21 - Omarion > Reviews > CURTSY TO YOUR ENTOURAGE

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	'Just That Sexy', Omarion brings you to his knees
Disadvantages:	'Midnight', yet still look forward to a third studio solo attempt

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

===Robbie Williams.. Justin Timberlake.. Omarion?===

Twenty-three year old solo artist Omarion (real name Omari Ishmael Grandberry) found fame in the music industry originally as a part of platinum-selling boyband B2K, who achieved chart topping success with 'Bump, Bump, Bump' fronted by Omarion on lead vocals. A year following the groups collapse, Omarion attempted his solo career with his debut album 'O', that went on to become a Grammy nominated success. 2006 would allow Omarion to release the follow-up, '21', named due to Omarion's age at the time he recorded the album.. if you haven't guessed yet Omarion appears to title his albums based off factors surrounding himself. '21' would gain a reputation as Omarion's greatest work to date, and would mean that he earnt two back-to-back US Billboard topping albums.

Whilst you may not regard Omarion in the high esteem that you do other solo artists that have experienced large success following the disband of their respective groups, Omarion has became respected due to his dignified nature in which he has shown himself to be an excellent black R&B artist that does not associate himself with the more negative aspects of his industry, not to say that Omarion doesn't have his down points or sleazy characteristics. As a popular figure with the young female audience, a squeaky clean image is somewhat important, and having a non-celebrity love interest in his life is a part of this. Having also leant himself to acting, Omarion has an extensive list of credentials including an appearance in 1997's 'Good Burger' and 2004's 'You Got Served', for which B2K also provided the soundtrack. Omarion is currently filming 'Backdown', that is claimed to he the greatest movie of alltime in the dance genre. The fact he can dance must help.

"21 is the best, most balanced R&B album made by an under-30 male since Usher's Confessions" - Entertainment Weekly

• 01, Entourage (3.55), 4****
• 02, Icebox (4.16), 5*****
• 03, Just Can't Let You Go (3.03), 3***
• 04, Made for TV (4.46), 4****
• 05, Do It (3.54), 3***
• 06, Midnight (3.58), 2**
• 07, Just That Sexy (3.48), 4****
• 08, Obsession (4.13), 3***
• 09, Impossible (3.18), 3***
• 10, What Are We Doing (3.53), 3***
• 11, Been With A Star (3.18), 4****

'Entourage' was selected as the first single to be released from the album and did not replicate the success of the album as it peaked at #78 on the US Billboard and upon a later re-release in the UK the track reached #58 in the UK charts. I would put this down to a testiment of the popularity of album sales over singles, as Entourage is one of the high points of '21'. You cannot make any mistake to who Omarion is singing to as the album begins repeatedly with the word 'girl', and the track is one of the happiest on the album. Lil Fizz also makes an appearance in the video, Omarion's ex-bandmate, however you can be forgiven for not being able to pick him out of the crowd of Omarion's entourage.

"I got memories, this is crazy, you ain't nothing like the girl I used to know" - Omarion

'Icebox' became Omarion's hugest sucess so far, and I doubt that you were able to escape the radio airplay of the icey lyrics confessing Omarion's hurt of a broken heart causing him to become some cold humanbeing. Some may consider its position of #12 in the US Billboard as a bit of an anti-climax, although when you take into account the form of his previous single I would not be surprised if Omarion was happy to take this top twenty success. Originally 'Icebox' was to be a download-only release in the UK, but due to the public reaction a physical CD was quickly whisked out that reached #14 in the charts. The tracks highest charting position came in Sri Lanka, peaking at #4. Timbaland had vocally been in hiding for years with the exception of his work with Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, however the performance of this track proved that there was no one better to feature on an R&B record than Timbaland himself. The video featured Solange Knowles, the younger sister of Beyonce, who is currently launching her own music career. An official remix including Usher and extra vocals from Omarion was created, this features feelings on infidelity.

You will either find this controversial or hilarious, as the track found itself in trouble when it was rumoured that the beat had been stolen from a 'Legend of Zelda' video game. This was the second time Timbaland had been accused of plagiarism.

Every album needs its five-star release, and it would take a huge track to take the thrown from 'Icebox'. Currently there is no plans for a third single to be released due to Omarion's promotional work on his collaborative album with Bow Wow, as well as his acting career, however 'Beg For It' which only featured on the US release of the album is rumoured. 'Beg For It' being the second of two songs to appear on the album produced by Timbaland. Other production credits go to Bryan Michael Cox, The Neptunes (Pharrell) and last but not least - The Underdogs. I am starting to see Underdogs appear more and more on some excellent tracks, but everyone that has lent a hand to this album has a more that sufficent R&B background. What I really enjoyed about this album is that I found tracks with names that I wouldn't expect to have a big hit, and they performed brilliantly. I feel that when you get a track with an unsual title and the premise of the song comes clear in its lyrics (think 'Umbrella') that you get a superb end project - see 'Made for TV'. Themes of how girls see Omarion on television lends itself to how Omarion doesn't go for the most famous women in his life. I would go as far to say that 'Made for TV' deserves four and a half stars, and is seducted Omarion at his most powerful. On the other hand, tracks with more generic names do not produce the goods and we've heard most of it all before. I only wonder why singer, actor, dancer, Omari Grandberry doesn't deserve a Grammy nomination for '21'.