B2K
| B2K | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1998–2004 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | b2klovesyou.com |
| Past members |
Lil' Fizz J-Boog Raz-B Omarion |
B2K was an American R&B boy band that was active from 1998 to 2004. In 1998, the group was formed by American record producer Chris Stokes. They released their self-titled debut album on March 12, 2002. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs albums chart.
History
1998–2002: Formation and self-titled debut album
The group met in 1998 and was managed by music producer Chris Stokes with Lil' Fizz, J-Boog, and Raz-B as members. During a New Year's Eve party that Chris Stokes was hosting in 1999, Omarion joined the group. They named their group B2K (Boys of the new Millennium) to represent the fact that they got together in the beginning of the year 2000. They had made a cameo in Lil' Bow Wow's video for Ghetto Girls, and were the opening act on the Scream Tour I.
B2K broke into the US pop charts in late 2001 with the infectious "Uh Huh", a driven by more-dance-than-hip-hop beats and a hot delivery, contrasting from the usual material favored by boy bands. The group's debut album, B2K was released on March 12, 2002. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs albums chart.
Their debut album included follow-up singles including "Gots Ta Be", which managed to break the top 40 by charting at #34. The final single, Why I Love You, was released in the spring, along with a music video that featured cameos from labelmate Jhene and Naya Rivera. Even though it had very little success on the Billboard 100, charting at #73, it broke the top 20 on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, charting at #19. Nevertheless, the group's debut album was certified Gold in the summer. B2K also performed a concert special for Nickelodeon in July of that year. They were also featured in the magazines Word Up and Right On, along with other R&B artists.
2002–04: Pandemonium!, You Got Served, and split
After performing on the Scream Tour II with Bow Wow, TG4 and IMx, B2K released a Christmas album titled Santa Hooked Me Up. That same month, the group released their fourth single, Bump, Bump, Bump which featured Bad Boy executive, P. Diddy, which was the lead single of their second album. Not long after that, B2K released their second album, Pandemonium! on December 10, 2002, and featured collaborations with P. Diddy, Makeba Riddick, Romeo of IMx, and Jhene. Pandemonium debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200 and at number three on Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums.
The lead single, Bump, Bump, Bump, peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became the group's first top ten and number one single. The second single, Girlfriend, was released in 2003, and broke the top 40 and the U.S. R&B top 20 by charting at #30 and #19, respectively. The single was promoted with a music video featuring Will Smith, Vivica A. Fox, Flex Alexander, Ronald Isley, and Jennifer Freeman. The final single, What A Girl Wants, had only minor success on the US R&B Songs Chart, charting at #47. They were featured on the Scream Tour III along with Marques Houston, Nick Cannon, AJA, Jhene, and Mario.
In 2003 all of the members filmed the movie You Got Served along with IMx members Marques Houston and Jerome Jones, TV host Steve Harvey and actresses Meagan Good and Jennifer Freeman. The movie stars Houston and Omarion as the lead members of a dance crew that compete in a competition, with the members of B2K as the rest of their crew members. The movie also spawned a soundtrack, which included the single "Badaboom", which featured rapper Fabolous and charted #51 on the Billboard Hot 100. The group also won a Kids' Choice Award in 2003 for Favorite Music group. Around the time the movie was released, manager Chris Stokes announced the group's split, claiming internal disagreements for the split. Omarion went solo and has released four albums since then. The split occurred because 3 of the members didn't want to work next to Chris Stokes who was accused of "business improprieties".[1] They also "wanted to be treated fairly". However, Omarion chose to stay with Stokes and let him manage his solo career.[2]
Members
- Omarion - lead vocals
- Lil' Fizz - rap, backing vocals
- J-Boog - vocals, ad libs, songwriter, co-choreographer
- Raz-B - backing vocals
Discography
- 2002: B2K
- 2002: Santa Hooked Me Up
- 2002: Pandemonium!
- 2003: You Got Served Soundtrack
Filmography
- 2004: You Got Served
Tours
- Scream Tour I
- Scream Tour II
- Scream Tour III