ALBUM REVIEW: B.o.B. - Who the Fuck is B.o.B.? [2009]

By Killian Gould

Prior to reading this post you may be asking yourself, "Who the Fuck is B.o.B.?" but I can assure you that after listening to his mixtape, conveniently named, Who the Fuck is B.o.B.? the questions will cease. B.o.B. also known by Bobby Ray Simmons is an up and coming hipster rapper from Atlanta. He recently signed with Grand Hustle Entertainment, owned by critically acclaimed rapper T.I. His first mixtape since the signing entertains the listener through B.o.B.'s constant challenges of today's famous rappers.

These challenges are seen immediately in the upbeat song, "I'm Dat Nigga," featuring a verse from T.I. and a verse from B.o.B. in which B.o.B. immediately disses his boss T.I. and implements his own swagger right from the beginning. The album combines a southern swagger similar to T.I. and Ludacris with the new hipster rapper intelligence of KiD CuDi and Wale. His songs on the mixtape take you on a journey through east-side Atlanta ("Generation Lost,""Eastside Tales," and "Atlanta Ga."). B.o.B. also features sampled songs from some of his influences, samples include; The Beatles with, "Lonely People," one of my personal favorites, as well as, "Use Ur Love," from The Police. His single "I'll be in the Sky," is already becoming radio famous in Georgia and some of the other southern states. drawing anticipation from fans for his debut album The Adventures of B.o.B. scheduled to debut this summer.

B.o.B. encompasses the excitement of the up and coming rappers and the new-school genre of rap that has been in the making since Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco hit the scene in 2005. B.o.B. says his influences include rock, rap, techno, 80's pop and funk, so expect many for tracks like these on his debut album. Look for B.o.B. and his counterparts: Wale, KiD CuDi, Charles Hamilton, and Drake to explode onto the scene with a bang late this summer with their debut albums. Until then, get your fix with the mixtape scene, and Who the Fuck is B.o.B.?

Download: B.o.B - Who the Fuck is B.o.B? [Mixtape]

B.o.B - "Use Ur Love"