VibeVixen.com – MMG’s resident crooner already has a full clip of bangers. Add his B2K cuts that caused sheer pandemonium to his platinum-selling solo records and you’ve got a bonafide R&B king. (One, that yes, a lot of people forget had a throne.)

Now back to steal (and break) women’s hearts, Omarion–or Maybach O–checks in with Vixen for some preliminary talk about his upcoming album, how he spots groupies at the club and why “it’s only right” that Jhené Aiko lace his new project. — Niki McGloster

VIBE Vixen: Okay, so your life is crazy but you did manage to settle a bit and find a girlfriend. Tell me how you decipher between a woman you want to take seriously and a groupie?

Omarion: It’s important how the relationship starts: the place that you meet, the setting, the class of friends they have, the homies you’re with. All of that sets the tempo. You can tell when a woman’s a woman [because] no matter what setting, she knows how to handle herself. The club is a really good example because it’s a lot going on. Any girl that looks nice, 9 times out of 10, there’s going to be a million dudes flocking her, and she handles it. A “bottle rat,” chicks that go to the club but they can’t pay for their own drink, they got in for free so they want to act super friendly with you to drink up all your shit. If I’m in club setting, I would pay attention to if they want to stick around or they ask to stick around like, “Hey do you mind if me and my girls kick it with y’all?”

VIBE Vixen: In a respectable way?

Omarion: Yeah. Those are the kind of chicks that go out to have a good time, and if they’re vibin,’ they’re vibin.’ If they’re not, they’ll do their thing. But you won’t see them at every other guy’s table.

VIBE Vixen: Guys get caught up in that too. So tell me, what is your understanding of the power of a woman?

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HipHopDX.com – Exclusive: Maybach Music Group’s R&B vet picks two from Death Row, two from Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam and one from the Bad Boy Records catalog to make up his personal Top 5 Rap albums.

Maybach Music Group’s Omarion spoke with HipHopDX several weeks ago. With over 11 years releasing albums, both with groups and alone, the Inglewood, California native was asked about his Top 5 favorite Hip Hop albums.

“Definitely Tupac’s [The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory]. That’s a classic,” kicked off the MMG artist, of the album Tupac released—as Makaveli, shortly after his 1996 death. The former Sony artist praised another album from a few months later that had that same posthumous promotion. “Definitely Life After Death [by The Notorious B.I.G.],” he said of the 1997 Bad Boy Records release. Continuing, Omarion had a second album making his list from the Death Row Records catalog, this one from 1993. “The first Snoop Dogg album ever, Doggystyle. I want to say Kanye [West's] albums… but I want to say which one it is: 808′s & Heartbreak. People wouldn’t consider that a Hip Hop album, but I do because he’s a rapper.”

The former B2K member closed out his list with a 2001 favorite, “Jay-Z’s The Blueprint. I judge it off of whether i know the lyrics of all the songs. Sometimes, I hear records and I don’t even know that I know the lyrics. That’s how I know it’s a classic.”

MTV News – Omarion is confident that he’s about to drop his best album ever, since he’s finally become his authentic self.

The MMG singer told MTV News that his goal is to create music that evokes a strong feeling in listeners, and that’s clear from his latest single, “Paradise.” The buttery track finds him hitting some high notes in the bedroom, and he’s hoping those notes resonate with fans across Love and Other Drugs.

“Sonically, this is different from anything I’ve ever done because I feel like I’m my authentic self at 28 years old,” he says. “I’m very clear, I feel confident in everything I’m doing, about the moves I’m making, the topics I’m discussing.”
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Luke James, Omarion, Sevyn and Watch the Duck confirmed as performers; Kelly Rowland & Boris Kodjoe Join BET Networks as Host of the Annual Fashion Event premiering on March 20, 2013 at 8 PM EST/PST!

BET Press Room – NEW YORK, NY (February 26, 2013) – Introducing the world to fresh fashion, new music and new artists, BET Networks taps a number of young and fresh talent to participate in music and fashion’s biggest runway experience.  On February 27, 2013 the ninth annual “RIP THE RUNWAY” stage will welcome Jaden Smith, Meek Mill, Trinidad James, Luke James, Omarion, Watch the Duck and Sevyn. The performers will join the industry’s up and coming designers as they perform their top hits and latest singles while elite industry models strut down the catwalk.

