B2K - 'Mileage'
I remember when B2K first came out. I was in middle school, and I would run home every single day to see them on the countdown on 106th & Park. Their posters hung in my locker and on my bedroom wall. Omarion was my favorite member, then J-Boog, Raz-B, and Lil’ Fizz. My best friend at the time was obsessed with Lil’ Fizz. Anytime we were together, we listened to and talked about B2K, and we only bought WordUP magazine to get more information about our future husbands. So imagine how heartbroken I truly was when I found out they broke up, Omarion was going solo, and the last B2K record was the LAST. I didn’t even get to see them on stage, or have them sign my cd/tshirt. When I heard about their reunion and the tour, I was ecstatic. My teenage heart was back to being obsessed with one of my favorite groups; however, fate did not allow me to catch the reunion tour. I was on cloud 9 again when I heard about the Verzuz they had coming up against Pretty Ricky (another group that captured my teenage heart, except at the time of their arrival I was now in high school)
I tuned in with thousands of other adoring fans, ready to see B2K do what we knew they were capable of, given that they were one of the best-selling groups of all time. Multiple hits, two best-selling albums, a movie, and a movie soundtrack did not prepare me for the sweep that came their way. Some people were saying, “Well, the content of their music just doesn’t hit the same; it was for kids.” Those were not kids' tunes, lol. Did y’all listen to the lyrics? Did y’all really pay attention to the Verzuz? After it ended, I just sat there thinking, maybe it wasn’t so bad that I missed their reunion tour. So, I quietly retreated into my corner as a longtime fan who awaited this very moment, only to be let down by ill-prepared, egotistical men. I was over it. I didn’t flinch much when B2K announced they were making music again and releasing a single right after the show. I also didn’t rush to listen to it after that performance, because why?
I wasn’t going to write about the latest single, Milage from B2K. The Verzuz loss and my initial disdain for their newly released track did not drive me here.
What has pushed me over the edge to critique this abysmal excuse for music was Omarion's most recent appearance on House Guest with Scott Evans. It was towards the end of the interview that Omarion discussed what it has been like being back with B2K. He says they remain youthful even as grown men now; they have always had mature lyrics in their music even as kids, but now, as adults singing together, the lyrics finally match the experience. Omarion then goes on to say that this first song after all these years makes sense because, as men, they can now really talk to the ladies and let them know they prefer dealing with women with experience, since they have it now too. ( side eye) He then goes on to joke and say, “we know you got some bodies on that coochie, now, don’t lie!” Scott Evans didn’t check him; he just joked with him and maneuvered around it.
I don’t know what it is about the people I have once admired, embarrassing me like this, but y’all, I am tired. Omarion and Raz B are 41, J Boog and Fizz are 40, I don’t know about y’all, but the LAST thing I want to hear are four grown ass men, who are all fathers if I am not mistaken, get on a microphone and bring up the conversation of mileage and bodies. Omarion insisted this was them, on their grown-man vibe, and I have to say otherwise respectfully. The song is childish, the lyrics are lazy, and the video is corny. We should be more concerned with our partners' bills of health than with who they have actually been with, because why is that even a thought or a conversation?
While the song is hot garbage, I do love that they tried to give everyone their moment on the record. It feels as though they are moving as one band, one sound; but then I think back to that Verzuz, and it makes me wonder if B2K really ready for this? I have always felt that B2K broke up way too soon, so I love seeing them together again. But right now I’m torn between thinking B2K can do better than this and wondering whether my teenage nostalgia outweighs the subtle reality. There’s just something about 40-year-old men singing about a woman's mileage that gives me cringe; no matter the intention of the lyrics, I have a hard time taking them seriously. As men, they have all grown in so many ways, and I wish we had gotten a record that was a little more personal, or maybe just something fun and feel-good. Maybe I’m reading into it, but so far with this return, I’m far from enthused.
You can check out B2K’s latest single here:
Did you miss the Verzuz?
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