B2K News

Lil' Fizz (Dreux Frederic), J Boog (Jarell Houston) and Raz-B (DeMario Thornton) have signed an advisor and business partnership agreement with CMX (Commodities Management Exchange, Inc.), a spokesperson for CMX CEO Antonio Demetrius Brown confirmed Monday (January 5).

Photos of Lil' Fizz, J Boog and Raz-B with CMX executives Brown and E Smooth appeared on the internet over the weekend.

B2K lead singer Omarion (Omari Grandberry) did not join the other members in signing with CMX, which has sparked rumor that the group is breaking up and Omarion is working on a solo career.

Brown's spokesperson explained CMX's relationship with B2K members Lil' Fizz, J Boog, and Raz-B. "Antonio Demetrius Brown has indicated that they are advisors and business partners with the gentlemen of B2K," the spokesperson said in a statement, "and they are looking forward to growing CMX and helping to grow B2K as well and feel that it will be a good synergy with B2K being a part of CMX's entertainment division."

B2K has been signed with T.U.G. Entertainment, headed by music mogul Chris Stokes, who is responsible for discovering R&B acts Immature and Brandy.

A message credited to Stokes appears on the T.U.G. Entertainment website addressing the controversy. "I'm very, very sad," Stokes said in the statement. "I did not know about this at all. I'm just as surprised as you all are. I've just seen the pictures of them signing with CMX myself. Me, Omarion, and Marques Houston are totally shocked. No one person broke up B2K. They are like my sons, and I can't understand how, or why they would do this, but if the boys can hear my voice now, I want them to know that I love them and I wish them the best. Plus, I am surprised because they are still under contract with me. I love all of you and all of the fans out there. Please pray for B2K…"

Omarion is the younger brother of Immature and IMx lead singer Marques Houston, who is also signed to T.U.G. Entertainment. Additionally, J-Boog, Omarion and Houston are cousins, and Raz-B and Stokes are cousins as well.

Representatives from B2K's label Epic Records and T.U.G. Entertainment did not return phone calls at press time.

The news of the problems in the group comes weeks before the January 30 release of their dance movie, You Got Served, and days after the soundtrack hit record stores.

B2K released its self-titled debut in 2002 and quickly followed it with three other records that year, B2K: The Remixes, Vol. 1, Santa Hooked Me Up, and Pandemonium!. You Got Served came out on December 23.

To see B2K's only pre-breakup performance of "Badaboom" click here.

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