Seems it doesn’t take much to make teen fans ‘Scream’

There’s a reason they call this the “Scream” tour. Headlined by teen rap sensation Bow Wow and teen R&B; heartthrob Omarion, there was almost as much shrieking by the female-heavy crowd as there was music from the young stars Thursday at the Gibson Amphitheatre.

The former Lil’ Bow Wow (he’s mature now) and Omarion (once of R&B-pop; quartet B2K) stormed the stage as fireworks exploded, launching into their own version of “The Best of Both Worlds,” the title track from the much hyped but much maligned 2002 megaproject that teamed R. Kelly and Jay-Z. Bow Wow and Omarion are hardly the equivalent of those two musical giants, but their posturing during their 100-minute set was already as polished as that of their musical influences.

On earlier Scream tours, Bow Wow was content to deliver energetic renditions of satisfying songs about prepubescent life. But on Thursday, he seemed to take a page from his older rap friends’ book, regularly scowling and trying to look tough despite his slight frame. Like most young R&B; singers, Omarion borrowed the dance steps and look of old-school Michael Jackson. Despite their talent, both seem uncomfortable in transitioning from teen stars with clean images to adult artists who have to compete with edgier acts.

Of the opening acts, raunchy and super-sexually charged Miami rap-R&B; quartet Pretty Ricky received the best response from the audience members, many of whom looked as though they had just hit their teen years.

The girls seemed more impressed by the group’s hip thrusts and removal of clothing (the performers stripped down to their boxers) than its pop-flavored music, which is average, at best. And we wonder why teen pregnancy is a problem.