Club Shay Shay - Omarion

Episode Date: May 8, 2023

Joining Shannon inside Club Shay Shay this week is R&B singer, actor and dancer Omarion! From his days in B2K to appearing in numerous films, he talks with Shannon about his career and personal life. Hear from the chart-topping artist on how he got his start, and the thought processes behind the biggest decisions he's made in his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Make sure to listen to the Good Morning Football podcast Monday through Friday on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. Where were you two months ago? Well, they got me out of character. Now you're telling me all this, but I definitely let somebody get me out of my character. Damn. Well, they definitely not going to call me the unbothered king.

I'm the bothered king. I was bothered. Hello, welcome to another edition of Club Shea Shea. I am your host. I'm also the proprietor of Club Shea Shea. And the guy that's stopping by for conversation on the drink today is a Grammy-nominated artist, a multi-talented pop culture icon, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, actor, dancer, composer, author,

megastar, and one of the guys responsible to make sure R&B isn't dead or isn't dying, Omarion Oak. What's up, bro? Man, happy to be on Club Che Che. Thank you for having me. I'm happy that you... Thank you for having me. I'm happy that you gave me a little bit of your time, bro. I know you're busy, so I appreciate you stopping by.

Man, it's love. Let's go back. Let's get to where it all started from. Englewood. Yes. Growing up in Englewood, you're the oldest of six. What did Mariam want to be when he was growing up? Well, my mom was a young mother a kid having a kid

both my mom and dad um she had me when she was 16 okay you know um which i would say that gave me a really big advantage you know um aside from all of the other kids because my mom allowed me to really just be myself try things you, I definitely was interested in sports. Okay. You know what I mean? I did that for a little while. She supported me in acting. And essentially, you know what I mean, she just gave me the free reigns to, you know, just be myself.

This was, you know, during a time when kids would play outside. Right. You know, walk everywhere. Correct. You know what I'm saying? Yes, yes, I remember that time. Yeah. know walk everywhere you know what I'm saying so um yeah so yeah you know um you know me as a kid was just an explorer a discoverer you know I mean um I would say I was like a type of rough kid

right you know I'm saying I love to you know play sports fight you know so what was your sport football basketball you soccer baseball what was your sport growing Football, basketball, soccer, baseball. What was your sport growing up? Baseball, basketball and football. My mom didn't really let me play football. You know, I mean, but a lot of the neighborhood kids, they were on the Pop Warner team. So, you know, I mean, they would bring their pads and I was able to experience it that way. OK. You know what I'm saying? You mentioned that your mom had you at a very young age. She was 16. So would you say your mom, did she like mom-son, or was she like more mother-friend? A little bit of both. You know, I would say she definitely, as I grew as a young adult, you know what I mean,

she became more like a friend, but, you know, she still was a parent, you know. And I definitely got to shout out my nana, you know what I mean, because she spoke over my life before I even you know came you know which was we don't kill our babies right because a lot of the time when you know young kids are having kids they like yeah you need to exactly but um you know I come from a strong lineage of you know women and I'm so grateful you know because they taught me a lot about style and taste and you know I mean is why I you know, women and I'm so grateful, you know, because they taught me a lot about style and taste. And, you know, I mean, it's why I, you know, have a big fan base full of women.

You know, I mean, so shout out to the ladies. But you mentioned your grandmother and I was going to get to that. You were very, very close with your grandmother. How did that impact your life in her passing? What did that do to a younger Mariana? Well, I think it helped me just realize that we all have a really short time, you know, and it's important to, you know, love each other. It's important to have, you know, understanding and, you know, it's important to just spend that time you know I mean and you know having my Nana as a supporter you know um

She helped me really understand the importance of expressing my emotion Okay, and you know she really introduced me to culture you know they used to be this thing in LA Called the African marketplace and a lot of her friends in LA called the African Marketplace and a lot of her friends you know were in the conscious community as what they would call it now but back then it was just culture you know I'm saying I learned about you know kente cloth and oils and you know hair because my nana was a hairstylist she actually used to have a shop back in the day. So that's why my hair has always been my hair, you know what I'm saying? Because of the ladies, because of my nana. So I would say, you know, she just really, you know, poured into me, you know, the importance of showing up and being a

man, you know, because I didn't really have that growing up, you know what I mean? I have a great relationship with my father now, You know what I mean? But it wasn't a lot of men. Right. So essentially being the firstborn, you know, I kind of took on that persona and that responsibility of looking after everybody and, you know, being a man. You mentioned that you and your father have a great relationship now. I'm not sure how much he was around then. But did you, is there something that you felt that you miss you mentioned that how strong your mother was how strong your grandmother

was and you know being raised by strong black women right how did that shape you it saved me I think in a great way but you know there was you know that void right that that you know being that only a man can teach a man exactly and also you know in understanding a woman. Right. You know what I mean? Because it was a lot of emotions. You know what I'm saying?

So it's like I kind of got that too from women, you know? So you're sensitive, huh? I would say I'm aware. You're aware. Okay. Yeah, because, you know, sensitivity is just heightened awareness.

You know what I'm saying? Oh, okay, okay. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? I like that. So, yeah. You feel me? You know what I mean? I'm aware.

Hey, hey. You know what I mean? I can feel'm like hey hey you know what I mean I can feel it too you feel me wait a minute hold on what's going on because women have that

you know what I'm saying and you know that was a gift that only a woman could really give you by being around a whole bunch of emotional women

but for my dad you know my dad was around you know what I'm saying he definitely like I don't want to say, like, he wasn't there. You know, he was able to be there as much as he could. You know what I'm saying?

And that's why we have a great relationship now. Because I understand in the grand scheme, it's like, we all are working from a place that, like, you know, we can only work from. You know, from what we were taught. You know what I'm saying? And that's why we have a great relationship taught. You know what I'm saying? And that's why we have a great relationship now. You know what I'm saying? So it was important moments like, you know, throughout my career, you know, that he wasn't just able to be present for it. You know, that was really important.

And also, you know, the attitude in business and understanding, you know, that good balance between, you know, emotions and, you know, professionalism. You know what I'm saying? You're the father of three. Two. Two. Yeah, yeah. How did your father, you having the relationship growing up with your father, how has that impacted how you raise your kid?

I think that, you know, we are essentially, you know, like, you know, want to become what we feel like we lack. You know what I'm saying? So I feel like it made me step into the role more. You know what I mean? And again, I will say that it wasn't that my dad wasn't that. He was definitely present as much as he could be. He cut my hair. He always bought me things and supported me the best way he could. And it's funny, I'll share he cut my hair, you know, he always, you know, bought me things and, you know, supported me the best way he could.

And it's funny. I share this little story with you recently, maybe like two years ago. He was like he was like, son, I ran into your old coach, your old basketball coach. And I was like, oh, for real. And he was like, you know what? I realized, like, I never came to none of your games. I'm sorry, son. You know what I'm saying? And that was and that was really powerful you know I mean because I forgot about that you know I mean I wouldn't hold that against them but you know those are the things that's like you know as a man you really realize like when you have your own kids start really looking at your parents and seeing like oh well my dad's you know yeah yeah and he didn't really have this so how could he give that to me?

So it was definitely a full circle moment, you know what I mean? So I definitely don't blame my father. But as far as me being a parent of my kids, because my mom is such a cool mom. She introduced me to all of the great music. My style comes from my nana and my auntie and my mom. So I do the same for my kids. One thing that we do when we, because I take them to school, I'm a very involved dad. Yeah, I'm an involved dad.

When I take them to school in the morning, I show them art. I show them samples, songs that come from back in the day that people sample now and they just love, you know, those little nuances and things, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know, that only your parents can really show you. Do your kids know who you actually are? Oh, of course. Of course. They like that. Yeah. I took Mega for his seventh birthday to go see Usher. Okay. Yeah, down in Vegas. And it was such a great experience for him. Usher shouted him out and was like, we got a birthday boy, Mega. So he gets it.

He's like, you know. And also my daughter, she was mad about that. She didn't get to go. Yeah, she wants to meet Beyonce. Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah, she wants to meet Beyonce. So we working on that. We working on that.

