Exclusive Interview: Omarion Opens Up
Omarion is now considered an industry veteran with platinum selling albums and numerous charting hits. He won over everyone as the lead singer in B2K and then became a sex symbol as a solo star. O is now back on the scene with a new album entitled Ollusion, and we got a chance to chat it up with the R&B dude about everything from leaving Young Money to his dislike of Perez Hilton.
"I came in [Young Money] looking at it all like a partnership. And as more and more time went by I started noticing it was Wayne’s ship. And when you have someone like me that's already been successful and a boss in my own right. That really caused some friction there. Like I know how things should go."
-Omarion on Young Money
Check out the interview below.
ATF: So Omarion tell us about Ollusion..
Omarion: Well Ollusion is my third album. I’m so excited, not only because I’ve written every song but also because it’s coming out through my label. I own my masters and everything, so that is a blessing. It’s good especially today in the industry when album sales are lacking. A lot of people aren’t trying to buy albums because of the recession.
ATF: So what did it feel like writing your own album? You have been in the industry for a minute and this is the first time people will see your pen game.
O: See the thing is when your apart of a major record company they are all about the money and numbers, so they usually stick you in the studio with some creative songwriter that you might not vibe with. So they might write the song and expect you to feel like they felt when they wrote the song, and its really hard to do that. But this time around everything I’m talking about is from my life and my point of view.
ATF: So where the hell did this title come from, Ollusion?
O: (laughs) well it came from me feeling like I’m a really nice guy but throughout my career I’ve been looked at so differently. I’m not saying I’m pleading for anybody to like me, but at the same time every time someone talks about O it’s in a negative context. I really don’t understand that a lot of the time. That why I put the O in Ollusion because people are always perceiving me as someone I’m not.
ATF: So what is the most annoying thing some people say about you?
O: Well right now it would have to be all the spectators saying that I got dropped from Young Money. I’m just excited to have an album about to drop. The last two albums went number one, so I’m hoping to repeat that.
ATF: So who are some of the people you worked with on this album?
O: Well if course Gucci Mane, he’s on the first single. I also worked with Jay Rock a rapper out of Cali. I didn’t really want to go to heavy on the collabos, but those were two I had to get down with.
ATF: Everyone is talking about you leaving Young Money. I want you to just tell us why you made such a bold move?
O: I just saw how the ship ran. And the idea in the beginning to work with Lil’ Wayne was all good because Wayne does how to coach. He knows how to place things in the right position to make things happen. I respect Wayne so much and I really wanted to work with a camp full of all those creative people.
ATF: So what did you expect going into Young Money?
O: I came in there looking at it all like a partnership. And as more and more timer went by I starting noticing it was Wayne’s ship. And when you have someone like me that's already been successful and a boss in my own right. That really caused some friction there. Like I know how things should go. You see I been out the game for a little while now and they’re just putting out a Young Money album. So you wouldn’t have been hearing any music from Omarion. You would have just heard me singing hooks on Young Money tracks. I respect Wayne’s vision it just wasn’t for me.
ATF: So what is up with this about you leaving because Bow Wow came to Young Money? Is there a beef there or something?
O: Actually Me & Bow are still cool. My decision to leave had nothing to do with him. Even though they are meshing cash Money and Young Money together, those are totally different entities. You see so he is signed with Cash Money. Like if Bow was going to deal with someone it wouldn’t be Wayne, he reports to Birdman.
ATF: So lets move on from this Young Money stuff and kind of talk about you. There are a lot of artist out right now doing collabs. You got Hov and Alicia Keys, Beyonce and Lady Gaga, and even Rihanna and Jeezy. Who would you love to work with that is out right now?
O: You see if I do a collab I want it to be special. I don’t want to just get in the studio with someone. Some collabs out right now are not showcasing both artist in the best light. Someone is always coming harder or being shown more. But if I really had to do one it would have to be with Lady Gaga. I just don’t think we could really go inside each other worlds because I’m going to be like “Gaga get in here and do this 8 count” and she’ll be like “yo Omarion wear this.” I just think creatively it would be genius.
ATF: So from an artist stand point what do you like about Lady Gaga?
O: It’s just her originality man. You see there isn’t a lot of originality in the game right now. People are just drawn to her because its something people have not seen and she is very expressive. You don’t really know what to expect from her.
ATF: It seems like your former band mates are always in the headlines for some reason, and none of them have released albums. How have you avoided being in the headlines and becoming a blog star?
O: I really don’t think I avoid it. Honestly you really can’t avoid being in the headlines or on blogs. I think its bloggers job to gossip and share their opinions. And usually bloggers have very very strong opinions. I really just thinks blogs are apart of the game now. Like bloggers and twitter can really affect album sales now, and that wasn’t the case a few years ago.
ATF: So what negative bloggers have you ran into?
O: I’m gonna say Perez Hilton. The drama he creates is amazing. I was on twitter the other day and read something he said, it stated “does anyone care about Omarion anymore?” Like he totally doesn’t even know me. I’m a nice guy, I would normally go up and shake his hand. But now when I see the dude I gotta look at him side ways. I just see what the game is turning into. Its inevitable people are gonna talk and say how they feel.
ATF: So how do you feel when someone says “Does anyone care about Omarion anymore?” as an artist. Perez Hilton is not the only one who has said that.
O: You know, it doesn’t bother me at all. The reason it doesn’t bother me is because I know people do. If you wanna talk about stats, I’ve had two number one albums, collected numerous awards, I have plaques at my house. Like I own my own house, a couple of house you know what I mean. Stuff like Perez 'sopinion doesn’t effect me. It’s not going to effect my business.
ATF: What has been the most irritating thing that you have seen on a blog about yourself?
O: Well I recently did an interview with someone talking about my personal views on me being with a Bi-sexual woman. And I just said I can’t be with a bi-sexual woman and then Amber Rose came up. And then it all got mixed up coming off like I don’t like bi-sexual people or something. I was just saying I don’t want a woman that wants someone else other then me.
Interview Conducted By Ian Jarrell







