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Omarion celebrated his 37th birthday Friday on the Millennium Tour in Newark, New Jersey, and as he looks back at his two-decade career, he gives the credit for his success to his mother.
“I really have to salute the matriarch of my family, my nana, for always having us around cultural events and cultural things,” the “Post to Be” singer told Jalen Rose on The Renaissance Man podcast. “At a young age, I was able to have the freedom to really explore my innate gifts, which came through creative arts, sports and entertainment.”
Omarion began his recording career in 2001 at the age of 17 as the lead singer of B2K. His mother had him as a teenager, and refused requests to have an abortion.
“She was 16 years old. And at the time, a lot of people didn’t think that that was appropriate. But my nana being who she is, she said, ‘We don’t kill our babies,'” Omarion recalls.
B2K broke up in 2004, and the singer from Los Angeles launched his solo career the next year. He remembers that the group was young and naive, which eventually caused the members — J-Boog, Raz-B, Lil’ Fizz and himself — to go their separate ways.
“The business was getting funny and we separated,” he recalls. “I’ve definitely matured, but there was just a lack of communication, lack of knowledge.”
Now, many years later, Omarion will be sharing his knowledge, and his experience in the music business, in his first book, Full Circle: Lessons & Takeaways on How to Live an Unbothered Life, which he plans to publish next year.
He’s currently performing on the Millennium tour, with Ashanti, Ying Yang Twins, Soulja Boy, Sammie, Lloyd and Pretty Ricky. The trek wraps up November 21 in Memphis.
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