B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray
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Bobby Ray Simmons Jr. (born November 15, 1988), known professionally as B.o.B, is an American rapper and record producer. Raised in
Decatur, Georgia Decatur is a city in, and the county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, which is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. With a population of 24,928 in the 2020 census, the municipality is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple ZIP Codes in ...
, Simmons was signed to Jim Jonsin's
Rebel Rock Entertainment James Gregory Scheffer (born June 8, 1970), professionally known as Jim Jonsin, is an American record producer, songwriter, businessman and DJ from South Florida. Jonsin has collaborated with numerous artists, including Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, ...
imprint in 2006. Two years later, Jonsin and Simmons signed a joint venture deal, with fellow rapper T.I.'s Grand Hustle Records, under the aegis of
Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...
. Following his major-label deal, Simmons quickly achieved commercial success, when his debut single " Nothin' on You" (featuring Bruno Mars), reached number one on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in 2009, and earned a
Grammy Award for Record of the Year The Grammy Award for Record of the Year is presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without reg ...
nomination. His subsequent singles " Airplanes" (featuring
Hayley Williams Hayley Nichole Williams (born December 27, 1988) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and businesswoman who is best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and keyboardist of the rock band Paramore. Born and raised in Missi ...
of
Paramore Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro. Williams and Farro are founding members of the group, whil ...
), and "
Magic Magic or Magick most commonly refers to: * Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces * Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic * Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...
", both reached the
Top 10 A top ten list is a list of the ten highest-ranking items of a given category. Top Ten or Top 10 may also refer to: Media *Top 10, a common record chart for the ten most popular songs of the week in the musical chart of a country *''America's Top ...
on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Simmons' debut studio album ''
The Adventures of Bobby Ray ''B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray'' is the debut studio album by American rapper B.o.B, released on April 27, 2010, by Grand Hustle Records, Rebel Rock Entertainment and Atlantic Records. Production for the album took place during 200 ...
'' (2010), was preceded by two extended plays (EPs) and several self-released
mixtape A mixtape (alternatively mix-tape, mix tape or mixed tape) is a compilation of music, typically from multiple sources, recorded onto a medium. With origins in the 1980s, the term normally describes a homemade compilation of music onto a cassette ...
s. The album reached number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart and was certified 2× platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA). Simmons was named the ninth " Hottest MC in the Game of 2010" by
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
, on their annual list. The following year, he was featured on English singer
Jessie J Jessica Ellen Cornish (born 27 March 1988), known professionally as Jessie J, is an English singer. Born and raised in London, she began her career on stage, aged 11, with a role in the West End musical '' Whistle Down the Wind''. She studied ...
's single " Price Tag", which reached number one in the UK. Simmons' second studio album '' Strange Clouds'' (2012), reached the top 10 on the ''Billboard'' 200. It's eponymous lead single (featuring Lil Wayne) became his fourth top 10 hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The album's follow up singles " So Good" and " Both of Us" (featuring Taylor Swift), were both certified platinum by the RIAA, and reached the top 20 in the US. He also released the song " Out of My Mind" (featuring Nicki Minaj). His third album ''
Underground Luxury ''Underground Luxury'' is the third studio album by American rapper B.o.B. The album was released on December 17, 2013, by Grand Hustle Records, Rebel Rock Entertainment and Atlantic Records. The album was supported by four singles " We Still in ...
'' (2013), included the single " HeadBand" (featuring
2 Chainz Tauheed K. Epps (born September 12, 1977), known professionally as 2 Chainz (or Tity Boi), is an American rapper. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, he initially gained recognition as one-half of the Southern hip hop duo Playaz Circle, al ...
), and was certified gold by the RIAA. He was later featured on Ty Dolla Sign's single " Paranoid" which became a Top 40 hit in the US. In August 2015, Simmons released his twelfth mixtape ''
Psycadelik Thoughtz ''Psycadelik Thoughtz'' is the twelfth mixtape by American rapper B.o.B. The album was released on August 14, 2015, by Grand Hustle Records, Atlantic Records and Rebel Rock Entertainment. The song " Back and Forth" was released online a day bef ...
''.


