The guys in IMX promise that their Scream 2 Tour this summer with B2K and headliner Bow Wow is going to offer just as much excitement as one of those Hollywood blockbusters that drop around this time of year. However, the trio also revealed last month that some of the most action-packed and suspense-filled moments are going to take place behind the scenes at the concerts: A lot of the guys are practical jokesters and it’s going to come down to who gets who first.
“They never got me,” IMX’s Romeo bragged. “[B2K’s] Lil’ Fizz is my brother, we’ll think of a prank together or he’ll do a prank and come back and tell me. We got this new one we’re gonna get Omarion with. He’s gonna be mad.”
The gut-buster he’s talking about is literally going to catch the B2K member with his pants down.
“The one we about to give to Omari, you know how in the morning everybody has to use the bathroom?” he began to explain. “We’re gonna Saran Wrap the toilet, so when he goes to pee, it’s gonna go everywhere. We’re gonna take the light bulb out so he can’t see; it’s just gonna go everywhere.”
Romeo, along with LDB and the group’s lead singer Batman, need to horse around a little every now and then. They live in the studio, writing songs and pounding out tracks under their production moniker, Platinum Status. Besides helming most of the tracks on B2K’s LP as well as their own self-titled album, the guys have been working on material for Mya, Whitney Houston, Deborah Cox, “a female version of B2K” named G4, and Fizz’s 13-year-old cousin Jhene (pronounced Ja-nay), who’ll open up Scream 2.
“That’s like our little sister,” LDB said of the youngster. “She has a strong voice to be so small and she’s real fast. We can get four songs done in like a day. She’s like a mix between Beyoncé and Kameelah [formerly] of 702. She’s real nice. Her first single is called ‘Dog.’ ”
Another diva-in-training with whom they share a sibling-like relationship is Solange Knowles. They produced two songs on her upcoming debut.
“Destiny’s Child, as soon as they got in the business, we became good friends and she was always around them,” Romeo remembered. “She’d be running around, we’d be picking on her. When she finally got in the studio, it was nothing. It was like a family. Everybody was there. It’s real good to work with people who are real down-to-earth.”
“One of the songs is called ‘Dance with You,’ ” Batman, who’s also working on his solo project, said. “It’s a duet with her and B2K. It’s a party record. It’s real upbeat. Her voice makes her music, she has a powerful voice. And she’s an excellent writer.”
As hyped as they were to hit the studio with their homegirls, nothing is going to compare to collaborating with Houston.
“We were honored [to get the call],” Batman gushed. “She’s a legend, she’s an icon. It’s like a blessing for us to work with her. We definitely wanted to give her some different stuff. I like the stuff Rodney [Jerkins] did with her on the last album, but we definitely would like to give her a bit of our style but take it to where Whitney hasn’t gone before. All bangin’ over your head. Our style, we can do ballads, club hits, anything that music wants us to do.”
And after the tour wraps up, IMX will be following the directions of a director, not the beat. They have a movie in development with New Line Cinema for a flick that will co-star B2K. Haters get ready.
“When you’re famous in this business and everybody knows who you are and your face is all over the tube there tends to be a lot of haters,” Batman said of his group’s current single, “Ain’t No Need.” “Everybody is trying to bring you down, and we’re saying ‘There ain’t no need to hate on us. We’re doing our thing, go out there and get yours. There’s money to make for everybody. Get out there do something with your own life.’ ”
The Scream 2 Tour kicks off July 25 at Memphis’ Mid-South Coliseum
