New Music Review: B.o.B

by Casey Williams

B.o.B
“B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray”
Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records
Released: April 27, 2010

All of hip-hop’s monster names have made a trend of selecting young prodigies to push; Jay-Z unleashed Kanye West, Lil Wayne had Drake, and West developed Kid Cudi. Now, staking further claim in rap’s royalty, Atlanta rapper T.I., fresh out of jail on gun charges, has produced his own protege: B.o.B, aka Bobby Ray.

After a few successful years on the mixtape market, B.o.B released his debut album this week, “B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray.” Perhaps what works most for B.o.B is the stark distinction in styles between he and his mentor, T.I. T.I. is known for his gritty, gangsta-hustle persona, while B.o.B is a true muse, classically trained in song.

An accomplished acoustic guitar and cello player, rapper and singer, B.o.B flows seamlessly between genres. You may remember his name from a pair of 2007 singles that came down on decidedly different ends of the spectrum: the ultra-gangsta “Haterz Everywhere” and the funk ballad “I’ll Be In the Sky.” He is most at-home as an indie-rocker, but has moments that span gangsta rap, R&B, gospel, pop, and “emo”-alternative rock.

“The Adventures of Bobby Ray” is able to explore all these genres, with the help of a very diverse guest list. Notable features include Lupe Fiasco, T.I., Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo, and Bruno Mars. Mars sings the chorus of the platinum-selling mega-hit “Nothin’ On You,” currently atop the Billboard Hot 100.

But easily the biggest Easter egg on the album is the guest spot appearance of Eminem, who joins B.o.B and Williams in “Airplanes Part II,” the album’s next single which is already gaining popularity. Williams’ heart-wrenching vocals, a knocking bass line, and a fluctuating piano melody set up Eminem’s gritty tone perfectly. But with basically the same production and flow as “Airplanes (Part I),” the inclusion of both tracks does make the album repetitive.

Photo: pigeonsandplanes.com

The album, and B.o.B as an artist in general, is very nostalgic. In “Lovelier Than You,” he sings “If I could rewind/Both the hands of time…” Not only is B.o.B’s sound a throwback to acoustic pop infused with funk, but its one of his most prominent themes. And this is a refreshing quality, with so many new hip-hop artists interested in speaking about looking ahead, moving forward and living the life of a future star. B.o.B reflects on simpler past experiences to achieve a sentimental connection with listeners.

Unfortunately for me, the album’s other theme, B.o.B’s mainstream arrival and an introduction to his unique style, is overstated. Getting to know the artist was much more entertaining on his less-scrutinized, creatively free mixtapes. On “Adventures,” you can feel the major label’s ‘play it safe’ mentality, selecting tracks with bigger hit potential. Still, B.o.B finds ways to shine and bring new things to the music scene.

Overall, his hooks are catchy and his musical instincts are strong, personally producing a majority of the album. B.o.B’s “Adventures of Bobby Ray” is definitely worth your time. There’s something for every music genre fan out there. I give it four of five iPod stars. For those looking for a deeper look into the adventurous mind of B.o.B, I recommend his “B.o.B Vs. Bobby Ray” and “May 25th” mixtapes.

Songs to know: “Don’t Let Me Fall,” “Airplanes,” “Ghost in the Machine,” “Letters from Vietnam”