Omarion
Photo: Arnold Turner/ Getty Images

As "Michael Jackson's This Is It" documentary gets closer to its October 28 theatrical release date, finally giving fans a chance to see how the King of Pop's last days unfolded, artists whose careers have been influence by MJ have been speaking out about him and their excitement about the film.

Ne-Yo said he'll be one of the first in line to catch a screening, while Justin Timberlake is looking forward to the most intimate portrait yet of the fallen icon. Now former B2K frontman Omarion has aired his thoughts on "This Is It" to MTV News, admitting that while he plans to see the doc, it remains a "touchy subject" for him.

"[Jackson] did not just inspire everything that I do, but I really feel connected to him, just like the world does," O explained. "And from an artist's standpoint, these are the things that I have to ask myself, like, 'Why did everyone draw to him the way that they drew to him? Why did everyone feel the way that I feel about him?' And I mean, like, not 10,000 people or 100,000 people. I mean, like, 10 million — millions and millions."

Omarion recalled the first time he saw MJ in concert. He couldn't remember the exact time period, but the impression the show left on him was unforgettable.

"My mom took me because my mom was a fan, and I had this big Michael Jackson T-shirt on, and we were in, like, super, super-high nosebleeds, but I felt him all the way in the nosebleeds section," he said.

So while Jackson's passing — and the film that follows the singer as he prepped for his London comeback concerts — remains sensitive territory for O, he's certain he'll be finding his way to a theater to take in the action.

"I'm definitely going to check out the film," he said. "It's sad that he's gone, but I'm definitely going to carry it on for him."

Don't miss "Michael Jackson's This Is It" Premiere Special, airing on MTV and VH1 on Tuesday, October 27 at 8:30 p.m. ET! "Michael Jackson's This Is It" opens in a limited engagement on October 27 and and wide on October 28.

Check out everything we've got on "Michael Jackson's This Is It."

• 'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Recalls Lasting Influence

• Omarion
• Michael Jackson

Omarion
Photo: Jason Merritt/ FilmMagic

There's a reason Omarion named his upcoming album Ollusion.

"Everything is based on perception, and I'm a testament of perception," O explained to MTV News. "All the moves I made, things might look a certain way, and they may be at times, but they might not. You always got to dig deeper and ask the questions."

And one of those questions might be: What exactly happened between O and Lil Wayne? In August, the Cash Money superstar announced on a California stage that the former B2K frontman was signed to Young Money. Then, less than a week later, the union fell through, and Wayne affiliate Mack Maine tweeted that Omarion was no longer a part of the team. The marriage seemed almost as short as Britney Spears' to Jason Alexander.

"When we were in the process of making the deal and the signing part, I wanna say it was roughly six to seven months, or maybe even a little longer," Omarion revealed. "To most people I know it seems like, 'Well, that was fast.' [Laughs.] I totally get it.

"Truthfully, though, I just really saw Wayne's position, and I respected him as a businessman in building the entity he wants to build," he continued. "My idea when we were getting together was that we were coming into more of a partnership. But I'm a leader, and he's a leader. When I thought about it and I really looked at the history of artists that do what I do, they're never under the umbrella of a crew."

So, Omarion moved on and swapped out the "Lollipop" MC for Gucci Mane on his single "I Get It In." (He dismisses the rumor that he leaked the song and dropped from Young Money as a result.) O says he was fortunate to be able to pick up another talented rapper to maintain the track's vibe.

"Before Wayne became Wayne, the streets really felt him; that's how he did a million his first week," O said. "And Gucci is the next one [to follow that path], and I was just a fan too."

The track is the first offering from Ollusion, due November 24 on Omarion's own StarWorld Entertainment. He's set to shoot the video for the single later this month, along with the follow-up, "Hoodie" featuring Jay Rock.

The 25-year-old is hoping that the visuals, along with the new music, will help re-introduce him to a public that hasn't heard much from him in four years.

"I really took out time this go around to get a lot of knowledge — and not just in ... the game, but as man," Omarion said. "Being in the entertainment business as long as I have and making that transition to a man is a really hard thing.