GRAMMY AWARD winner Kelly Rowland and BET’s “Real Husbands of Hollywood” co-star Boris Kodjoe serve as hosts for the ninth annual telecast of “RIP THE RUNWAY” taping on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at the historic Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City for a live studio audience.  BET Networks will air the telecast on March 20, 2013 at 8 PM EST/PST.

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RollingStone.com – There’s a large gulf between the pursed lips of the defunct R&B group B2K and Maybach Music Group’s lobster bisque, but somehow, some way, Omarion is bridging it. (Sometimes through dance steps; we’ll get to that.) Rick Ross signed the former B2K member to be his crew’s in-house romantic, and he’s embracing the role. It’s an appealing move, so far: on Self Made 2′s “MIA,” Omarion sounds tougher than usual; Wale, a little softer. This Valentine’s Day, O was in New York, performing on 106 & Park, hosting a listening party with Ross for his upcoming album Love & Other Drugs, and presumably making some lonely girls’ nights. But just like that, early the next morning, he was gone, on his way to LGA, headed to Fort Lauderdale. Just like a man.

First of all, I need to ask the question on everyone’s mind just so we can get it out of the way. How many times a day do you hear the Maybach Music drop?

[Laughs] Yo, no one’s ever asked me that! That’s hilarious. Um . . . if I could probably count . . . I heard it, like, 15 or 20 times on this show we just did yesterday, on 106 & Park.

I need to ask you about the BET Awards. It’s your first time really stepping out as a member of MMG, you’re performing “Ice Cold,” there’s a lot of momentum leading to this point. Then you do this dance, all of the comments are negative, and that’s now the running narrative. Would you have done it again?

Yeah. Yeah, probably. I always tell people that was like a great learning experience for me, because I am reestablishing myself. Because I’ve been doing this for so long, a lot of people feel like they know me. Even if they’re not super-Omarion fans, they’re like, OK, we’ve seen this guy, we know this guy. So, coming out on the stage like that was kind of reminiscent of my old high-level-energy self. It’s an example of an adjustment that I’ve wanted to make, because people only see a few dimensions of me – just dancing and performing. To answer your question: I wouldn’t take it back, just because it’s so true to me, who I believe to be. But at the same time, with a different audience, at a different time . . . I don’t know if people were prepared for that.

Well, let me ask you this – did you plan your entrance ahead of time, or was it just something you felt in the moment?
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HipHopDX.com – Exclusive: Maybach Music Group’s Omarion is also prepping the release of a remix for M.I.A. featuring Rick Ross, Rockie Fresh and French Montana.

Omarion is ready to leave his teen image behind.

The singer, who announced his signing to Maybach Music Group last May, is currently in the studio prepping his fourth solo album Love & Other Drugs, which is currently without a release date. The project follows December’s Care Package EP, which showed Maybach O embracing adult themes in his music.

“That’s the most important thing, just growing up and showing different sides of my music and myself, especially being with the crew that I’m with,” Omarion tells HipHopDX. “It’s been a journey but I think I’m piquing the curiosity of people with my music and where I’m taking it. That’s been enough for me.”

Omarion last released his third studio album Ollusion in 2010, entering the charts at No. 19 with 19,300 copies sold. For Love & Other Drugs, he’s already hit the studio with a handful of producers and songwriters including Pharrell Williams, Tank, James Fauntleroy and Eric Hudson, though he wants to keep features light.

“Tank, he was a writer and producer on my first album. He’s been a part of every project I’ve done as a solo artist. He’s done some awesome music for the album,” he said. “I cut some records with Pharrell. I don’t know whether we’re going to be able to keep him on the album, but he’s someone who’s worked with me and is an all-time favorite to me. When I look back on the records I’ve done, that’s something that sticks out to me. Pharrell, Tank… A lot of new producers. I’m working with Eric Hudson again. James Fauntleroy.
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Vibe.com – On the heels of November’s Care Package EP, Omarion is hard at work on his fourth solo album, titled Love & Other Drugs.

The album, which shares its name with a 2010 romcom starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, marks Maybach O’s first full-length project since he signed to Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group last year. He feels it’s an important marker in his career, given his maturity and recent experiences in love.

“I’ve matured and experienced older women, experienced certain things in love and to life,” Omarion told VIBE. “It’s like I’m speaking differently. Speaking from more of an honest place where I’ve actually experienced [things]. Because when men go through something with a woman it’ll change your whole point of view. It’ll make you poetic and all kinds of shit.”