Yeah, yeah. She does come, I think, in September at the SoFi. Yeah, yeah, so we gonna pull up. You gonna pull up? Yeah, we gonna pull up. All right, but Beyonce hoping you can make that happen. Yeah, yeah. You mentioned you've played all the sports, but obviously you're an entertainer,

you're a singer. Yeah. You started singing at six. When did you know you could sing and this was the path that was gonna take you to where you wanted to go well my mom was a dancer okay yeah she was a ballet dancer okay and she loved hip-hop so a lot of the times and she was a hairstylist so a lot of the times when she was you know um you know doing hair for you know kurt franklin guys property she did ushers here she did Jermaine Dupri's here I will always be around so entertainment was very easy especially

coming up in you know Los Angeles California my mom used to work at this shop called afros of Hollywood on Hollywood and vine so I'm very much like an entertainer kid you know I mean I mean? I grew up entertaining. So, you know, because she allowed me to kinda just roam and figure out what worked for me, you know, I really have to give the credit to her, you know what I'm saying? For me finding my purpose because, you know,

essentially, a lot of the time, parents, they want you to do certain things. You know what I mean? But my mom was like very much so like, oh, this is what you want to do? Okay, well, this is how you do it. You know, or, you know, you want to act? Let's take acting class. You want to dance, Amari? Let's take a dance class.

You know what I mean? So shout out to moms for that. She was very supportive. She was. She was. She was. She really helped me, you know, find my way. I actually was a rapper before I was a singer.

Okay. How did that go? Yeah, well, I did this song called I Wanna Be Like Puff. You know what I mean? Yeah, back when Diddy was really popping. And my sister's father, he was very much so in the music industry as well. So, yeah, music was just my thing you know music really helped me express myself in a creative way and it also was the junction for acting and for you know all of these creative things in expression so you started out in a group yeah and when you're

in a group there are a lot of moving parts yeah I mean somebody could do this somebody can do that but when you go solo you're the only moving part you're the only thing that they see were you nervous were you apprehensive about going solo because you had had such success in a group yeah that journey was really interesting because you know was a lot going on with the group at the time and you know essentially we we, and it was never my plan to, quote-unquote, go solo. Oh, really? Yeah, it wasn't. It wasn't. It wasn't in my plan. You know, a lot of things were happening so fast.

Right. And it was like, all right, well, oh, you know what I'm saying? Like, you going solo. And I'm like, yeah, okay. So it was nerve-wracking, you know what I'm saying? Like, you going solo. And I'm like, yeah. So it was nerve wracking, you know what I mean? But it was, again, very natural for me to step into that space, you know. Even though it wasn't a plan, you know, the universe has an interesting way. You know what I mean?

Have an interesting way of constructing things. Right. Even though it felt like I was being ripped apart from my group because, you know, we were essentially, you know, brothers. You know what I'm saying? Creating a bond, spending so much time together, doing artist development. When you spend that much time, you know, just like a team. You know what I'm saying? You spend more time with those guys than your actual family.

They become family. Exactly. You know what I mean? So the transition, I would say, was nerve-wracking. But essentially, when I find my footing and I regain the confidence, because I remember my first show that I had to do without the boys, and I was so nervous. I even shed a little tear, you know what I mean?

Because I was just not prepared mentally. tear, you know what I mean? Because I was just not prepared mentally. Right. You know what I mean? But I stepped into the spot and, you know, the success of everything definitely made it all right. You're like, okay, yeah. You know what I'm saying? I'm like, okay, yeah. We dripping steel. Okay.

I got to work with some of my favorite producers, you know, Pharrell Williams, you know what I mean? Timberland, you know what I mean? Timberland, you know what I mean? Like, so it was a kind of meant to be kind of thing, even though it was like, oh my God, I'm not ready for this. You know what I'm saying? So let me ask you a question. So when you, okay, whose decision was that? Did you talk to your mom or was it a manager that's like, you know, you can do this on your own. Did you sit down and talk to your mom? Mom, they think I should go solo. What do you you think so who do you bounce that off of yeah so at that time you know um it was so so much you know drama going on with the group and the separation between you know um teams and um

essentially it was like I kind of found out on the spot. It was like, okay, yeah, Omarion is going solo. I would say the lead up to that was on the Pandemonium album and B2K, we all had our individual albums, which was kind of like, you know, like, all right, you know, this person has his separate fans. Everybody loves this group member. Everybody loves this group member. Everybody loves this group member. So it was cool. But it was like the idea was kind of being introduced to us.

You know what I'm saying? One of the other members was being presented with an album. You know what I mean? And it was kind of like we were all getting in that mindset. Was that common? That everybody, I mean, you know, you see like Jeffrey Osborne, LTD. He goes solo. Phillip Bailey, Earth, Wind & Fire, he does solo.

And we see some of the guys from big groups do a solo project. But damn, it seems like everybody had a solo project in the group. Right. I mean, you know, being, you know, the young, you know, the youngest, you know, black boy band out there. Right. You know, we did all have our own little set of fans and everybody that may have loved this member or loved this member. Even though I think that it was indicative to groups, we were so young, we weren't even

thinking about that. We weren't even thinking in the headspace of, what does the future hold? Like, well, I want to be a solo artist. I think we were just really being present, trying our best to be present because our schedule was crazy. It was like, okay, I'll never forget the schedule when we dropped our album. We did all of the boroughs in New York and we started in the morning and we ended up at night

doing this big performance. So I don't think that we were even thinking about that. You know what I'm saying? We was just like having fun, performing, and being kids. Right. Did you see it? Because I don't know how many of you are familiar with New Edition. And you see Bobby Brown does his thing, and then Ralph Transvant does his thing,

and Ronnie Bobby, they go out and do their thing. Did that thought ever cross your mind? Like, well, damn. Because everybody loved New Edition. And then eventually, guys did their their thing. Did that thought ever cross your mind? Like, well, damn, you know, because everybody loved New Edition. And then eventually guys did their own thing, and we see them back together now. But did that cross your mind? Did you think that might happen to you guys?

No, I didn't know how things would happen, especially because we were, like, huge fans of Five Heartbeats. So that was, like, one of our that was like one of our go-to movies to watch right and it's just so uh interesting how life is you know just stranger than fiction because it's essential i mean essentially we kind of went through our own little version of that right you know i'm saying and i think that when you know we're talking about kids in the entertainment business you know um unless you really have a strong foundation, you're really subjected to, you know, a lot of things. You know, we see so many, you know, child celebrities that go through so many things when they don't have strong foundations.

You know what I mean? And I have to, again, you know, shout out my moms and my foundation. Yeah, because it seems like your mom was always a mom and never a fan. Because sometimes they can get seduced by all the money that's coming in, and they forget, well, that's my child. Yeah. And he's going astray or he's not getting proper guidance because of the money that's coming in.

And they become a fan and they get seduced to the star, the limelight. But it seemed like your mom was always a mom. Yeah, and she was actually one of the few parents that were able to be there because she was the hairstylist for the group, too. Okay, okay. You know what I'm saying? So my mom was always with me. You know what I'm saying?

My mom would always do our hair. So, yeah, I did have that other kind of support system. Well, you're shocked. I mean, you look at your debut album, debut number one on the Billboard chart. You go platinum Grammy nomination second. I mean, were you surprised at how well you did out the gate? You know, I didn't even think about it like that. You know, I didn't even you know, it's crazy to say, you know, and now looking back on it in hindsight everything was going so fast you know i mean so i wasn't able to really um essentially appreciate those feats you know i was i was um you know built as a workhorse so it was like oh okay that's cool what's next you know i'm

saying so um looking at it and you know looking back at it i I'm like, yeah, yeah, I'm like, wow. You know what I mean? That was cool to be experiencing at such a young age. You know what I'm saying? But yeah, no, I wasn't even tripping off of it. I was just like, yeah, I'm me. I'm showing up. You know what I mean? What's next?

Right. You're sitting atop the charts of the R&B pop. Right. You're like, I kind of like this. Yeah. It's lit. And also coming from, you know, the B2K, you're like, I kind of like this. I like it. It's lit. And also coming from the B2K, you know what I'm saying?

It felt real easy. It felt like that's how it was supposed to be. You know what I'm saying? Given the success of your first album, how much pressure did that put on you the second album coming out? Because you know, everybody wants to do better than the first.