Life and career


1988–2006: Early life and career beginnings

Bobby Ray Simmons Jr. was born on November 15, 1988, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He played the trumpet in his school band from elementary school through high school. Although his parents wanted him to continue his education, B.o.B decided in sixth grade that he wanted to pursue a music career. His father, a pastor, disapproved of his son's choices, until he realized B.o.B was using music as a form of therapy and a creative outlet. B.o.B later reflected on his experience, saying, "They've always supported me. They got my first
keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...
to make beats on and they helped me out getting equipment here and there. But it was kind of hard for them to really understand what I was really trying to accomplish." B.o.B attended Columbia High School in Decatur, Georgia, where he played the trumpet in the school band, until he landed a record deal and decided to drop out of school in the ninth grade. In 2002, after meeting his mentor and co-manager B-Rich at the age of 14, B.o.B sold his first beat to former
Slip-n-Slide Slip ’N Slide is a children's toy invented by Robert Carrier and manufactured by Wham-O. It was first sold in 1961. The main form is a plastic sheet and a method of wetting it; when the surface is wet it becomes very slippery, allowing the use ...
recording artist Citti, for the song "I'm the Cookie Man". B.o.B felt he had established a substantial career. "I went and blew all of my money on fast stuff like a chain and ballin'. Soon I was broke again, but I learned two important things from it; make sure I save my money and that I was hooked on music. He continued performing at
open mics Open or OPEN may refer to: Music * Open (band), Australian pop/rock band * The Open (band), English indie rock band * ''Open'' (Blues Image album), 1969 * ''Open'' (Gotthard album), 1999 * ''Open'' (Cowboy Junkies album), 2001 * ''Open'' (Y ...
and underground venues to perfect his craft. In 2006, because he was underage, B-Rich helped sneak B.o.B into Club Crucial, a night club owned by Atlanta-based rapper T.I. There, B.o.B performed a song titled "Cloud 9", a self-produced, spoken word-like ode to
marijuana Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, the cannabis plant has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various tra ...
. In attendance was producer and industry veteran T.J. Chapman, chief executive officer (CEO) of TJ's DJ's. Chapman agreed to co-manage B.o.B, which only a month later led to B.o.B's signing with
Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...
and subsidiary imprint Rebel Rock, run by Florida-based producer Jim Jonsin. His first single for Atlantic, 2007's "Haterz Everywhere", reached the top five of Billboard's Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart. Along with his solo production career, B.o.B is part of the production/rap group HamSquad, along with Playboy Tre, DJ Swatts, DJ Smooth, Moss B, B-Rich and TJ Chapman.


2007–2008: Rise to fame and mixtapes

B.o.B first began to gain recognition at the start of 2007. The underground single, "Haterz Everywhere" featuring Wes Fif, gained the rapper attention by peaking at number 5 on the US ''Billboard''
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (also known as Bubbling Under the Hot 100) is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart lists the top songs that have not yet charted on the main ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Chart ...
. The
remix A remix (or reorchestration) is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, video, poem, or photograph can all be remixes. The o ...
to "Haterz Everywhere" featuring Rich Boy, was included used in the video game ''
Fight Night Round 4 ''Fight Night Round 4'' is a boxing video game developed by EA Sports. It is the sequel to ''Fight Night Round 3'', released in 2006. It was released in 2009 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry. The game's featured boxers ...
'', and a music video was later released for that version. Another single, "
I'll Be in the Sky "I'll Be in the Sky" is a song by American hip hop recording artist B.o.B. The song, produced by B.o.B himself, was originally included on his fourth mixtape ''Who the F#*k Is B.o.B?'' (2008) and was later featured as a bonus track on the Europe ...
", was released in 2008 and it has reached at number 15 on the same charts. About.com called the song a "smart, funky artrap and a strong prelude to his album" and included it at number 13 on its subjective ranking "Top 100 Rap Songs of 2008". Incidentally, another song produced by B.o.B called "
Generation Lost The discography of the American punk rock band Rise Against consists of nine studio albums, two compilation album, eleven extended plays, twenty singles, four promotional singles, two documentaries, and twenty-five music videos. The band was ...
", listed alongside the song, on the ranking at number 32. This was followed by another single, "
Don't Let Me Fall "Don't Let Me Fall" is a song by American recording artist B.o.B, released in the US on April 5, 2010 as the second single from his debut studio album, '' B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray'' (2010). The track was released as a digital ...
". B.o.B made his first big feature appearing on T.I.'s highly acclaimed album '' Paper Trail'' (2008), on the song "On Top of the World", alongside fellow Atlanta-based rapper Ludacris. In 2008, it was announced he would appear on the cover of '' XXL'' magazine, along with Asher Roth,
Charles Hamilton Charles Hamilton may refer to: People in Canada * Charles Hamilton (bishop) (1834–1919), Anglican bishop of Ottawa * Charles Edward Hamilton (1844–1919), Canadian politician * Sir Charles Hamilton, 2nd Baronet, of Marlborough House (1767–184 ...
and
Wale Wale or WALE may refer to: Places *Wale, Devon, a hamlet in England *Wale, Tomaszów Mazowiecki County, a village in Poland People *Wale (surname) *Wale (rapper), stage name of American rapper Olubowale Victor Akintimehin Radio and television ...
as part of their "Hip-Hop's Class of '09" issue.The Daily Kush (Asher Roth website)
In October 2008, B.o.B was featured on the cover of '' Vibe'' along with some of these same young musicians and was similarly identified as promising young talent.Vibe online, October 30, 2008
From 2007 to 2008, B.o.B released four
mixtape A mixtape (alternatively mix-tape, mix tape or mixed tape) is a compilation of music, typically from multiple sources, recorded onto a medium. With origins in the 1980s, the term normally describes a homemade compilation of music onto a cassette ...
s; ''The Future'' (2007), ''Cloud 9'' (2007), ''Hi! My Name is B.o.B'' (2008) ''Who the F#*k is B.o.B?'' (2008) and two extended plays; ''Eastside'' (2007), ''12th Dimension'' (2008).