Omarion says he wants to revive the conversational, classic R&B of artists like Jodeci and R. Kelly. And he’ll have some help. On Love & Other Drugs, he reunites on-wax with Def Jam hot girl Jhené Aiko, who also came up in Chris Stokes TUG camp in the early 2000s. He’s also recently collaborated with Sultan + Ned Shepard and Nervo for the electro dance track, “Army” (listen here).

Love & Other Drugs is set for release later this year.

Rap Basement – Bow Wow has recruited some pretty heavy hitters to bring clout and street cred. to his latest mixtape endeavor. Bow Wow represents a rarity in the music game and a complete anomaly in the rap game. It is extremely rare to find an entertainer that came into the music business as a kid and have the success that Bow Wow (then Lil Bow Wow) enjoyed be able to transition that into equaled success as an adult in the same industry.

We have seen entertainers jump genres with success, but take away the greatest to ever do it, Michael Jackson, and the list gets short quick. Some could argue Lil Wayne, but although Lil Wayne came into the game early at age 9, his success as a minor cannot be compared to the stardom that Bow Wow experienced as a kid. This kid shut down shopping malls and rerouted traffic.

Still manning a rap career while hosting 106 & Park, Bow Wow is proving that he has staying power. He has just released the guest perform list for his next mixtape. The list rings off like something you would hear from a major label, major budget project. Guest artist include Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Kendrick Lamar, Jadakiss, Gucci Mane, Ace Hood, Busta Rhymes and Omarion. Can you say wow!

As far as the release of his next LP “Underrated,” not so good news: “Shit so fucked up maaan… I swear. I’m tryna stay focused but its like at this point fuck that album and fuck a release date. I’m doin’ shows…” said the jaded rapper.

Singersroom.com – The polls are in and I’ve decided that Omarion’s Care Package EP is, for lack of a technical term, the business. Sorry to say though fellas, this one is going out to the ladies.

Post-intro Care Package opens up with “Admire,” featuring Problem and Tank. The song is sure to promote a sexy feeling and will definitely make a good addition to the “get ready” playlist. In “Arch It Up” O confesses that he wants to “serenade your mind.” Not sure about your mind, but we’re definitely in. The song ends with a little treat, perhaps something off his full-length album. Then Omarion invites you to be his “Private Dancer” discussing how the club should be his crib and the pole should be his bed. Oooo Omarion, you nasty!

Rick Ross makes a small appearance on the EP for a brief interlude telling the ladies that this should “hold you over for the winter.” Omarion picks up the tempo a little bit with “Trouble” featuring Joe Budden, where he describes telling you how things will go if you spend a night with him. Alert: hair pulling is involved.

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During a recent interview with Sway in the Morning (formerly of MTV News), Omarion revealed a potential title for his upcoming album, which will be released in 2013. “I’m playing around with a title. I want it to be [the title] ‘M.I.A.’ like the song. And really it represents a lot. I did a lot of recording in Miami. A lot of people feel like I’ve been missing in action, but I personally feel like the presence of real finesse and love making music is missing. It’s been missing in action,” Omarion states.

“A lot of my peers are talking about ‘bitches’ and ‘hoes’ – I mean that’s cool, but what happened to finesse? What happened to taking your time to get the panties wet with talking? Setting things up, you know what I mean? You gotta stimulate the mind and get the body right! You know what I’m saying? So that’s where I’m at with it,” O concluded.

Be sure to stay tuned right here for more news on Omarion’s upcoming album!

Billboard.com – Omarion doesn’t want to be seen as a teen pop star anymore. The 28-year-old singer, who stepped onto the scene as frontman for B2K in the early 2000s, began his solo career with 2005′s “O” (Epic), which debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 182,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Sophomore set “21″ (Epic) garnered similar success in 2006, crowning the chart with 119,000 units, but just four years later, “Ollusion,” released through Omarion’s imprint StarrWorld Entertainment and EMI, fell short, entering the Billboard 200 at No. 19 with only 21,000 sold.

After signing with Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group earlier this year, the R&B star is ready to step into his adult shoes and release music that diverges from his previous teen-geared fare. On Nov. 29, Omarion will deliver his “Care Package” EP (Maybach Music Group/Warner Bros. Records) for free through file-sharing sites. The project features contributions from Problem, Tank and Wale, who appears on its first offering, “M.I.A.,” which is also included on MMG’s “Self Made Vol. 2.”

Click here to play the video on YouTube.