And you want to prove that the first wasn't a fluke, that this is it, I'm legit. Right. Well, the second album, you know, still being able to work with, you know, mega producers like Timberland and Pharrell, you know, I felt like I was in good company. And actually, that second album, you know, mega producers like Timberland and Pharrell, you know, I felt like I was in good company. And actually that second album, you know, was probably the most I ever got paid in an

advancement, you know what I mean? Being under Donny Einer and Lisa Ellis. So I was really starting to essentially step into more of a business mindset. Yeah. And so looking at that second album, I was just like, oh, OK, yeah, this is how it's supposed to be. You know, I mean, and also it was the transition that I figured out, you know, the importance of having champions inside of certain companies, because this is when the music business changed, too. You know, after that album, you know, Icebox still, Icebox still being one of the biggest records that I had to date outside of O and Touch. When Donny Einer and Lisa Ellis no longer worked for the company, that was like, oh.

That was a big learning experience for me and also essential to growth. You know what I mean? Because life is not just full of grand successes. You know what I mean? Life is ups and downs. And what's a story without ups and downs? You know what I mean? So while my second album was still a major, major success, I was beginning to experience the challenges of not having champions in the building, in

my corner. You know what I mean? And again, it was so essential to my growth. Any artist that tells you that it's always good, that's fake. You know what I'm saying? So, while that was a successful album, it was also like, oh, wow, I gotta switch things up. You know, I need to do different things.

So, great learning experience. But it seems to me that you've always stayed true to who you are and what you are. You haven't tried to follow a trend. You're like, I'm a Marion, this is who I am, this is what I do. Yeah, I always try to show up in spaces that way because you know

we're all you know individually going you know on our own personal walks right and a lot of the time the industry and also you know my peers they like to you know compete you know I'm saying but the thing about competing in the music business is is not the same as football it's not the same as basketball you know I'm saying Like where you know or even boxing or UFC you know where it's like alright I want to fight and boom we can shake hands you know I'm saying it's like no you know whoever is having the biggest year is having the biggest year and it's like salute you know I'm saying and you got to stand in that line until you figure out when it's your time again

you know I mean so I always like to show up as an individual and contribute what I can as an artist you know I'm saying because again you know I mean like everybody's here to give something different everybody has their own experience in their own walk you know I mean and I I've always stayed true to that you know I mean realizing that you know my experience is different from everybody else's. Did you look across the bow and like, wow, okay, he really blowing up, man.

He doing his thing and he doing his thing. You're like, well, hey, I need to really get on my grind because, hey, I'm still old. Yeah, I mean, I've always been inspired, you know, by my peers, you know, to just, you know, keep pushing that line and growing as an artist. And that's the cool thing that I love about being a musician or an entertainer in totality.

It doesn't have to stop. You know what I'm saying? You can have big success and you can take a break and then you can come back. You know what I'm saying? That's what's different from sports. And I think that that's also what, you know, attracted me to entertainment. You know what I mean? Because, you know, it's like loving the game, you know?

It's like, why do you have to give it up? You know what I mean? And that's why I love seeing, you know, people in sports be able to take on different positions and sharing and helping people. And, you know, Deion Sanders was one of my favorite players. You know what I'm saying? Watching what he's doing, it's like, you know, as someone that loves what they do, it's like, you know, who tells you you got to quit?

Or who tells you you can't have another hit at 50? You know. You try to be like Tom Brady. So you try to do you. You're going to be able to stay moving and grooving at 60, 65. Well, somebody got to show them how to continue to grow through this,

you know what I'm saying? Okay. And a lot of my, you know, favorite performers and dancers, you know, like Jimmy Slide, the Nicholas Brothers, you know, they still enjoy

themselves in the latter part of their life. And it's like, that's what I want to do because I truly love entertaining. I truly love performing. It's really a gift.

You're still at a high level, but when you look back, is there something, is there one or two things that you're like, man, I wish I could have done that differently or I should have done that differently? Do you ever look back, although you're continuously still performing at a high level, do you look back and say, I wish I could do this over again? Sometimes I think we all feel that way.

You know, but it's like essentially it's like, man, this is this was for you. You know, this was, you know, I look at a lot of the champions, you know, I'm saying like one of one of my two, actually Two of my favorite UFC champions, you know, Kamaru Usman, and what's my man name? Adesanya, Israel Adesanya. You know what I mean? Like, you know, defeat teaches you so much. It shows you so much about, you know,

the things that you maybe need to sharpen. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, you know, in those moments that I felt defeated or if I felt like I would have changed anything, essentially, you know, it sharpened me. Essentially, it showed me what I needed to improve in. So, you know, while it didn't feel good in those moments, you know what I'm saying? It's like, essentially, it pushed me, it propelled me to get more into my craft, to become stronger, you know what I mean? Because like I said, life is full of ups and downs, you know what I'm saying?

So a champion is a person that, you know, takes, you know, those moments and they continue to push forward, you know what I mean? It makes them better. So, you know, I'm unstoppable in that way, you know, mentally. You know what I mean? Like nothing can stop me, you know, even proverbial loss, you know, which I call a lesson. You know what I'm saying? It's only helped me become better.

When did you become this man? I mean, I get voicemails from you. I get texts, and it's always, blessed day, Brother Sharp. Hey, man. And it's always so positive, so uplifting. When did you evolve into this, Amarion? Well, I had to go through a lot.

I had to go through a lot. And essentially, you know, and I cover this in my book, Unbothered, The Power of Choosing Joy. You know, this life experience, you know, essentially being happy is our choice. It's no one else's choice. You know what I'm saying? It's not, you know, up to any outside forces to, you know, make you want to be happy. You know what I mean? So moving about the world in a positive way is something that I choose to do. And it's something essentially, you know, if you talk to any of, you know, my family or people that have known me, you know, I've always been this way.

I've always, you know, wanted to interject some positivity and love and good energy anywhere I go. So I would say this is just an evolved version of, you know, the little old Mari. How hard is it to stay positive in such a negative world, especially now we have social media? And it seems like any time you do something good, there's 15 people on there saying you did something bad. And any time you do something positive, there's always a negative. How have you been able to stay so positive when everything seems to be around you that's so negative? I think it's important to be able to recognize, you know, where, you know, that energy is coming from. Okay.

You know, I think it's important to be able to take constructive criticism, you know, and also, you know, everybody's not going to like what you do always. And they're not going to have the information to understand why, you know, you make those choices. So, essentially, you know, I just drown out that noise and I continue to show up as myself you know I mean it's annoying to some people because you know negativity is such an easy thing to do you know it is it's easy to be you know low vibrational you know I'm saying and it actually takes effort to be positive and to like you said yo yo what up big brother shannon you know how you feeling that you good you know i mean like you know um that's an everlasting feeling you know i mean when it's time for us to all go away from this experience that's the type of effect that i

want to have on this planet what's been the most difficult part of your evolving um dealing with things and not understanding why you know i mean um you know uh certain pain and certain hurt and not really understanding like why am i going through this right you know um that has been not only essential to my growth but also to my understanding you know i mean um as as uh you know uh very important people in my life would say, and also Jay-Z said this too, is things is not happening to you, it's happening for you. Right.

You know what I mean? And I really live by certain philosophies, and I really believe that, you know what I'm saying? It's like if you really think about, you know, some adverse experiences, it's like there's information in there for you to get. Right. You know what I mean? Like, why are you going through this?

Oh, okay, you need to, you know, think about what you're doing. You need to maybe not let certain things go. You know, you need to stand up for yourself. And essentially, that's what, you know, all my lessons in life have showed me. What's been the most gratifying part about this evolution? have uh showed me what's been the most gratifying part about this evolution i think um you know not knowing how you affect people you know there's been so many times when people have uh come up to me and they just they like yo i don't know what i'm gonna see oh again but yo i have to just tell you like you know you helped me go through this breakup, you know what I mean? Or you helped me get through this. I think that sometimes you don't really realize how much you can affect people,

you know what I mean? Until that person comes up to you. And it's sometimes it's so random, you know what I mean? I remember I was in the UK, I was in London and I just, I was about to walk into this place, but I wanted to, you know, just take a beat real quick, you know, and I just walked down this random, you know, side street. And it was like, come down, like six girls. And they like, is that Omarion? Oh, my God, we about to go to such and such. And we love you. Can we take a picture?