2008–2010: Mainstream success and debut album

In 2008, it was announced B.o.B was included in ''XXL'''s 2009 annual Freshman Class, and was featured on the cover alongside fellow up-and-coming rappers Asher Roth,
Wale Wale or WALE may refer to: Places *Wale, Devon, a hamlet in England *Wale, Tomaszów Mazowiecki County, a village in Poland People *Wale (surname) *Wale (rapper), stage name of American rapper Olubowale Victor Akintimehin Radio and television ...
,
Kid Cudi Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (born January 30, 1984), also known by his stage name Kid Cudi ( ), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor and fashion designer. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Cudi would move to New Yo ...
,
Charles Hamilton Charles Hamilton may refer to: People in Canada * Charles Hamilton (bishop) (1834–1919), Anglican bishop of Ottawa * Charles Edward Hamilton (1844–1919), Canadian politician * Sir Charles Hamilton, 2nd Baronet, of Marlborough House (1767–184 ...
, Cory Gunz,
Blu Blu or BLU may refer to: Businesses and brands *Blu (Italian company), a telecommunications company *Blu Manga, an imprint of Tokyopop * blu eCigs, a brand of electronic cigarette owned by Imperial Tobacco *BLU Products, an American mobile phone m ...
, Mickey Factz, Ace Hood and
Curren$y Shante Scott Franklin (born April 4, 1981), better known by his stage name Currensy (often stylized as Curren$y), is an American rapper. In 2011, he founded the label Jet Life Recordings. Music career 2002–2008: No Limit and Young Money ...
. In February 2009, B.o.B crafted an original song, titled "Auto-Tune", for the videogame '' Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned''. On May 16, 2009, B.o.B released a
cover Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...
of Manu Chao's "
Mr. Bobby "Mr. Bobby" is the last single from Manu Chao's second album, '' Próxima Estación: Esperanza''. Originally, the song was released in a stripped-down form without any wind instruments on the "Bongo Bong" single in 1998. The song, which is a tr ...
" and said he wanted to be known mononymously as Bobby Ray while also claiming he was taking his music in a "new direction": "Now I go by the name Bobby Ray. Make sure you put Bobby Ray. I'm really going into a new direction – more free and not trying to live up to any particular genre. I don't feel like I've been doing that. I don't feel like I've been trying to fit in, but I feel even more free-spirited. I have more willingness musically. That's all I'm about. I'm about guitars, chords and keyboards". On June 22, 2009, B.o.B released his fifth mixtape, appropriately titled ''B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray''. The mixtape, reminiscent of T.I.'s ''
T.I. vs. T.I.P. ''T.I. vs. T.I.P.'' is the fifth studio album by American rapper T.I., released on July 3, 2007 through Grand Hustle Records, Asylum Records and Atlantic Records. Recording sessions for the album took a year and a half to record towards early 2 ...
'' (2007), was mainly produced by Fury and B.o.B. The mixtape also included a song produced by
Red Spyda Andy "Red Spyda" Thelusma is an American hip hop producer who has worked on many songs for artists including 50 Cent, D-Block, Mobb Deep, Amerie, D12, and G-Unit. Other notable works by Red Spyda have included his contributions to the in-game ...
, titled "Fly Like Me" and another titled "Put Me On", which is a re-imagining of
A Tribe Called Quest A Tribe Called Quest was an American hip hop group formed in Queens, New York City, in 1985,Q-Tip
's 1990 hit, " Bonita Applebum". Reebok used "Put Me On" in celebration of the ''Reebok Classic Remix'' collection. The track is available for download exclusively to customers who purchase styles from the Reebok Classic Remix collection, at Foot Locker stores nationwide. During the summer of 2009, B.o.B joined fellow up-and-coming rappers
Kid Cudi Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (born January 30, 1984), also known by his stage name Kid Cudi ( ), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor and fashion designer. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Cudi would move to New Yo ...
and Asher Roth for 'The Great Hangover' concert tour. B.o.B. was to open
Blue October Blue October is an American rock band originally from Houston, Texas. The band was formed in 1995 and is currently composed of singer/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld, drummer Jeremy Furstenfeld, multi-instrumentalist Ryan Delahoussaye, bassist M ...
