It’s funny to look back at B2K mania in 2025. With those rose-colored contact lenses firmly in place, it seems like that group was the biggest thing since the Jackson 5 in the 2000s, dominating the entire decade with an endless run of hits.

In reality, their run was much, much, much shorter than you probably realize. But it did have one big effect: It established lead singer Omarion as one of the faces of young R&B for that decade, and he’s extended that success for more than 20 years. And despite their ups and downs, B2K has enjoyed longevity too. Next year the group reunites with old pal Bow Wow for the Boys 4 Life Tour.

Before you millennials sell your kidneys for the next round of concert tickets, allow this Xennial to look back at Omarion’s solo run, as well as his B2K era, because you can’t discuss one without the other.

We don’t talk enough about how O has matured from teen heartthrob to consistent R&B player, so allow me to do so right now!

11. Face Off (2007)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5

Edd said: I know, I know, you might roll your eyes in 2025 but in 2007 an Omarion and Bow Wow project – fresh off the madness of the early-00s Scream Tours – seemed like a guaranteed winner. This was Best of Both Worlds for the Nintendo DS kids. But just like Best of Both Worlds, this was better in theory than execution. Omarion carries this thing on his back thanks to a few solid hooks and energetic vocal performances, but call Shad the Verizon Man because he phones in almost every verse. O tried but he can only do so much. Unless you were 7 when this dropped, pass.

Forgotten favorites: “He Ain’t Gotta Know,” “Listen,” “Baby Girl”

10. Ollusion (2010)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5

Edd said: This was an interesting era for Omarion, as he was heavily rumored to be joining Lil Wayne’s Young Money movement, which would have been big at the time. The deal either fell through or Omarion asked for his release (depending on whom you ask) but, regardless, this project definitely feels YM coded. Ollusion is much more hip-hop infused than previous albums and … it’s not the best fit. O screaming over early 2010 rap beats is murder on the eardrums. Thankfully the rap cosplay doesn’t last long and the more soulful efforts are a much better fit. Better sequencing and a more focused tracklist would have helped this effort greatly.

Forgotten favorites: “What Do You Say,” “Temptation”

9. Pandemonium (2002)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5

Edd said: If the B2Klan wasn’t already at my doorstep with torches ablaze, this ranking definitely will put them there. But hear me out! Pandemonium was the final of THREE B2K albums we got in 2002 and it’s clear that they were going for quantity, not quality. Like B2K’s debut, the album is crammed with top-tier R&B producers and, like many of Omarion’s early projects, the album struggles outside of the singles. The bouncier efforts feel really dated with 2025 ears but the guys strike gold with the more midtempo efforts. Pandemonium would be the group’s best selling album, even though most tracks don’t hold up today.

Forgotten favorites: “Sleepin,” “Everything,” “One Kiss”

8. 21 (2006)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5

Edd said: Omarion silenced all that “sophomore jinx” talk with two words: Ice. Box. Timbaland laced O with his coldest hit while 21 attempted to transition Omarion from young crooner to pop star. The results are mixed. The uptempo numbers don’t quite hit; the midtempos are stronger but rarely reach that next level. There’s nothing outright bad here, but there’s just a lot of … OK. At 21, he still had a lot of growing to do.

Forgotten favorites: “Just Can’t Let You Go,” “Just That Sexy”

7. Sex Playlist (2014)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Ah yes, it’s the “Groceries” album. While Jhene Aiko’s ridiculous line on “Post To Be” is this album’s greatest claim to fame infamy, it also marks a couple more big moments – it was Omarion’s final album before his six year layoff, and at the time stood as his most mature release to date. His attempt to evolve his sound did come with a few growing pains, often feeling more silly – or even sleepy – than sexy. By the last quarter of the album, O begins to find his groove and the LP gains needed momentum. Don’t worry, he’d master the formula soon after.

