how I would be remembered, celebrated, and revered. I don’t want to choose, of course, I want to be remembered in a positive light. As a person that no matter what adversity I faced, I continued to smile and take my lessons in strides. All and all one of the best performerswhat performer doesn’t wish that. I would want people to have respect for all of the hard work that I put forth in my art and appreciate it.

Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

64

Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

65

Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution