B2K knows how to make a big impression. These ambitious teens - Omari "Omarion" Grandberry, 17, Jarell "J-Boog" Houston, 16 De'Mario "Raz-B" Thornton, 17, and Dreux "Lil' Fizz" Frederic, 16 - first burst onto the R&B scene last winter, blending silky smooth vocals with hook-laden dance beats. The savvy hip-hoppers came together when they signed a management deal with Raz B' cousin, Chris Stokes. There's no denying that it takes plenty of hard work to reach the top. Maybe that's why B2K is reaping such rich rewards. These tenacious teen have appeared on countless TV shows, including MTV's Total Request Live, Jenny Jones, Soul Train, Showtime at the Apollo, and Live with Regis and Kelly. The guys also scored their own Nickelodeon concert special and performed and presented at the annual Kids Choice Awards. But, that's not all. Last summer B2K hit the road with Bow Bow (formerly Lil' Bow Wow) on the sold-out, ten-week "Scream" tour. The string of concert dates was so successful that the two have confirmed plans to team up again. "Scream 2" kicks off July 25. "When we [first] went out on the Lil' Bow Wow tour, we didn't have a single out or anything," Omarion has said. "But as we started building up our fans, they got crazier and crazier." He's not exaggerating. B2K's numerous in-store appearances hace incited near-riots nationwide. Plus the boys practically blew off the roof during a gig at New York's Planet Hollywood. "The line was wrapped around the building," Raz-B has said. "It was so crazy the waiters and cooks had to come down and do security. We couldn't finish our performance. When we left, girls ran after the bus and stopped traffic." It's clear that B2K's persistence has paid off in a big way. This past June, the quartet was honored at the Black Entertainment Television Awards, winning Viewer's Choice honors. This summer they've also joined superstars Destiny's Child on the road for their European tour. So, what's next for these fast rising stars? "We just want to put a positive message out there," Omarion has said. Adds J-Boog, "[We want] to be successful and have longevity and stay around and make music that people really love and can grow up with. We don't want to just be teen boys who grow out of it. We want to grow up with our fans."
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