Atlanta hip-hop artist B.o.B made sure noone would forget to pick up his debut album B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. With Marvel-like cover art and a roster of seasoned guest artists, B.o.B shows listeners he is able to stand out among the big names in music.
The album experiments with a style of rap that feels vintage. B.o.B, born Bobby Ray Simmons, breaks the barriers of mainstream hip-hop music by using what sounds like live instrumentation to intensify the emotions in his songs. B.o.B stays true to himself and his interest in a wide range of music.
The opening song, “Dont Let Me Fall,” sets the pace for the rest of the project. B.o.B, known for being a fan of a variety of genres, reminds listeners that not all music has to fit into one category. The beat is catchy and the instruments flow well together, matching the sentimental lyrics.
This song transitions nicely into his most popular single, “Nothin’ On You,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song is a ready-made sing-along, for the lyrics about a pretty girl are run of the mill. With simple lyrics such as “They might say hi, and I might say hey/ But you shouldn’t worry about what they say/ ‘Cause they got nothing on you, baby” and an infectious beat, this song is quite deserving of its hit record status, though it is not at all innovative.
The only song on the album with the potential to get more radio play than “Nothin’ On You” is “Magic.” An unconventional hip-hop tune, “Magic” is probably the most fun track on B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. The beat is whimsical, and the hook sounds as if it could be played at a Sweet 16 party without upsetting any conservative parents. The track’s only downside is that B.o.B glorifies himself too much by rhyming about how he can turn music into gold. But despite the song’s egotistical nature, it may be hard for listeners to resist tapping their toes to the beat.
The song with the most substance is definitely “Airplanes” — featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore — on which B.o.B depicts his life before his involvement in the music industry and rise to stardom. The lyrics reveal the album’s honest nature. And the closer, “Airplanes, Part II” which also features Eminem, is just as intimate. Over a piano-dominated background, the three vocalists each describe different kinds of struggles.
Indeed, some songs on the album are unoriginal. But the one song that’s completely cliché is “Past My Shades.” This song is a collaboration with Lupe Fiasco, which sounds good in theory, but the lyrics mostly just repeat the title with a few extra words thrown in to fill up a three-minute time slot. “Past My Shades” takes away from an otherwise quality album. Yes, songs such as “Nothin’ On You” aren’t exactly unique, but this song simply feels tired and uninspired. Its repetition actually becomes downright annoying.
Overall, the LP is most definitely an adventure through the mind of Bobby Ray. It is versatile, and the lyrics are, for the most part, meaningful. The general lack of unnecessary profanity and misogynist content make this album friendly to a wide demographic. B.o.B may not be revolutionizing rap, but if this album is an indicator of his talents, he is an artist who will be around for a long time.
diversions@umdbk.com
RATING: 3.5 stars out of 5