Forgotten favorites: “Inside,” “Love & Other Drugs,” “Don’t Leave”

6. O (2005)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: We knew it would only be a matter of time before B2K’s frontman went solo and it didn’t take long. Just a couple of years after B2K turned 106 & Park into a madhouse, Omarion went from group member to solo star with a capital O. The Neptunes and the Underdogs and Tank crafted hits in “Touch” and “O,” respectively, giving Omarion an instant boost to stardom. However, much like the B2K albums (and several albums after this one) the singles do a lot of heavy lifting. Too many of the album cuts feel generic at best or forgettable at worst. O was still finding himself as a solo artist but the potential was there.

Forgotten favorites: “I Wish,” “I Know,” “Slow Dancin”

5. B2K (2002)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: If you weren’t outside in 2002, it’s hard to convey how HUGE B2K was for a brief time in the early 00s. Think your little sister’s current K-Pop faves, but Blacker. Even I fell for the hype – I copped this album in 2002 for like $2.99 (thanks, Columbia House!) and it was better than I expected. The singles still hold up very well today and the album features productions from A-listers like Troy Taylor, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox and the Underdogs. But stop me if you’ve heard this before: Besides a few decent-ish album cuts, B2K’s performances don’t always measure up to the lofty expectations set by the top tracks. It feels like the guys are punching below their weight. But credit where it’s due – B2K’s debut was a R&B gateway album for the 106 & Park generation and was a starmaking vehicle for Omarion in particular.

Forgotten favorites: “Understanding,” “B2K is Hot,” “I’m Not Finished”

4. Full Circle: Sonic Book Two (2023)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Here’s something you might not expect: Though his current work is often overlooked, modern-day Omarion is leaps and bounds better than his early 00s peak, and he’s become one of the more consistent artists in R&B. The 2020s is when O finally found himself. Seven months after the first Full Circle project, Sonic Book Two returns with a strong mix of mature records that finally achieve the soulful yet sexy balance he chased early in his career. A couple of questionable tracks hinder the experience here and there but it doesn’t derail his momentum. An underrated release.

Forgotten favorites: “The Usual,” “2 Sides”

3. SexSonics (2024)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said:  O’s most recent release skips the foreplay and gets right down to business. At just seven tracks, it’s a simply a succinct selection of sex songs. Admittedly, this album is a bit of a cheat: The tracks are borrowed from the two albums that preceded it, making it the SparkNotes of the Full Circle series. The album’s brevity plays in its favor – there’s none of the fluff and filler that plague many of his earlier efforts. Brief, but bangs. I’m with it.

Forgotten favorites: “O.E.O. (Our Eyes Only),” “I Can’t Even Lie,” “Sunny Dayz”

2. Full Circle: Sonic Book One (2023)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Riding off the momentum of his 2020 comeback, Full Circle extends Omarion’s more mature sound to great effect. The writing is stronger, the production much less formulaic and the vocal performances are sharper. In 2023, solid R&B releases were as scarce as PS5s, so the Full Circle series was a welcome release, and Book One is the best of the bunch.

Forgotten favorites: “Serious,” “Big Vibez,” “Waiting”

1. The Kinection (2020)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: It wouldn’t surprise me if many Day One Omarion fans have never heard this record. And if that’s the case, they need to catch up – The Kinection is where Omarion reached his final form. After a half-decade studio album hiatus, O popped up during the pandemic like unexpected rona symptoms. But to his credit, this was a much more focused O. The Kinection finally nails that balance between maturity and sexuality that he’d be attempting to reach in prior years. While many of his peer still struggle to mature their sound, O grew up with his audience, providing fully-formed R&B in an era where that still remains a rarity. The Kinection kicked off a surprising career revival Omarion, and reigns as his best work to date.

Forgotten favorites: “Do You Well,” “Mutual,” “Unbothered”

B2K stans, take a break from sharpening your pitchforks and let me know your favorite Omarion and B2K group projects below.