"I can't wait to showcase what I been working on and show why I call myself the king of dance," he added. "I wanna show people my work. Everybody has their time, and right now, I just feel like it's gonna be my time."

• Omarion

Omarion
Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage

After hitching his wagon to Timbaland and later to Lil Wayne, Omarion has decided to venture out on his own with a new imprint deal through EMI Label Services.

The former B2K frontman announced Thursday (September 24) that he signed a new deal with EMI to create his own imprint StarWorld Entertainment. Through the pact, the Los Angeles native will release his next project, Ollusion, due November 24. Just last month, Omarion united forces with Lil Wayne and joined the rapper's Young Money roster. However, shortly after the news broke, the singer mysteriously parted ways with the camp.

"I have a lot of respect and admiration for the genius of Lil Wayne and the entire Young Money family," he said in a statement. "I asked to be released from the label to pursue other opportunities that were recently presented to me. Because of our relationship, Lil Wayne had no issue with us ending our business relationship and released me from the label."

Prior to linking with Lil Wayne, O partnered with Timbaland in 2008, but the union didn't result in any material being released through the producer's Mosley Music Group.

Omarion will now ready his third solo album, which will feature collaborations from Tank, Fabolous and Gucci Mane on the first single, "I Get It In," set to debut October 5.

"My style has evolved so much on this album," Omarion said in a statement. "I was able to express truly who I am from a creative and artistic standpoint, which allowed me to share a personal side of myself with my fans through my music. This is my masterpiece, and I can't wait for the world to hear my new album."

• Omarion

Omarion
Photo: Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images

Omarion released an official statement on Friday (August 21) regarding his parting of ways with Lil Wayne's Young Money label earlier this week. The statement reiterates the singer's Twitter post on Wednesday, dispelling rumors that he'd been dropped.

"I have a lot of respect and admiration for the genius of Lil Wayne and the entire Young Money family," he said. "I asked to be released from the label to pursue other opportunities that were recently presented to me. Because of our relationship, Lil Wayne had no issue with us ending our business relationship and released me from the label. Lil Wayne and I have nothing but love for each other, there is no beef. I also wanted to make it clear that my company nor did I, leak the song, 'I Get It In,' and I want to dispel any rumors that have surfaced. I appreciate my relationship with Young Money/ Cash Money and look forward to doing business in the future.

"There will be a major announcement regarding my career and my new album, Ollusion, coming next week," the statement promises.

Young Money member Mack Maine broke the news of Omarion's departure on his Twitter page Wednesday night, writing, "ATTN: Omarion is no longer Young Money ... the song they leaked featuring Wayne is not official ... Good luck to him in his future endeavors."

Omarion has not released an album since 2007's Face Off duet with Bow Wow. The former B2K member was released from his contract with Sony music, and in 2008, there was talk of him signing to Timbaland's Mosely Music Group. Except for a few songs that leaked to the Internet, nothing transpired from that collaboration.

• Omarion

Omarion
Photo: Brian Ach/ WireImage

Omarion's stint on Lil Wayne's Young Money Records was almost as short as a Usain Bolt 100-meter dash.

Last week, Lil Wayne introduced the fan-favorite performer during a California stop of Young Money Presents: The America's Most Wanted Music Festival. Wayne said Omarion was on his burgeoning label — which also includes Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga — and the singer seemed excited to be down with the crew. He even moonwalked to Michael Jackson music onstage.

On Wednesday, a record called "I Get It In" featuring Wayne and O hit the Net, and the machine seemed to be rolling smoothly. The euphoria hit the breaks abruptly, however. Later that night, Wayne's trusted crew member Mack Maine hit Twitter and wrote that O was off the label and the song with Wayne was a leak and not official. Mack did wish Omarion good luck.

Rumors swirled that the star of hit singles such as "Ice Box" and "Touch" had been dropped because he leaked his song with Wayne. The former B2K member countered that rumor on Thursday (August 20), clarifying the matter on Twitter.

"I didn't get dropped," he tweeted. "I wish Wayne and all of [Young Money] good luck for their future. There are no hard feelings, business is business."