And it was just so random. And it's just like, I find that, you know, when you share certain energy with people, that energy comes back to you in the most prolific ways. I'm not somebody that is always happy. I have my moments, but those moments definitely boost me and make me feel like all of the work that I'm doing actually makes sense. Wake up with football every morning and listen to my new podcast, NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal. Five days a week, you'll get all the latest news, previews, recaps, and analysis delivered straight to your podcast feed

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Subscribe today and you'll immediately be smarter and funnier than your friends. And who doesn't want that? Listen now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You grew up in Englewood. I don't know how many of the friends that you grew up with that you still currently have. But how hard is it to grow apart from people? How hard was it for you to grow apart, knowing that the evolution that you must go through, everybody can't come along with a marion yeah um it has at times you know felt uh lonely you know what i mean but essentially you know i mean because you know that's my favorite word essentially essentially you know uh those that are meant to you know go on the journey with

you they'll grow with you right you know i mean and i made peace with that very early on because i started so young you know i mean i only got to experience you know um you really never had a childhood did you yeah i mean 10th grade you know i was out of school you know i mean i went to hamilton high shout out to all the hamilton uh alumni you know i mean um after 10th grade i was on the road know what I mean? So I didn't have so many friends. Right. I do still have my one best friend from third grade. You know what I mean? Yeah.

So, you know, he stuck with me and I stuck with him. You know what I mean? So family has always been the nucleus for me. Okay. You know what I mean? So I never had to experience too many, you know, people that were along my journey that is like no longer here. The people that are are here still, they're supposed to be here. Do you feel like you missed out on anything in your childhood?

Because really, you have to be you really have to be an adult because now all of a sudden, like you're saying, from the 10th grade on, you're on the road. I understand you're a child in age, but you're really not a child in occupation. I understand you're a child in age, but you're really not a child in occupation. You're actually, you know, you're bringing in income and people are depending on you for their livelihood because your success is tied to their success. Yeah. I mean, yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah, man. You know, it's a trip. It's a trip, you know, my whole experience. But I would say that, you know, early on being, you know, in such a supportive environment, I was able to find my purpose. You know what I mean? And, you know, when I'm looking back, I'm like, wow, I'm so happy that I was, you know, so very young in my experience. Because now, you know, that has put me in a position to really realize why I still put music out.

You know, I'm not sure why, you know, others do things, you know what I'm saying? But if you're not tied to, you know, purpose and you don't have intention, then you can't essentially weather the storm. You know, weather the storm of what people deem as unsuccess. You know, being unsuccessful. You know what I'm saying? Like, you know, you have to weather

that. You know, this is a good and bad experience. You know what I'm saying? People refer to you as the unbothered king. So you've learned I determine my success. I don't let the negativity, I don't let people say, well, that wasn't bad.

I felt good when I was making this album. I felt good when I was making this song. So okay, everybody's not going to like it. But I felt good when I put things out like this. Yeah, and I have intention. And my intention is to make someone else feel good. Right. You know what I mean?

And, you know, whether that's one person or a billion people, you know what I'm saying? My intention still reigns. Bro, how do you stay so, look, we all, like you said, we all get upset. We all get angry. But it seems your calm demeanor is like you really never get outside of, oh. Yeah. Have you always been like that? Or is that a work in progress or that's an ongoing work that you had to work on?

Yeah, I think it's a little bit of both. You know what I mean? It's something that I've had to work on because certain situation has, you know, called my emotions to heighten to a level that i wasn't prepared for right you know what i'm saying but essentially it still goes back to choice right you know i mean and i'm choosing to show up in the world this way and you know like i said not everybody you know um understands it you know what i'm saying some people feel like it's unauthentic you know after the fans dub me mr unbothered it was like people wanted to. They tried to put you in a situation to get you bothered.

Yeah, you know what I'm saying? They want to, you know, mess with me more. You know what I'm saying? And, you know, having emotional intelligence. And this is how I look at being, you know, dubbed Mr. Unbothered. It's like when you really think about it, at the end of the day you know when someone is you know has the intent to pull you out your space like you're gonna give them that power right you know i'm saying you're gonna really give up that power to allow somebody to you know make you turn into something why were

you two months ago well they got me out of character now you telling me all this but i definitely let somebody get me out of my character. Damn! I didn't hear this conversation two months ago. No, I seen that clip, and I was like, whoa, that's a lion on the court. I'm like, hold up, man. Hey, somebody, they can't even hold this. Wait a minute. Well, they never not gonna call me the unbothered king.

I'm the bother king. I was bothered. Man, I seen that, and I was like, whoa, whoa! Hold on, what's going on? I said the same thing. I was bothered. Man, I seen that and I was like, whoa, whoa. Hold on, what's going on? I said the same thing. I'm like, who is that dude? I'm like, that's not me. That's me. That's me.

That's me. But I'm looking at some of your Icebox produced by Timberland Peak, that number 12 on the billboard. Your most successful solo single to date. Will Smith has produced one of your music videos. What is it like working with some of these, I mean, we know what Tim,

Tim is the beat guy. Uh-huh. Working with Will Smith, we know what he is as a rapper, as an actor, as an entertainer, producer. Working with some of these

all-time great guys. So when you go into the studio, or you go into, you know, you're gonna do a music video, what's on Omarion's mind, and does it always mesh with what's on their mind? Yeah, for me, being able to brush arms with the greats, I'm always trying to learn. Right. You know what I mean?

I'm always like, oh, okay, that's what he did. Okay, that's what he did. Okay. Oh, he using that machine. Okay. Okay. Okay. Will did it like this. Okay know I'm saying so I've always essentially been a sponge and that's something that I've carried with me right you know I mean so to be able to

work with the greats you know is an honor you know I mean but I always I'm always in a space of learning you know I mean so you I mean you'd had a record with Chris Brown yeah where's Chris Brown rank on the R&B charts? Oh, man, he's top level. You know what I mean? He's high level. I want to be able to dance like that. Maybe a little bit too late now.

Yeah, I mean, you know, all of my peers, you know what I'm saying? Outside of whatever, you know, personal things, you know what I'm saying? Like, we can't ever take the talent and skill and focus and ability away from them. So, you know, CB, Usher, you know, I would consider us, you know, in the class of Michael and James Brown's sons. You know what I'm saying? Because, you know, essentially we do the song and dance and the performing. You know what I mean? You're performers, you're entertainers. Yeah, you know, essentially we do the song and dance and the performing, you know what I mean?

You're performers, you're entertainers. Yeah, you know what I mean? So in the ranking, you know what I mean, Usher definitely is a solo artist, you know what I mean? Then I would come after that and then, you know, CB, you know, as far as timeline-wise goes, you know what I mean? I'm looking at you guys. I mean, what type of physical conditioning must you be in

to not only sing but dance for two hours? Yeah, I mean, you know, you definitely have to be a freak of nature. You know what I'm saying? You in the gym, you working out and cardio? Every day. I just bust down my 21 days. Okay. Yeah, the day before yesterday, I finished my last 21 days.

But I'm constantly in the gym. You know, I'm constantly, you know, still taking vocal lessons. You know what I'm saying? I'm still in the studio every day. You know what I mean? Like, growing. So you feel, even though you've reached a certain level, you still feel that Amarion can get better?

Oh, yeah. Y'all haven't seen the best. Y'all haven't seen the best. You know what I mean? I'm going to continue to grow as an artist and as an individual. So, yeah. Y'all haven't seen the best. Y'all haven't seen the best. You know what I mean? I'm going to continue to grow as an artist and as an individual. So, yeah.

Yeah. Y'all haven't seen the best. Who's on your current list of active R&B Mount Rushmore? Active. Active. Hmm. That's a hard one

because, you know, I listen to a lot of past music. Okay. You know what I'm saying a lot of past music. Okay. You know what I'm saying? You want to do a Mount Rushmore? You want to do a disco head? Okay, my Mount Rushmore of R&B singers are...

Okay. All right, Mount Rushmore of R&B singers. Donny Hathaway. Okay. Frankie Beverly Mays. Okay. Well, Frankie Beverly. Frankie Beverly.

Yeah, Frankie Beverly. And Marvin Gaye. Okay. You know, Michael Jackson. Okay. You consider Mike R&B or pop? He's definitely R&B. Okay, we'll put him in there.

You know, pop music, you know, it's been convoluted, but really pop music is popular music. Right. You know what I mean? And Michael Jackson is one of the most popular artists of all time. Okay. You know what I mean? So, he's definitely R&B. Stevie Wonder. You know what I mean?

How many is that? Five? That's five. You done made a new Mark Rushmore. Mark Rushmore got like six heads on his back. Okay. Michael, who could be the last one? Who could be the last one? You got Usher. You got Chris Brown. Maybe Teddy Pendergrass.

Of course! All of those guys. Barry. Right. What about my man, Charlie Wilson. Oh, yeah. Luther Vandross. Yeah, yeah. You know what I'm saying?

That's a great one. Okay, what about female? Female? Definitely Aretha Franklin. Yes. Beyonce. Beyonce. Okay.

Who else? Definitely Anita Baker. Anita Baker Anita Baker for show Anita Baker who else who was touch my soul Whitney Kim Burrell okay yeah Mariah's up in there too yeah you still have you signed to a few rappers' labels. Yeah. I mean, Lil Wayne, Young Money, Timbaland, Mosley Music. Is it hard to sign with a label when the label head is still producing, putting out music? Because it seems to me that while they're still trying to do their thing, they don't have the kind of time to focus and give you what you need.

Yeah, well, you know, with Young Money, you know, and shout out to Lil Wayne, you know, what he was creating at the time, you know, which essentially we see now, you know, with Drake and Nicki and all of the other artists was really just an artist's haven to be able to do what you want to do. Right.

Because essentially, you know, real creative artists, they just need support. You know what I'm saying? And that's what my thought process was with aligning with Young Money, was not just being able to go to another artist and say like, yo, this is what I need.

Can you do this business-wise? Wayne was very much so like, hey, this is what I need. You know, can you do this business wise? Like Wayne was very much so like, hey, you want to do that? Oh, here goes the check. Do this. You know what I mean? Same thing with Maybach Music. You know what I mean? Essentially, it was just the artist supporting the artist.

You know what I mean? And you feel the connection. You feel like there's a bridge between, you know, artists understanding that. It doesn't always work out, because there are some selfish-ass artists out here. What? Oh, yeah. They don't want you to be hotter than them.

There's some artists out here that, you know, they won't allow you to flourish like that. You know what I'm saying? But, you know, the people that I've been able to associate myself with. Do people realize that how much money is out there and there's enough for everybody to get some of it? I don't know if they do all of the time.

I don't know if they do all the time. I think some people want to hog the limelight. But as Jay says, sometimes people don't realize it's not about that white hot light. White hot light. It's essentially about creating things.

You know what I'm saying? And having different businesses. And he's definitely showed us how important it is to not just be an artist yeah I just read he were 2.5 billion net worth is double since 2019 so shout out to you ho yeah for real so what what did you what did you learn from working with so many different music labels that uh it's up to you. You know, you need to actually, you know, have a team that makes checks and balances and that, you know, communicate with people. Essentially, the businessman that I've become today, you know, all those experiences showed me that it's like it's not up to anyone else. No outside energies. You's up to me. And because I

started so young, I haven't always been able to do that. There's always been managers or certain people in the way of that connection. You know what I mean? Yeah, they just showed me like, hey, it's up to you, O. It ain't up to them.

You look at a Michael Jackson, you look at a Chris Brown, you look at a beyonce yourself people that started out as child entertainers and then have this long career as adults how have you been able to maintain or manage that i think by not being pigeon held by you know uh having one hit one hit or having hits. They call those legacy artists now. Certain people that ever go on tour and do songs that they did in the past. While I think that that's important, I think it's even more important to continue to grow

as an artist. When I look at my predecessors and people that I look up to like Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye, you know, when I realized how dope, you know, Stevie Wonder was, it was like, it was immediate, you know, and now today's climate, you know, I think people that are born, you know, in my year, like LeBron, you know what I'm saying, we both 84 babies, it's like we've seen him just grow, you know what I mean? And I think that that's what's so cool about now is that there's no limits.

You know what I'm saying? You can just continue to get better, try different things, do different things. And I think that that is what has been, you know, essential to my success

and staying relevant is I'm not afraid to do new things. Right. You know what I'm saying? What are some of the advice you would give the young and up-and-coming artists? If you could sit down and there's some artists that are like, oh, you know, we're new things. Right. You know what I'm saying? What are some of the advice you would give the young and up-and-coming artists?

If you could sit down and there's some artists that are like, oh, you know, we're new to the business, give us some advice. What's some of the advice that you would give

a new up-and-coming artist? I would say perfect your craft. You know, don't put yourself in a box. Don't allow others to put you in a box. And yeah, just try new things.

You know what I mean? And also, it's very important new things you know I mean and also it's very important that you know whoever is representing you you know is representing you in the way you want to be represented you know I mean I think that it's so important when we're talking about business you know that people honor fairness you know because we as you know this business isn't fair yeah you know I mean and people always want things from you when you hot you know I mean so realize you know that this is an up-and-down experience this is a motion experience

this is not just a flat line you know I mean and just continue to grow you know I mean perfect your craft love what you do find your purpose in it and have intention you know that is really what saved me from feeling like I wanted to quit or feeling like I wanted to, you know, give it up. You know, like, oh, can he have another hit? I don't know why. It's like, you know, the public puts that on you.

They put that on you. They put on you like, oh, he's old or, you know, like, oh, we seen him do this before, but it's levels to this, you know what I mean? So continue to grow and, like, oh, he's old or, you know, like, oh, we've seen him do this before. But it's levels to this. You know what I mean? So continue to grow. And, yeah, do your best.

Show up as your best. What are some of the benefits and the drawback of social media? Because not everybody is a producer. Everybody is a songwriter. Everybody has an opinion. And somebody says this, it can go viral in 15 seconds, and then all of a sudden you're being talked about when what's your qualifications to judge what I did or who I am right, I think the

Pros of social media is that you know? It can get hot overnight Yeah, you know and that was different from the time in which I entered into the music business Which was or the entertainment business which was like you actually have to do the work. Right. You know, I mean, but you can also burn out fast. You know, I mean, you can you can be hot. I mean, it's so many. What do they call them? Socialites, social media personalities, influencers, influencers that have been successful at one thing and then they disappear. Right.

And then you find them and then you see them on the street and you be like, oh, what happened, man? You know what I mean? So I think that, you know, there are some good things about social media and then there's some adverse things. You know, I wouldn't say bad if you know how to navigate. Right. You know what I'm saying?

But, you know, I think, you know, being intentional is important. You know, I couldn't? But, you know, I think being intentional is important. I couldn't believe that the Omarion Challenge came from six years ago, this performance that I did. And then it was like, you know, football players was doing it when they, you know what I mean? So you can have some incredible success from the internet, but you can have some adverse things too. You know what I mean? You don't want no sex tape out there.

You know what I'm saying? You don't want your ass out on the internet because it'll never go away. You know what I'm saying? So I would just say be thoughtful, but I think that that is the good and bad things. Well, you mentioned social media Being catfish. There was someone they got catfish that went on dr Phil and say they were married or they were getting married to you. Yeah, and so you are you the real old, right? So when you see that you like man, come on, why would somebody do this? Yeah, I think that is You know, the Internet is you, to certain people that don't.

I heard Prince say this. He said, use the Internet. Don't let the Internet use you. Okay. You know what I mean? And sometimes people are so gullible. You know what I mean? And it was really unfortunate that that young lady thought we were in a relationship.

She was about to send this other person money. It's like, you know, I think we live in an age Where you have to be mindful, you know, I mean, um, and it was real sad You know I'm saying like who wants to get taken advantage? Exactly. Yes. So being catfish and then also that show, you know, I mean like that show coming into existence You know I'm saying where you know, you think you're getting to know someone and you know it's they're not who they say they are you know I'm saying like it's just whack you know I'm saying so you know all the people out there on the internet don't be naive y'all okay you're not talking

to oh if you don't see the blue check okay if you ain't see the blue check I hit you with the slide in the DM which I don't do too often. Oh, you slide? Nah, I mean... Oh, okay, I thought you was Ricky Henderson before I take a slide. I mean, if you're looking good. Nah, nah. Nah, I try to, you know...

Meet people the old-fashioned way? Yeah, I think, you know, you have to kind of, you know what I'm saying, have your boundaries. Yeah, yeah, have boundaries, you know, because you can have

a good conversation online. Yes. You know what I mean? But you need to meet them, have boundaries, you know, because you can have a good conversation online. Yes. You know what I mean? But you need to meet them and that needs to translate too. Right. You know what I'm saying? Right.