For Omarion, the EP signifies a shift in his public perception and musical content, ushering his themes into a more mature strata. “A lot of my fans are adults and have children and lives. It’s really interesting because they still come out and support, the fans that used to chase my car. I think they ready,” he says. “This is the real grown-up me. This is that age when Beyonce had ‘Crazy in Love’ and Michael Jackson had ‘Thriller,’ when Justin Timberlake had ‘FutureSex/LoveSounds.’ I feel like I’m at that age. I can’t wait to display this new me.”

His evolution from boy to man has been calculated. Prior to the release of “Ollusion,” Omarion was briefly signed to Young Money Entertainment but parted ways with the label after a few months. With his manager, Ketrina Askew, the former teen heartthrob planned to ditch the underage pandering and take control of his career. He planned on signing a deal with E1 Music, but happened to bump into Rick Ross at a strip club, putting the wheels into motion in getting a fresh start.

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Rap-Up – Omarion turns 28 today and celebrates by dropping the video for M.I.A. Maybach O teams with his MMG labelmate Wale on their collaboration off the Self Made, Vol. 2 compilation. The cinematic clip co-stars former RichGirl member Brave and model Jasmin Jaye.

He also announced that his Care Package EP will be released on November 29. “It’s so appropriate to drop a EP/mixtape before the year is out, something special,” said O, who also revealed the cover art. “A Care Package for the winter to keep the love warm.”

HNHH – In an exclusive interview with HNHH, R&B singer, and MMG member, Omarion, was open about his career both past and present. He also discussed his MMG signing, and how Rick Ross’ faith in him has given him renewed confidence.

MMG is undeniably one of the strongest teams in the rap game right now, especially after a summer of dominance, and now with all eyes on Meek Mill’s Dreams & Nightmares dropping at the end of the month. One of the signings that has gone relatively unnoticed is the addition of R&B veteran, and one time B2K member, Omarion. The singer, actor, and all around entertainer has had, what many perceive as a tumultuous career, but after after over a decade, his career is still going strong, and working with Rick Ross and MMG have revitalized him.

HNHH caught up with Omarion on the set of the video for “M.I.A.” for an exclusive interview. The always charismatic multi-talented performer spoke openly about the highs and lows of his career, and talked extensively about how influential the MMG Boss has been in developing him and supporting O at this stage in his career.

Sitting down with Omarion, HNHH asked how he has been, after achieving such great success early in his career. The singer, was open, admitting it’s not all been so easy, but ultimately is thankful for where he finds himself today, “It’s been difficulties, it’s been ups, it’s been downs…that’s really a part of not just life, but any career…I’m just ecstatic to be on set and be doing what I’m doing.”

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HotNewHipHop.com – During an exclusive interview with HNHH, Omarion announces he will be dropping an EP entitled “Care Package” on November 12th.

After a summer of dominance, MMG continues to release stellar mixtapes and albums. In an exclusive interview with HotNewHipHop, Omarion announced that he will be dropping a free EP as a prelude to his upcoming album.

Always one to cater to the ladies, MMG’s R&B singer says he will be dropping the project entitled Care Package, on November 12th, which happens to be his birthday. Omarion said, “I just decided maybe a couple of days ago, I’m gonna be dropping a hot new…what I’m calling it, Care Package.”

He adds that although it’s his birthday, he wants to give a gift to his fans, “On the day of my birth, November 12th, we just gonna give ya’ll four or five records, hot and heavy for the women, to keep ya’ll warm, we gonna be giving away some free music. It’s my gift to you.”

HNHH will be dropping the full interview this Tuesday where we joined Omarion on the set of his latest video shoot.

Rap-Up.com – As cuffing, err, cuddle season quickly approaches, Omarion is readying a new project to set the mood right. The Maybach Music crooner has announced that his EP/mixtape Care Package will arrive on November 12.

“It’s so appropriate to drop a EP/mixtape before the year is out, something special,” tweeted Maybach O. “A Care Package for the winter to keep the love warm.”

He promises to deliver with his first project since his 2011 mixtape The Awakening. “I just take my time. Everyone gets a chance to do it better then they did it before. I will up the bar & inspire all.”

Omarion has made his rounds of late as the sole singer in Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group collective. He told Rap-Up TV earlier this summer that he was 20-30 songs deep into recording his new album.

“I’m so excited to give people what I feel has been missing from music, the feeling, the emotion,” he explained. “I really put my all into this album.”