Omarion's rep said the singer was unavailable for comment. Meanwhile, Cash Money and Young Money reps were traveling to a Denver tour date and were unable to be reached at press time.

O's good friend Bow Wow was just signed to Cash Money earlier this week. The pair released a joint LP, Face Off, together in 2007.

• Omarion
• Lil Wayne

Omarion, Keri Hilson and Chris Brown
Photo: Greg Tidwell/Pacific Coast News

Just one week before he's officially sentenced following the plea deal he struck in the Rihanna case, Chris Brown appeared at ease as he joined Keri Hilson in Los Angeles on the set of what is apparently Hilson's next video, "Slow Down."

The pair were joined by plenty of musical company: Omarion, Monica, Polow Da Don and Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton were all also on set.

	Chris Brown's Hollywood Video Shoot

At press time, it was unclear what will the premise of the video will be. Chris Robinson is apparently helming the clip — the director spoke with Rap-Up.com earlier this week and confirmed he was in town to collaborate with Hilson. The director previously worked on Hilson's most recent video, for "Knock You Down."

Representatives for Brown and Hilson were not available at press time to confirm details about the video.

Brown was clad in Billionaire's Boys Club garb on set and once again sported his "Ooops" chain. The singer drew the attention of bloggers and fans alike when he wore the same pendant during Diddy and Ashton Kutcher's white party in Los Angeles over the 4th of July weekend. After Brown agreed to a plea deal following his February altercation with then-girlfriend Rihanna, he apologized to the public in a YouTube broadcast.

Images from the set have popped up online, but they appear to have been taken during breaks or after production of the shoot.

Brown is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom on August 27 to be formerly sentenced to community labor service, therapy sessions, and probation.

• Chris Brown's Hollywood Video Shoot

• Chris Brown
• Keri Hilson
• Omarion
• Monica
• Polow Da Don

Spectacular of Pretty Ricky
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images

At this point, Spectacular's red undies have to be the most iconic undergarments of 2009. We're talking, of course, about the cherry-red bikini briefs Pretty Ricky member Spectacular is wearing in his now infamous YouTube challenge to fellow pelvis-poppers Chris Brown and Omarion. You know, the one where he pirouettes, gives himself a full-body rubdown and then humps what appears to be a shower cap (or a belt)? The one that Spec claims was expressly made "for the ladies," even though it was also intended to be watched by male R&B crooners?

Yeah, that one.

Anyway, back to those skimpy skivvies he's wearing in the video — seems they've become quite the cultural touchstone, inspiring a spate of online parodies over the past few days.

Take, for example, the animated spoof created by the folks by Be Your Own Boss Entertainment. Currently burning up YouTube, the clip portrays the crooner as a rasping, highly flexible go-go dancer who smacks hamburger patties across his backside, air-humps furiously and displays a rather amazing level of flexibility, all while animated versions of Brown, Omarion and a host of Spec's contemporaries look on in horror.

At the end of the video, Spectacular — wearing those red undies, of course — is seen on BET's "106 & Park," where after he's asked about the YouTube clip (and why, if it was for the ladies, he wanted other male R&B stars to watch it), he responds curtly, "I ain't gay."

More cunning — and definitely cutting — was It'sTheReal's (which is basically like the hip-hop "SNL") take on the Spectacular video. In a clip they called "That's Spectacular!", they broke down Spec's every pelvic thrust and lip-licking, cracking jokes like, "If Ciara is more masculine than you: That's Spectacular!" and "If your tongue moves more than your career: That's Spectacular!"

So just what does Spectacular himself have to say about all this? We haven't heard yet ... but for all we know, he could be readying another furniture-assaulting response video to his haters, like he the one he posted earlier this week. We can only hope ...

• Pretty Ricky
• Omarion
• Chris Brown

Omarion
Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage

Omarion's life is getting a lot lighter. He's cut his long hair, left an unhappy record-label situation and it looks like the door is closed on B2K for good.

"I feel negativity is not to be paid attention to," he said a couple of days ago while at a photo shoot. "Unless it's something that happened with Chris. When it gets that serious, it's time to speak out."

O is talking about the recent child-molestation allegations brought against his manger and friend Chris Stokes by former B2K member Raz-B. Raz later retracted his charges, but the sting seems to still be with Omarion.