So... You got punked by Bow Wow. So which was... So being punked on national television or being catfished? I think being punked because that's quicker

than being catfished. Right. You know what I mean? That's over a period of time. I'm just saying. You could be talking to, you know, you could be thinking that you're talking to Mary J. Blige and it's Scary J. Blige. Right.

You know what I'm saying? You thought you fell in love with MJB. Yeah. And you got Scary J.B. Yeah, okay. You know what I'm saying? So you got to be mindful, people. You know what I'm saying?

So you are kissed. I mean, because you've always been Delilah. You were in commercial for, I think, Corn Pops, and you had another commercial. So, when you were like six or seven and you're doing all these things, how are your friends reacting to you? Well, my friends were my family. And because, you know,

I was so, uh, you know, young with my mom having a child, I was already famous. Oh, that's Omari. You know what I mean? Oh, there go all right there. You know what I mean? So I always felt like I was essentially famous my whole life.

Right. So you've always lived, quote, unquote, in a fishbowl. People have always looked at you because you had this unique talent. Yeah, and energy and personality. Right. You know what I mean? I was definitely that kid that brought my teacher flowers. You know what I'm saying? Oh, you did that? Oh, yeah, I did that. Nah, I wasn't going to bring nothing.

Yeah, no, I did that. Miss Chase. Shout out Miss Chase. She was fine. And I knew that as a kid. I just didn't know what to do with it. You know what I'm saying? Man, you look at it. You're a seven-year-old. You looking at the teachers.

She was fine. She had that smile. I was like, hey, Miss Chase, here goes some flowers. I'm going to come back in about 10 years. Right. Right. Right. Do you believe, do you believe Bauer?

Do you believe Bauer gets the credit that he deserves? Because I've seen on the internet people trying to clown him. Pretend like he only had one or two hits. And Bow was like that. I mean, he was in movies. I mean, he was, obviously I haven't seen him in any movies lately, but he was at the top of the charts for a period of time. But he did that music.

No matter what you think about him, he did that. Yeah, I mean mean everyone that comes from you know my era you know of music the scream tour you know uh cb bow wow like you know uh unfortunately nowadays you know uh people like to chip away at artists you know i'm saying i seen them chipping away at usher too and he's he's one of the few artists that has, like, a Diamonds certified album. So I think essentially it just comes with it. You know what I mean? It comes with being an artist and putting yourself out there.

You know, I think the only, nah, yeah, even Beyonce has to go through it. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's just a part of it. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's just a part of it. You know what I mean? But everybody in their own right, you know, that has had major success, you know, definitely deserves a salute and some respect. You know what I mean?

Because this is not easy, you know? Your life, you've, I mean, like you said, from a child star to now who you are. So you've always been in the eye what made you do reality tv so um my thought process you know what reality tv was two things and that was one at that particular time and i've shared this story many times um my record company wasn't supporting post to be you know i mean and this was also a part of my growing as a businessman, too. You know, I invested my own money, you know what I mean, into Post-it Bee.

You know, shout out Jhene Aiko and Chris Brown because, you know, this is one of my biggest songs to date. Right. You know, four times platinum. And I saw on the chart it might be at seven million at this point. Wow. Yeah. We're going to confirm confirm them numbers but I know it is at four million. Right. But yeah you know my record company wasn't supporting me so I was like yo how am I gonna be able to you know be visible you know I'm saying how am I gonna be able to you know not only be visible, but show people that I'm growing?

Reality TV gave me an opportunity to step out of that space. I come from the class of mystique. That doesn't exist anymore. But coming from that class and adapting to the new reality, I felt like it would be a great opportunity for me to promote my music. And essentially it was. I was able to show my growth on that show. Having a girlfriend and bringing my child into this world on reality TV. So it did exactly what it was supposed to do.

But again, this brings me back to intention I wasn't just on TV to be on TV right now I mean like I had it was a purpose you know I mean and essentially you know that purpose carried out it wasn't for me you know and and you know in a long-term situation just because you know it did but scripted reality is just not for me you know I mean like I'm not a person that you know wants to shoot in you know February and going through something very tough to go through you know with a camera in front of my face and then the show don't come out until November and

now I got to go back through it right with the public you know I'm saying so when I realized that I was like yeah this like, yeah, this is not for me. This is not for me. Right. You were in a very public relationship, and you've been a very public person. How does O find the perfect, I don't know if there is such thing as perfection, people strive to achieve it but how does he find the ideal woman given who you are given that any potential dating candidate knows who you are right how do you find that person well um she finds me okay you know i'm saying um it's been a while since uh i've actually been in a you know quote-unquote girlfriend

boyfriend type relationship you know um but I think a private life is a happy life you know I mean but I believe that she finds she finds me I'm just saying and it might be she's yeah I'm just saying she's might finds me yeah plurals you know what i'm saying she's you you you living life like that no i'm just saying like you know if i if i really thought about my lifestyle and being with me like the pressure of being with me you know and it just being one woman i don't know if that exists. It might take more than one, huh? It might because, you know, I might need her to be a businesswoman on Monday and then we might get freaky on Tuesday. So that might be two different people. I'm just saying, it might be.

It might be, it might be, you know, um, I don't come from a traditional, you know, standpoint. You know, I feel like I've definitely tried the traditional way. Right. And I don't know if that's for me. You know, again, I'm still, I'm single. Are we really meant to be that? Are we, are men really meant to be in a monogamous, one-on-one situation? I don't, I don't know.

I really don't know. I think that you can find someone that makes you feel like you don't want to be with anyone else. You know what I mean? There might be a woman out there that can fill that void. But, you know, if we're talking just strictly nature,

you know what I'm saying? Right. No. No, I don't think so. You know, it's very far in between it. I've seen a man, and he's just like, yo, I just love this woman. Like, it's, you know what I mean? It's very rare. You know what it's very far in between that I've seen a man and he's just like, yo, I just love this woman. Like, it's, you know what I mean?

It's very rare. You know what I mean? And especially being in my industry. You know what I mean? But, you know, just being fair. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm definitely open to love. And I really feel like love is acceptance.

You know what I mean? So, if there is one woman, cool. You know what I mean? So if there is one woman, cool. You know what I mean? If there's two, cool. If there's three, cool. But after three, I'm going to have to, you know what I'm saying? I mean, you tried to be a king. I mean, you mean, what kind of, what's going on?

I am a king. You know what I mean? Well, you know what they say about two women, you know, and a man. You got double problems. No, you got to be double. You got to be double the man. Wake up with football every morning and listen to my new podcast, NFL Daily with

Greg Rosenthal. Five days a week, you'll get all the latest news, previews, recaps, and analysis delivered straight to your podcast feed by the time you get your coffee. No dumb hot takes here, just smart hot takes. We'll talk every single game, every single week,

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Because he would be a pivotal part of them winning that Super Bowl? I don't know why, Colleen. Catch the podcast, the NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal every day. Subscribe today and you'll immediately be smarter and funnier than your friends. And who doesn't want that? Listen now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. God. I ain't got no overtime anymore. So I saw this on the internet.

You and Nia Long and there's a vast age difference. And she's like, that's my nephew. They blow up everything on the internet. That's what she said? Yeah, she said y'all good. Yeah, we cool. Yeah, but that's not a relationship. No, no.

But I mean, you know, I wouldn't skim over it, you know what I'm saying? You know, if there was a conversation and you know, because I've never got to know who she is, you know what I'm saying? I don't know her. So

I wouldn't completely take it off the table. You know what I mean? We might be on the same level. I don't know. You know what I mean? It's possible. Anything is possible. Man, you just putting bids in on everything, bro.

No, I'm just saying you never know where it come from. You got to be open to receive, to see, you know, what's meant for you. But I'm just saying why i'm just trying to figure out why the internet do stuff like that i had candy on and people say man i'm trying to palm a butt man the woman married right right right it ain't even like that right right right right yeah i yeah no i understand and you know i don't know when she when she grabbed my hand i mean i was like oh you know I'm saying but um you know going through something oh do you don't take advantage of a woman that's going to know that's

good at that time no that's true that's true I don't never take advantage of a woman you know you want to give it okay what about you take about advantage of the situation I wouldn't do that yeah you know I think it's important for a person you know to have the option to choose you know which way they want to rock you know I'm saying and I'm saying I'm for a person to have the option to choose which way they want to rock. You know what I'm saying? And I'm saying I'm just a flexible person where if you want to rock a certain type of way and I agree with you, then let's rock. You know what I'm saying?

