Making it in the music industry as a solo artist is hard enough but when there are two or more people in a group, tensions are bound to arise because mo’ money plus mo’ people equal mo’ problems. Although they made beautiful music together, these 15 popular rap and R&B groups just couldn’t set aside their differences in the long run.

Arrested Development

Afrocentric alternative hip-hop group Arrested Development became very popular in the early 90′s. Founded by Speech and his former best friend, DJ Headliner, along with Dionne Farris and spiritual leader Baba Oje, they are best known for their song “Everyday People.” In 1993 the group won Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance. They were also tapped by Spike Lee to record a song for his “Malcolm X” biopic that same year. However, Arrested Development never eclipsed the success they had with their debut album. Their sophomore album was panned by critics and shortly after that the group broke up due to “creative differences.” The band patched things up four years later but things were never the same as they struggled to reclaim their popularity in the U.S. Today, the group continues to tour internationally and released their 10th album in 2012.

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I’m probably one of the few people in my office right now who wants to see Omarion win. Probably because I used to be a B2K stan (though I had more of an affinity for Lil Fizz), and more or less because I’ve seen him at his best (“Touch” anyone?) and knows he can drop some chart topping stuff. And after watching him dance for his life in almost a comical fashion at the BET Hip Hop Awards a few months ago, I can tell he’s hungry–thirsty even. But at the age of 28, post his boy band heartthrob status and dropping four solo albums, the latter two which were received with lack of enthusiasm, can Omarion really blow up big again? Or better yet, as he says, can he ever be on the level of Michael during Thriller? Beyoncé during Crazy In Love? Justin Timberlake during his FutureSex/LoveSounds reign?

He seems to think so. When talking about his upcoming EP, Care Package, with Billboard, Omarion discussed why he believes that it’s his time now to drop a classic. He’s a new and improved and eclectic O, and he’s excited for the fans, and the haters, to hear what he’s got, especially since he personally feels like most people still look at him as teeny bopping “Bump Bump Bump” Omarion from B2K:

A lot of my fans are adults and have children and lives. It’s really interesting because they still come out and support, the fans that used to chase my car. I think they ready. This is the real grown-up me. This is that age when Beyoncé had ‘Crazy in Love’ and Michael Jackson had ‘Thriller,’ when Justin Timberlake had ‘FutureSex/LoveSounds.’ I feel like I’m at that age. I can’t wait to display this new me.

If he’s trying to show that he’s grown up and out of his dance friendly pop stuff from back in the day, it helps that he’s rolling with Rick Ross and MMG, as he got signed with Ross’ crew after they met up at a strip club of all places. Magic City is the perfect place to do business, right? And since then, he’s been so hype and full of enthusiasm that he’s not letting anybody bring him down. Don’t want to see an Omarion comeback? Well, homeboy says too bad, because it’s coming: “I hope that they hear the emotion and take away one thing, and that’s that I’m coming. I’m going to continue to create music. I’m here, and that’s what it is.”

While I do like Omarion, I can’t say that I really see him making an impact or the type of music that really blew people like Bey, Justin and MJ into the stratosphere of stardom. I feel like that opportunity came and went. But hey, you can’t knock a brotha for trying. Never hurts to be ambitious, or it least it doesn’t hurt much? Care Package drops for free on file sharing sites on November 29, will you check it out?

While jamming to your favorite songs, do you ever wonder about who wrote your favorite tune? Okay, probably not. But it’s still cool to see who helped put some of today’s major hits together, and most of the time, it’s  people who you didn’t expect. We started looking into the names behind some popular tracks back in March, and now we’ve compiled a few more. Here’s a list of some major songs by major artists that were created with a little help from their famous (or at the time, soon-to-be-famous) friends.

Graphic by Desire

“Baby” Justin Bieber feat. Ludacris (2009)

The-Dream/Tricky Stewart/Christina Milian

The song that threw Bieber into pop’s stratosphere, and was his highest charting single until 2012′s “Boyfriend,” was put together by former lovers The-Dream and Christina Milian and Dream’s writing partner Tricky Stewart (who has penned songs for Beyoncé, Rihanna, and more). The Dream claims that Milian only helped with the melody of the song- but there’s no way you can just get a royalty check and credits off a melody right? If so, then I stand corrected. Either way, it’s the jam folks of all backgrounds and ages can’t help but sing to, and it’s the song that pretty much made Bieber a household name.

Source: cwphilly.cbslocal.com

Chris Brown and Raz B have already shared some nasty twitter exchanges in the past but Breezy is threatening legal action now that the former B2K singer isn’t just talking ish anymore, he wrote it down in a book.

In what can only be described as a money making ploy—because no one cares enough about him otherwise—Raz B is releasing a memoir titled, This Boy’s Life, but he’s doing a lot more than talking about himself and the past molestation claims at the hands of B2K manager Chris Stokes. He’s outing several male celebrities like Omarion and the rest of his band; Lil Bow Wow, who he says was involved in sexual relationships with other B2K members; and he also says Marques Houston molested him.

His claims against Breezy go just a tad bit further, though. In one section of the book he wrote:

“I’ve never had issues with substances; even when I was at my lowest. I always thank God I never had a serious addiction like the Weezy’s [Lil Wayne] and the Breezy’s [Chris Brown].”

Then he adds:

“What type of man hits a woman? A man that does not honor womanhood or the fragility of it. I also read that most men who beat women have latent homosexual tendencies. So there you go.”

Really Raz? Breezy had about the equivalent of his “Good Morning America” flip out on Twitter when he heard about the accusations.

“Lying about somebody in a book is called defamation of character,” he tweeted. “Keep feeding people bulls**t and ima end up owning you and that book! RAZ B! God bless… My lawyers are handling it! Lol ima chill!”

Interesting no one else has spoken up about the book, although for Lil Wayne there would be no point. We all know he loves his purple drank. Raz B’s book comes out in September so there will likely be another media firestorm around that time, if anyone still cares at that point. I get wanting to share your molestation experience—somewhat—but outing other people, whether it’s true or not, is not cool.

What do you think about this book and what Raz B is claiming?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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