"Really, my thing is, I talked to the cats, and it's sad what people will do when they're in the position of 'don't have,' " the singer said of his onetime group members Raz, Fizz and J-Boog. "People will say, 'Omarion is still out there and in the pubic. Omarion is still successful.' But they don't sit back and think, 'Why is Omarion able to get this opportunity? Why are they not getting this opportunity?' Fizz put a single out. They are a product of their karma. I can't talk in detail about what was done [on their parts], but a lot of wrongdoing was done. A lot of false statements — off-the-wall, disrespectful things. Not even on a dislike level. On a hurtful level.

"I used to rock with them dudes, and now when I see them, it's not like that," he added. "It's gotta be like, I look at you funny or you look at me funny. If somebody has done something to disrespect you as a man, I feel like I have to protect myself. So now when I see them, after everything that happened, how do I be nice? How do I be cool? I'm a spiritual dude, and a part of me is forgiving. But there is so much that has been done, you get tired of that. This whole next album, you'll see a whole new Omarion."

O's new album is really just getting started. He's gone from the Sony system, where he spent the first six years of his career, to Timbaland's Mosley Music Group. The deal was recently finalized. Omarion said he felt the need to change labels because of all the changes that happened at Sony over the past few years. Switches in staffing, he said, affected the proper push of his past few projects.

"I asked to be released," he said of the rumors that Sony dropped him. "A release is different from a drop. When an artist is dropped, usually they haven't brought any revenue to the company. As you know, I've been with that company for a long time, roughly over six years. Throughout B2K and my solo albums, revenue was still brought in. An artist like me could never get dropped. How did I get dropped and I still ended up in a great situation? Usually when you hear 'drop,' it means, 'Oh, he's over.' It's a wrap. It's unfortunate that stuff like that gets put out there. Everybody likes to associate — especially me being such a cool dude — with negative things. Are you kidding me?"

Simply "amazing" is how O described his relationship with Timbo both personally and professionally.

"He's a great producer, and he's really at the top of his game right now," Omarion declared. "I can't ask for a better person to guide me. We did 'Ice Box.' It wasn't enough for us to really build a solid relationship. But I've got to spend time with him, and we have a strong relationship. It's the biggest blessing that has happened to me musically."

The two became tight during negotiations for Omarion's contract. They had to talk at length about the direction of the upcoming project.

"I actually got a chance to attend his wedding," he explained. "I got some time in the studio with him. Throughout the time for us having to work out the deal, we talked a lot. He told me what he wanted. I told him what I wanted. We had to make sure it came together organically. It was like we chose each other. We really sat down and felt each other out. I respect Timbaland a lot. He not just a producer, he's a visionary. This guy comes in the game and changes the game. It's not like I'm just getting with another producer who has a great track record.

"We're just picking each other's brains to see what can be done differently," he continued. "My energetic style and aggressiveness when I perform, I don't think that's necessarily been captured [for the length of] an album. I always felt like I had joints like 'Touch,' even 'Entourage,' where it's upbeat. But it hasn't been captured in an album. All these crazy new dances, all these different things I wanna do. When I look at my peers in the game, they capture the true essence of who they are. I kinda felt like throughout my career, I had just blots of that."

There's no date yet for the new album, nor have any guest stars been announced. The only other producer being mentioned is Pharrell Williams. O just put footage on the Internet of his mother cutting his hair. His female fans may have shed a few tears, but he said it wasn't as painful for him as it was for his following.

"I'm gonna be 24 this year. It's a progressive age, 21," he said. "I was finding myself and finding out the things that needed to be done as far as my career, what needed to be done. Certain moves. I feel like now I'm in a really great place. Cutting my hair, I feel like I'm going to another level. Cutting my hair was a step for me. Anybody that has had hair for so long, when you're used to something, it's like reforming your life."

• Omarion
• Timbaland

Bow Wow
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images

Bow Wow wants to know how a joke he made on his single turned into an Internet-wide rumor that he has a beef with his good friend Omarion. Well, he did make light of O's penchant for wearing form-fitting trousers.

