B2K
| Company type | Boy band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Dave Scott, Keshia Gamble |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Music albums, tours |
B2K (an acronym for Boys of the New Millennium) is a U.S.-based boy band established in 1998 by choreographer Dave Scott alongside Interscope A&R executive Keshia Gamble. The group consisted of members Lil' Fizz, J-Boog, Raz-B, and Omarion. Their eponymous debut album, released on March 12, 2002, reached the second spot on the Billboard 200 chart and secured the top position on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ranking. On June 10, 2025, B2K revealed plans for a reunion tour set to take place in 2026.
History
The origins of B2K trace back to Melodic, with Jarell "J-Boog" Houston, De'Mario "Raz-B" Thornton, and Dreux Pierre "Lil' Fizz" Frédéric forming the foundation. Omari "Omarion" Grandberry joined the ensemble on New Year's Eve of 1999, completing the lineup. The group's name, B2K, symbolizes "Boys of the New Millennium," reflecting the dawn of the Y2K period.
In 2001, B2K introduced their first single, "Uh Huh," crafted by producer Tricky Stewart. Their inaugural album featured tracks such as "Gots ta Be" and "Why I Love You", climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and earned Gold certification. Their sophomore album, Santa Hooked Me Up (2002), attained No. 132 on the Billboard 200 chart. Soon after, their third release, Pandemonium!, debuted at No. 10. The album's lead single, "Bump, Bump, Bump", a collaboration with P. Diddy, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking their sole number-one hit.
In 2003, B2K received a Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Singing Group and featured in the movie You Got Served. By 2004, internal conflicts attributed to their label Epic Records led manager Chris Stokes to announce the band's dissolution. Lil' Fizz, Raz-B, and J-Boog publicly severed professional ties with Stokes in pursuit of equitable treatment. Meanwhile, Omarion remained under Stokes' guidance as he embarked on a solo career.
2005–2018: Solo pursuits and Love & Hip Hop
Omarion launched multiple solo projects along with a collaborative album alongside Bow Wow. Between 2005 and 2007, Lil' Fizz made guest appearances on Fox's sitcom The War at Home. Raz-B moved to China to advance his solo music career and entrepreneurial ventures by managing his own label. In 2009, J-Boog teamed up with Lil' Fizz for a five-track EP titled Nightlife. Additionally, J-Boog assumed roles as writer, producer, and vice president at Footage Films, Marques Houston's production company.
In 2014, both Omarion and Lil' Fizz joined VH1's reality series Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood, which showcased aspects of their personal lives. Omarion departed after two seasons to prioritize family commitments; Fizz continued as a supporting cast member. In 2017, J-Boog appeared while Fizz attempted to revive B2K without Omarion, considering co-star Ray J as a potential substitute. However, disputes between Ray J and J-Boog regarding ego differences led Fizz and Boog to conclude that pausing group activities was preferable until conditions allowed for a more harmonious reunion.
2018–2020: The Millennium Tour Reunion
On December 31, 2018, group managers Michelle Le Fleur and Damuer H. Leffridge revealed B2K's reunion for The Millennium Tour set for 2019, marking their first collective return in 15 years. The tour spanned three months, from March through May 2019, with dates announced through G-Squared Events. The roster featured all four original B2K members alongside prominent mid-2000s urban performers such as Pretty Ricky, Chingy, Ying Yang Twins, Mario, Bobby V, and Lloyd. During the Madison Square Garden show in New York City, Ashanti made an unexpected guest appearance, joining Lloyd to perform their hit "Southside."
Raz-B's occurrences throughout the tour
Raz-B encountered multiple incidents during the tour, which were intended to be captured as he joined the cast of VH1's Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood to document his journey. Nonetheless, the series was indefinitely delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
- At the outset of the tour, Raz-B voiced unease and concerns about safety related to former manager Chris Stokes potentially being near the group, fueling speculation about his possible departure. The band later confirmed his ongoing participation while offering support for his mental health.
- During the Nashville performance, Raz-B abruptly exited the stage mid-show, citing dissatisfaction with the opening segment and feelings of alienation within the group.
- In late April, Raz-B faced arrest in Minneapolis on domestic violence allegations but was not charged because of a lack of evidence; no filming crew was present at the time.
- In early May, while in Jacksonville, Florida, Raz-B mistakenly left behind a $2,500 Louis Vuitton bag in a Lyft vehicle; though initially reporting it stolen, the driver returned it unharmed.
- On May 10, 2019, B2K announced Raz-B would step away from touring temporarily due to health concerns, expressing their support for his recovery and optimism for his eventual return.
2021–present: Short-lived conflict and sporadic reunions
In 2021, Omarion discussed internal challenges in a New York Post interview, highlighting issues such as "lack of communication" and "lack of knowledge" among members. On June 23, 2022, during a Verzuz event, he referred to his former bandmates as "glorified backup dancers," which drew criticism from J-Boog. Soon after, Omarion unveiled plans for a five-part documentary series titled Omega: The Gift & The Curse, exploring conflicts during the 2019 Millennium Tour, the group's decline, and personal struggles.
On September 3, 2022, J-Boog, Raz B, and Lil' Fizz appeared on the Revolt show Drink Champs to present their side of the disagreements. On July 31, 2024, B2K reunited live on stage at a Jhené Aiko concert in Los Angeles, signaling reconciliation among the members.
Members
Discography
- Studio albums
- B2K (2002)
- Santa Hooked Me Up (2002)
- Pandemonium! (2002)
Filmography
- 2004: You Got Served
Tours
- Scream Tour I (2001)
- Scream Tour II (2002)
- Scream Tour III (2003)
- The Millennium Tour (2019)
- The Reunion Tour (2026)
Awards
- BET Awards
|- | rowspan="3" | 2002 || "Uh Huh" || Viewer's Choice Award || |- | rowspan="2" | B2K || Best New Artist || |- | Best Group || |- | rowspan="3" | 2003 || "Girlfriend" || Video of the Year || |- | "Bump, Bump, Bump" || Viewer's Choice Award || |- | B2K || Best Group || |}
- Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
|- | 2003 || B2K || Favorite Music Group || |- | rowspan="2" | 2004 || B2K || Favorite Music Group || |- | "Bump, Bump, Bump" || Favorite Song || |}
- Soul Train Music Awards
|- | rowspan="2" | 2003 || B2K || Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo || |- | "Bump, Bump, Bump" || Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo || |- | rowspan="2" | 2004 || Pandemonium! || Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo || |- | "Girlfriend" || Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo || |}
- Nickelodeon Australian Kids Choice Awards
|- | Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards 2005 || B2K || Favourite Music Group || |}
External links
- Articles with short description
- American boy bands
- African-American musical quartets
- American contemporary R&B musical groups
- American hip-hop groups
- Musical groups established in 1998
- Musical groups disestablished in 2004
- Musical groups reestablished in 2018
- Teen pop groups
- Sony Music Publishing artists
- 1998 establishments in California