Nia, if you wanted to rock, we can... I don't want to rock. I just want to... No. I just want to ah, ah, ah, ah, ah. Hey, no. No, but my respect, my respect to her. You know what I mean? Because I got a lot of energy.

You do know, at some point in time, you're going to have to have some very, very difficult conversations with your kids. Yeah, no doubt. And honesty is the key. You know what I'm saying? Honesty is the key. I saw you at the HBCU mental health tour yeah um why was that an important initiative for you so um you

know I dropped my book unbothered the power choosing joy and along with you know just speaking about the importance of mental health you know I wanted to share some of my methods that essentially helped me navigate some of my public tumultuous situations. And that involved breath work. That involved meditation. And when I realized that a lot of these kids in college, they're just figuring out their way. They're just leaving from their parents' home. You know, they don't have no idea the importance of breathing, you know, through these situations. You know, this person, they're like, well, I want to go to school from

here, you know, mid-school. They're like, I'm changing my, you know, I'm changing why I'm here. You know, I feel like there was a really big need for that. And, you know, it's not a lot of artists that are, you know, out here to share, you know, what essentially keeps them sane. So, you know, I felt that there was a void that I could fill, you know, and a responsibility that I could take on. So it was amazing. Shout out to all of the HBCUs that I were able to go. You know, I didn't myself go to college. You know, I mean, you could have experienced that. Um, no, no, no, no. Because not even at the HBCU. You know, we put that thing down. Yeah. No, no, no, no.

No, no. I know. But, you know, because I started so young and because I was traveling and when I think about school and when I think about, you know, like, well, well, work. Yeah. I mean, I probably would have like fraternities, you know, like, you know, I think that because I started so young, like when I look at that experience, I'm like, oh, that would have been easy for me, you know what I mean? But, yeah, it's not something that I felt like I missed out on. You know what I mean? There's a docu- docu-series. Yes. Omega, The Gift and the Curse. What can we expect from the doc? Well, the docu

Omega, The Gift and the Curse, is my journey of my group coming back together in 2019 when we started the Millennium Tour. And, you know, I haven't really spoken on my perspective. You know, there's always been so many different storylines. Right. And the documentary really...

So you don't sit to record straight? From my perspective. From your perspective. Yeah, from my perspective. You know what I mean? And, you know, it's an unbiased one. You know what I mean? I tell my personal truths.

You know, I share my perspective. And it's such a great docu, you know. Y'all check it out. It's on All Black. And, man, it's great. You know, I definitely would advise you, you know what I mean, Big Brother Shannon, to check it out. I definitely would advise you, you know what I mean, Big Brother Shannon, to check it out because it really shows, you know, the journey and, you know, the current state of, you know, why things are as far as, you know, what I experienced in my group. And I think that being able to tell that story really sheds light on, you know, the experience of growing up in this industry right yeah

we know alcohol and tobacco and heroin and all these cocaine and marijuana if you want to say marijuana is a drug okay but now fame attention might be more dangerous than any of those facts be more dangerous than any of those facts how have you been able not to succumb to those my foundation I really have to you know salute you know um just being a decent person and realizing that you know everyone struggles with different things right and that you know you gotta really be careful you gotta really be mindful you know about you know the things you in taking to your body your health your your mindset you know I've been able to navigate it because you know I had a loving mother I had people that loved me I had people that hey oh don't don't do that oh you know that would tell me when, you know, shout out to my brother, Anthony Martinez.

He essentially was a very key person on my journey. Yeah, he got put in jail for attempted murder, and he was in jail for 12 years. He just got released two weeks ago. And his attitude, you know, when I would tell him, you know, about certain things, and I'd be like, yo, yo, bro, you know, this person is doing this, and I'd say, yo. And he like, oh, you don't want to end up in here, man. You don't want your freedom taken away. So those voices, you know, that support has really helped me navigate, you know what I mean, not falling into those pits of disparity and depression, you know what I mean.

Like I said, my life hasn't always been just all smiles, you know what I mean? Like I said, my life hasn't always been just all smiles, you know what I'm saying? But having those voices and having that love, you know, has essentially, you know, saved me from it. Right. You know, but a lot of times the dynamic change because, okay, there's a parent-child relationship. Yeah.

The parent is the provider, the child is the child. But when the roles flip, now all of a sudden the child is the relationship. Yeah. The parent is the provider. The child is the child. But when the roles flip, now all of a sudden, the child is the provider. Yeah. And a lot of your friends that are around you, they're able to go into clubs

and be in these clubs and sit at bottle, get bottle service and talk to all these women because of you. Right. Now, if I tell O, I know O's wrong,

but if I tell O he's wrong and all of a sudden he stopped the bus and I got to get off, ain't no more fancy clubs. Right. No more, and no more being in a situation where I can talk to some of the most beautiful women in the world. How have your friends and your mom, like, mom got a nice, I like that, I ain't finna tell oh he doing wrong. How have they been able, how have you been able to navigate and your friends that have

been your friends say, oh, you're wrong, bro. You shouldn't do that you should do that your mom said oh i'm marion right you know i raised you better than that right how have they have been able to to stay steadfast and you listen to what they say i think you know having those strong conversations is so you know uh important you know i mean and accountability is big in my world, you know what I mean? Because I'm not always right and other people aren't always right, you know what I mean? So communication is a big thing in my family. And yeah, you know, I haven't always, you know, you know, try to, you know, remove people, you know, from my space and, you know, the, the success, the, the, the circle of success, you know what I mean? Um, I always have tried to push people forward. And I think because I've had that attitude, you know, um, with, with, I would say

outside of maybe a few people, you know, that, um, has been adverse and that don't deserve to be around me that don't deserve certain opportunities. I think just being real with myself, um, and realizing where people are has, you know, kept me from, you know, having to experience that on, you know, um, on such a bad level, but I will say I have experienced it, uh, you know, in a way that was like, Ooh, a big lesson, a big lesson, you know what I mean? So, you know, in a way that was like, whoo, a big lesson, a big lesson. You know what I mean? So, you know, I take the good with the bad. You know what I mean? But I've been able to navigate because, you know, I keep it real with myself. You know what I mean? Why do you think it's so hard for certain situations to stay private?

It seems like we become a very spiteful right very we pray for others downfall someone is going good and like man i don't because and i was reading a quote the other day and it says jealousy and people used to think jealousy was always about someone wanting something that you had right but sometimes jealousy is about they don't want you to have it dude got 15 grammys and you don't want me to get one right right you got a hundred million you don't want me to get one? Right, right. You got a hundred million. You don't want me to get five? Come on. Yeah. I mean, people like that, I don't vibe with people like that.

You know what I'm saying? But sometimes you don't know until it's too late. Yeah, that's true. Not too late to the point that you can't make any money, but you start to see and you start to hear about things that were said and things that

were done that was trying to prevent O from getting to a certain level although they've already reached that level. Yeah, I mean, I know so many people like that. You know what I mean? You know, some people in the industry that are that way, you know what I mean? But I

think that it's just important to make sure that you align with the right people. You know what I mean? Because, again, you know, you got to kill that outside noise. Right. Because there's always going to be someone, you know, especially when you're in the entertainment business. Right. And I'm like, that's praying for your downfall. Right.

You know what I mean? And it sucks that it has to be that way. It sucks that somebody could look at you and be jealous and be like, I don't want him to have that. Or, you know what? I'm going to make sure these two people don't meet. You know what I mean? Yes.

It's whack. You know what I mean? But you can't, you can't, people can't stop what's truly yours. People can't take away from the hard work that you put in. And I'm a firm believer that, you know, what's mine is mine and what's yours is yours. I'm a firm believer. Oh, I believe when God set a plan in motion, you can't even stop it if you wanted to. That's facts.

Let alone the outside person trying to stop it. That's facts. So if he closes the door, can't no one open it. And if he opens it, can't anyone close it. That's facts. I'm going to get you out here and talk about your touring. In 2022, you had a very successful tour. R&B top tour, rap top tour, rap, 2020 Billboard Music Awards. What is it about touring that you love so much? I love that you actually get to see the people

and touch the people, you know, and because entertainment has always been a strong arm in my, you know, entertainment career. You know, a tour is a ritual, you know what I mean? And that is, all right, y'all, we put out new music, which, by the way, we put out Big Vibes today. Right. Okay, you got a new single out, right? Yep, got a new single out. Tell us about it.