"It just shows you how uptight people are about certain things. The song is a joke record," Bow told MTV News of the verse on the remix of Hot Stylz's punch-line-driven "Lookin' Boy."

"Damn, them is tight, you's a O, Omarion-lookin' boy," he says in the song. To make matters worst, at the end of the record, B-Dub adds, "I didn't know me and you was gonna be going at it. I was just having fun."

"I was talking to Yung Joc the other day; we was laughing about it," B. Weezy said, momentarily interrupting the interview to tell his driver to hook a left. "I said, 'I can't believe out of all the names y'all say, nobody says nothing. I get one line, I got everybody's attention. I'm on every Web site.' People always hate on me, but they're always in tune to what I'm doing. In a way, I get the last laugh. At the end of the day, the song is a joke record. It's about your boys and you all jawning [joking] on each other. Can't nobody tell me they ain't never went to school and said, 'Your momma this, your momma that,' knowing they ain't mean it.

"O is my homeboy, and I even joke with O about how tight he wears his jeans," Bow added. "He knows how tight his jeans are. That's my homeboy. Everybody knows how tight Omarion wears his pants. It's not a secret. So why is everybody jumping on me? It's a fact. Plus, it's a joke. So why wouldn't I joke on my homeboy?"

Bow said his remarks at the very end of the song weren't aimed at O at all, but another one of his inner circle who rapped on the record. He said the friend — whose vocals were taken off the record — got on the song and joked on him real hard.

"At the end, I know everybody thinks I was dissin', because I say, 'I didn't know we was going at each other.' One of my homeboys got on the record with me. When I wrote my verse, I didn't write about my homeboy, but my homeboy wrote about the entire crew, so I was shocked. I was telling my homeboy, 'Dang, dog, I didn't know you was going at me.' Everybody assumed I was going at Omarion, [but] I was talking about one of my best friends who was on the song with me. So, nah, it's not a dis. I know it's a recession and everybody is uptight, but damn! I wouldn't do that."

Bow says he and O are so tight, he would do another Face Off record with him in a heartbeat — assuming the business and record-label promotion is right. For now, Bow is concentrating on another high-profile collaboration: with Soulja Boy Tell'em. The pair have been doing records together for official albums as well as mixtapes.

"Me and Soulja Boy have been going in," he said. "We're trying to put together this mixtape. We're gonna give the people what they ask for. Next thing you know, they gonna ask me and Soulja Boy Tell'em to do an album together. Everybody is always picking on us anyway. We might just go 'head and kill the game and sh-- on all these n---as. Do a mixtape album together, put it out and go hard!"

Bow and Soulja just shot a video for "Marco Polo," a record SB produced and rapped on.

"I'm back stronger than ever and different," Bow said. " 'Marco Polo' is gonna be a hit record. It's an undeniable hit record. I had to get one of those silly records. Soulja Boy laced me. His beats knock! If you need one of the hard club bangers to get the crowd poppin' ... a good, snap, ghetto-ass beat, then Soulja Boy is the one. You need to come to Atlanta and get you one. His beats is ridin'. Then we did this other song called 'Get Money.' All the hate is doing is motivating him. He's getting better, perfecting his craft."

Meanwhile, Bow thinks he knows where he stands in the game. "I'm stuck in between old school and new school," he said. "Because I'm 21 years old, I'm classified in the lightweight division of hip-hop. I look at hip-hop as having a lightweight, middleweight and a heavyweight division. It's kinda hard for me, because I'm old but new at the same time. It makes my job harder because I gotta keep up. I gotta do the things Snoop would do every time he drops an album. You gotta give them something different. With this album, I get to bring the acting side of Bow in with the rap side of Bow Wow. It's being displayed in the 'Marco Polo' video. People not even gonna know it's me. Then I got a song called 'Where the Big Girls' for the big girls. The video comes in at the end of the 'Marco Polo' video. You're gonna see me in the video with a big girl. She's doing her thing, working it out, and I'm working it out with her.

