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Pump up the volume

DUBAI WILL witness one of the biggest R'n'B concerts of the year on November 22 (Thursday) at Dubai Media City.

With a line-up of the hottest R'nB stars including Grammy nominee Omarion, Marques Houston, Lloyd, legendary Blackstreet and a special tribute to A-Class, it promises to be an evening of ultimate R'nB.

Omarion

At 21 years old, with music, television, book publishing and movie credits under his belt, Omarion’s growth, maturity and depth are showcased on his sophomore, Epic / Sony Urban, solo effort aptly titled, 21.

The first single 'Entourage,' produced by Eric Hudson, blends Omarion’s memorable yet danceable chorus with catchy lyrics. The second single, 'Icebox,' produced by Timbaland, delivers dark engraining beats that draws listeners closer to Omarion’s experience in a fading relationship and illustrates how he deals the challenges of the commitment.

Fuelled with passion and honesty, 21 has Omarion breaking out of the pop-teen idol mold and moving into his grown man status.

Marques Houston

Marques Houston's new album Veteran, reveals his maturity to the world. Gone are the days of pop-laced tracks and catering to the teen crowd.

Houston sees Veteran not as a reinvention of himself but simply as who he’s become. "This album is going to set the tone for who I am truly as a man and as an artist," he says emphatically.

Houston has developed a knack for juggling multiple projects. Veteran is being released on his own T.U.G./Universal Motown Record label, which includes a roster of artists (Omarion, Mila J etc).

He’s also continued his acting career — he starred on his own television series Cuts for two seasons and co-starred with Omarion in the dance hit film You Got Served. And next year, he and Omarion will star in the horror flick Somebody Help Me produced by their company Rock Stars Entertainment.

Lloyd

For R&B singer Lloyd, the road to stardom has taken twists and turns, with high-speed chases and precise manoeuvering. Today, the 21-year old singer/songwriter and businessman is in the driver’s seat.

Singing came natural for Lloyd Polite, a native of New Orleans who grew up in Atlanta. "I knew how to sing before I learned how to talk and I knew how to dance before I learned how to walk. It’s just in my blood".

Known for his hit singles 'Get Shawty' and 'You', Lloyd is behind the wheel, navigating the dicey turns and averting the potholes with all the skill and finesse of a far more seasoned driver. Look for the new album in stores, 'Street Love'.

Blackstreet

One of the top R&B vocal groups of the '90s, Blackstreet was founded by singer, producer, and new jack swing pioneer Teddy Riley after the breakup of his seminal trio Guy.

Riley’s itch to get back in the performing arena resulted in the formation of Blackstreet in 1994, which included singers Chauncey 'Black' Hannibal, Levi Little, and Joe Stonestreet in addition to Riley.

On the strength of 'Before I Let You Go,' a Top Five hit on the R&B charts, Blackstreet was a platinum-selling hit even without much crossover exposure. Two more singles from the album, 'Booti Call' and 'Joy,' were minor hits as well.

More specifically, it was the inescapable smash single 'No Diggity,' which featured special guest Dr. Dre, that put them over the top. 'No Diggity' reigned for four weeks on top of the pop charts and won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal by a Duo or Group; it also pushed sales of Another Level past the four million mark. The follow-up single, 'Don't Leave Me,' was a decent-sized hit in 1997, and the group later made a guest appearance on Jay-Z's 'The City Is Mine' and teamed with Mya and Mase for the hit 'Take Me There' from the Rugrats soundtrack.

A-Class

A-Class is a local group all set to create a niche for themselves in the urban music scene by performing their exclusive hip-hop and RnB tracks live. Having come together lately, the two members of A-Class instantly bonded together and realised that they could make their dreams come alive.

Tracks made by A-Class have created quite a stir in the industry, with their single ‘I like you’. Recently A-Class lost a member of their group, Shorty, to a fatal car crash, hence, this concert has been dedicated as a tribute to his grave loss.

Doors for the show will open at 12 noon giving the crowd an opportunity to come and have a look at the live car being modified by West Coast Customs on Stage and also see the competition cars. A gaming zone will be setup for game fanatics to enjoy with various other activities for the crowd to indulge in.

The concert will start from 7pm onwards. Tickets are now on sales and available at all Virgin Mega Store Outlets across the UAE, Boxoffice Me.com and Timeouttickets.com. For more information call the event hotline on 055-2136113.