It's called Big Vibes. You know, it's self-explanatory, you know what I mean? Whenever you are having a great time, put this song on, you know what I mean? It's the soundtrack to a big vibe. My new album is coming, it's titled Full Circle, which is an O. You know what I mean? Five Five. So everybody get prepared for that. But yeah, touring allows me to put out new music and actually perform it.

You know what I mean? So touring has always been essential to my career. Right. And it's something that I want to continue to be able to do. There are some... When you look back

at your career, now, there are some women that kind of grew up that like you that probably are grandmothers. And there are some that are just mothers. And now you got their grands

or their daughters. Right. I mean, that's a big... It is. Are you surprised that you've been able to have so much staying power with the women? Yeah, I mean, I'm not really surprised, but I'm happy. Yeah, you know, because I do it long. I still got to look. I still got to look. I'm just saying, I do it long and strong.

You know what I'm saying? I'm in for the long haul. You know what I'm saying? I'm in for the long haul. You know what I'm saying? Okay, what's up? So, yeah, no, it's funny when, you know, we're doing meet and greets and, you know, the mama come. And you know what? You know, there's this young woman, I forget her name, but her first concert was one of my concerts. And her mom passed away.

So, it's like a personal ritual of her every time when I, you know, come to perform to make sure she comes to the show. So, you know, you never really know, you know what I mean? Like, when it's time for tour, why everybody's coming out there. You know, of course people want to get out and, you know, be in that atmosphere

and perform and watch a show, you know what I mean? So touring has always been important. And shout-out to the grandmas. Shout-out to the grandmas. Shout out to the grandmas, the mamas, the daughters, the babies, bring them all. It's a family affair.

So what is it like performing overseas? I mean, because it seems like when I look at the crowds and I see American performers performing overseas, it seems like, man, they're in these stadiums and there's 50, 60, 70,000 people and everybody's singing. And I'm like, hell, I don't even knows and there's 50, 60, 70,000 people and everybody's singing. I'm like, hell, I don't even know the words and I'm American and you know the words to every song.

Yeah, I mean, I don't want to say unfortunately because, you know, American artists definitely support and love their American artists. Right. But the appreciation level outside of this place is massive. You know what I mean? You know, anytime I perform overseas, the love is just so crazy. I was just over there last year. I was just in Paris, not even in the capacity of performing, even though we did do, what was that? We did, we sold out O2 Arena.

The Millennium Tour did sell out the o2 arena um but the appreciation level is just different right i mean when's the last time you've been i'm telling you when you go out there oh my goodness they're gonna be like shannon shannon the love is next level you know and i think it's because you know they don't get to see us you know all the time you know i mean it's not somewhere we were just walking down the street all of the time i don't know if it's overseas but I've only been to Vegas and Atlanta for me I don't know you consider that overseas but that's not that ain't overseas that's that's far that's far as I've gone I see you uh uh you perform with ushers lovers and

friends yes yes what was that experience like no well, well, actually, it's coming up this year. It's coming up this year. Yeah, it's coming up. What's the date on that? May 6th. May 6th. So, you know, it is sold out. Otherwise, I would tell everybody to come out. But it's going to be amazing. Well, I mean, if enough people are not going to get the tickets, maybe I'll add a second date. Yeah, that's facts. That's facts. Yeah. You know, I mean? The Lovers and Friends franchise is always awesome. It's a blend between nostalgic and new, you know what I mean? So new music. So I'm excited.

This is going to be my first time performing outside of the Millennium Tour brand. You know what I mean? Of course, I plan on going on my own solo tour this year as well. Right, okay. To promote the Full Circle album and all of the new music. So, yeah. You know, lovers and friends, y'all be looking out for some new tour dates, new music, Omega, The Gift and the Curse. And I also got, I can't speak too much about, you know what I mean, but I got a show.

Got a new project coming. Yeah, I got a new project coming, so y'all stay tuned. But, you know, all things entertainment, your boy Omarion has got his foot on the game. Right. And, you know, we're going to continue to flourish. Acting. Yes.

You were a lot early on. You know, you got served doing a lot of movies. Is that something you want to get back to? Yeah, that's something that, you know, I will be doing this year. So y'all can definitely be ready to see me on your TV or your big screen, for sure. Who hasn't Amarion performed with, be it on stage or on an album, that he would like to? Well, I would definitely love to do a collaboration with Beyonce. She brought me out to the UK for the first time when I was in the group. So it doesn't seem like

it's unlikely. I would definitely love to do a song with her I would love to do a song with Jill Scott I would love to do a song with Adele too yes amazing I saw her a couple of years ago when she first on American soil when she came back and she's at the observatory amazing geez yeah yeah powerful I was in there crying Yeah, yeah, powerful. I was in there crying. Don't y'all get this on tape. See me up there crying.

Yeah, so, yeah, and I think a slew of other people, I definitely would love to, you know, do something with Chris Brown and Usher together, all three of us, you know what I mean, whether it be a performance or a song. Man, that's going to go on for about an hour and a half because y'all going to be up there singing and dancing. Usher ain't going to watch y'all out dance here. Y'all ain't going to watch

Usher out dance y'all. That thing will be lit. Let me ask you a question. Is there a celebrity or someone in the business that you met and you like, I can't believe I'm talking to or I'm in the presence

of this person? Michael Jackson and Prince. I got to meet I'm talking to, I'm in the presence of this person. Michael Jackson and Prince. I got to meet them, you know. I think that artists, you know, before my time gave me that energy and that feeling. Now I would say, you know, when I meet, you know, my fellow peers, it's kind of like, oh, yo, salute. Like, you know what I mean? It's nice to see you. But that feeling, that kind of like, you know, star, like, you know, shock.

I met Michael Jackson on the set of You Rock My World. Was he levitating? He was. He floated towards me. He floated towards me. And then he bowed. And he was like, oh, Rodney. He was talking to Rodney, and I was like, oh, he different.

And then when I saw Prince, it was at the House of Blues. And it was like he had this disappearing effect. You know what I mean? He walked in, you know what I mean? And he was behind me, and I was like, oh, that's Prince. Then I looked back, and he was behind me and I was like oh that's Prince then I looked back and he was gone you know saying so yeah those are the two people that I've met that have kind of had that like starstruck you know effect on that being from LA are you a Lakers fan of course so who so Lakers are your favorite team do you have any favorite players? My new favorite player is John Morant.

Okay. Yeah, that's my new favorite player. But definitely, you know what I mean? LeBron, the Lakers, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, I mean, I used to be a super big sports fan. Not so much anymore, but know definitely Kobe you know I mean but yeah those are my favorite Allen Iverson right you know of course you know oh appreciate you stopping my club shake shake give me a few moments

of your time brought all the best moving forward yes sir yeah I got a pack for you man I got a gift for you okay man. I got a gift for you. Okay. You know, I personally signed this book. Okay. I got you this essential oil that I have. Okay. It's called Unbothered. Okay. Okay, and here you go, man.

All right, I appreciate that. Yeah. Are you selling this oil? Not just yet. Okay. Not just yet, but you, boom. Here's the book. Yes, sir.

Come on, get the promotion of the book. Yes, sir. Unbothered, the power of choosing joy. Yeah, and if you, you know, are not into reading, you can definitely catch it on Audible. You know what I mean? Because I did it. But I appreciate it.

Yeah. Is this a blanket in here or is it a hoodie? Yeah, that's a hoodie. Okay. Hopefully it can fit you. Is it the right one? Is it the 3X? Two.

I can wear it. I can wear it. I can wear it. Two more. I can wear it. I can definitely wear that. Because can wear it. I can wear it. I can wear it. I can wear it. I can definitely wear that. Because you know you. Oh, goon.

But I'm trying. I'm trying. I'm going to drop a few pounds here. Oh, goon. Bruh. Hey, thank you, man. All the best, man. Mad love.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. All my life. Been grinding all my life. Sacrifice. Hustle paid the price. Want a slice. Got the roll of dice

That's why All my life I've been grinding all my life All my life Been grinding all my life Sacrifice Hustle paid the price Won a slice

Got the roll of dice That's why All my life I've been grinding all my life Wake up with football every morning and listen to my new podcast, NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal. Five days a week, you'll get all the latest news

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