Bow's next album, Pedigree, is slated to drop toward the end of the year. (He's a fourth-quarter staple.) DJ Khaled, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, T.I., Swizz Beatz, Soulja Boy and Nelly are all on the LP, and collaborations with R. Kelly and Chris Brown are in the can as possible other cuts. Before the album's release, however, we're going to get a plethora of music and a theater tour. He's putting out two volumes of the mixtape, titled Half Man, Half Dog, with DJ Infamous, as well as three official singles. (And this is the same Bow Wow who said in June that acting, not music, was his top priority!)

"Whoever wants me out the game, it's not gonna happen," he said. "This video and album are gonna re-energize me and bring me to a whole new audience."

• Are Bow Wow And Omarion At Odds?

• Bow Wow
• Omarion
• Soulja Boy Tell'em

Raz-B
Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

A day after former B2K manager Chris Stokes vehemently denied allegations that he sexually molested former members of the boy band while serving as its manager, his accuser, former B2K member DeMario "Raz-B" Thornton, has apologized. In a 30-second video posted on YouTube on Wednesday, Thornton stands outside on a city street and recants the sordid accusations he and older brother Ricardo "Ricky Romantic" Thornton had made in a pair of videos that circulated over the weekend.

"This is DeMario Thornton, publicly known as Raz-B of B2K," a solemn-looking Thornton tells the camera in the video, called "The Truth About Chris Stokes B2K Part 3." "I would like to send a public apology for some tapes that were leaked without my authority. I just want to say that those allegations are not true ... with Chris Stokes and Marques Houston, [I] apologize for any hurt this may have caused publicly [or] financially."

Stokes reacted to the new video in a statement released Thursday (December 27) morning. "I'm happy that DeMario 'Raz-B' Thornton and Ricardo Thornton realized their mistakes and admitted to lying," he said, although Ricardo Thornton is standing by his claims. "I have always supported my family and have always been a stand-up person. I knew that the truth would eventually come to light."

Thornton's abrupt turnaround came just hours after Stokes told MTV News that the allegations were false. His denials were seconded by another former B2K member, Omarion.

"I'm not gay. And I'm married. And I have four kids. I been with my wife for 16 years," Stokes told MTV in an exclusive interview. "And I'm not a child molester. So those are all false allegations. I'm gonna sue them. And I owe that to my wife and kids, period. It's ridiculous."

The truce between Raz and Stokes doesn't appear to have been extended to Ricardo. After MTV reported on the apology, Ricardo told MTV News that he stands by all the original allegations and is not recanting his story. He said he hasn't spoken to his younger brother in more than a day — which he said was unusual for the siblings — and predicted that Raz will "come back around," suggesting that the apology might not have been his brother's idea.

[This story was originally published at 11:36 a.m. ET on 12.27.2007]

• B2K
• Omarion

Chris Brown's Hollywood Video Shoot

• Chris Brown
• Keri Hilson
• Omarion

Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Pete Wentz, More At New York Premiere Of "I Am Legend"

• Bow Wow
• Omarion
• Mary J. Blige
• Fall Out Boy

MTV.com Exclusive Omarion and Bow Wow

• Bow Wow
• Omarion

Fergie, Lauren Conrad, Chingy, Kelly Clarkson, More On The 2007 Teen Choice Awards Red Carpet

• Kelly Clarkson
• Fergie
• Chingy
• Bow Wow
• Omarion

Kelly Clarkson, Ludacris, Fergie And More At Wango Tango 2007

• Ludacris
• Fergie
• Enrique Iglesias
• Gym Class Heroes
• Pitbull

MTV.com Exclusive: Omarion 3.26.07

• Omarion

Jennifer Hudson, Rosario Dawson, Omarion And More At The 2007 Soul Train Awards

• Jennifer Hudson
• Yung Joc
• Mario
• Omarion
• Chingy

The Week In Pictures For January 12, 2007

• Beyoncé
• Fall Out Boy
• 50 Cent
• Bow Wow
• Omarion

The Week In Pictures For January 5, 2007

• Beyoncé
• Omarion
• My Chemical Romance
• Busta Rhymes
• Kevin Federline

Sucker Free on MTV: Winter 2007

• Chris Brown
• Lloyd
• Styles
• Jadakiss
• Just Blaze