's Pick Up the Phone tour in October–November 2009, but the tour was cancelled after
Justin Furstenfeld Justin Steward Furstenfeld (born December 14, 1975) is an American musician and actor. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist of rock band Blue October. He is also a member of the band Harvard of the South. Personal life When not tou ...
was hospitalized following a severe mental anxiety attack. On January 13, 2010, B.o.B announced his debut studio album, tentatively titled ''The Adventures of Bobby Ray'', was expected to be released on May 25, 2010. To promote the album, B.o.B announced a mixtape titled ''May 25'', in reference to his album's release date. ''May 25'' was released on February 1, 2010, to critical acclaim. The mixtape
features Feature may refer to: Computing * Feature (CAD), could be a hole, pocket, or notch * Feature (computer vision), could be an edge, corner or blob * Feature (software design) is an intentional distinguishing characteristic of a software item ...
guest appearances from
J. Cole Jermaine Lamarr Cole (born January 28, 1985) is an American rapper and record producer. Born on a military base in Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Cole initially gained recognition as a rapper following the release of his d ...
, Asher Roth, Playboy Tre,
Charles Hamilton Charles Hamilton may refer to: People in Canada * Charles Hamilton (bishop) (1834–1919), Anglican bishop of Ottawa * Charles Edward Hamilton (1844–1919), Canadian politician * Sir Charles Hamilton, 2nd Baronet, of Marlborough House (1767–184 ...
and Bruno Mars. The latter of whom was featured on the bonus track and B.o.B's debut single, " Nothin' on You". Due to the commercial success of his mixtape ''May 25'' and his single " Nothin' on You", the release date of his debut album was advanced to April 27, 2010. Three other singles followed: "
Don't Let Me Fall "Don't Let Me Fall" is a song by American recording artist B.o.B, released in the US on April 5, 2010 as the second single from his debut studio album, '' B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray'' (2010). The track was released as a digital ...
" (released April 6, 2010), " Airplanes" (April 13, 2010; featuring Hayley Williams), and "
Bet I "Bet I" is a song by American rapper B.o.B, taken from his debut studio album '' B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray'' (2010). The song, released April 20, 2010, as the fourth single from his debut album, features fellow Atlanta-based ra ...
" (April 20, 2010; featuring T.I. and Playboy Tre). A video for "Bet I" was released on Atlantic Videos on YouTube. '' B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray'' was released under Atlantic and T.I.'s Grand Hustle imprint, featuring guest appearances from
Lupe Fiasco Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco ( ), is an American rapper, singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his debut album, ''Lupe Fiasco's ...
, T.I., Playboy Tre,
Hayley Williams Hayley Nichole Williams (born December 27, 1988) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and businesswoman who is best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and keyboardist of the rock band Paramore. Born and raised in Missi ...
, Rivers Cuomo, Ricco Barrino, Janelle Monáe and Bruno Mars. The album, released April 27, 2010, was given generally positive reviews. His album sold 84,000 copies in the first week and debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200. It made B.o.B the thirteenth solo male artist to have a debut album arrive at number one in its first week. In July, B.o.B announced he will go on tour, naming it The SHOOTiN for Stars Tour. The dates and times were released on his website on July 13. B.o.B has received nominations for his album, singles, and himself by the BET Awards, Teen Choice Awards,
MTV Video Music Awards The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honour the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category) ...
, and the new Suckerfree Summit. "Airplanes" was featured in the trailer for the upcoming movie ''
Charlie St. Cloud ''Charlie St. Cloud'' is a 2010 American supernatural drama film based on Ben Sherwood's novel '' The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud'', published in 2004 by Bantam Books. The film is directed by Burr Steers and stars Zac Efron and Amanda C ...
'' and his single "
Magic Magic or Magick most commonly refers to: * Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces * Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic * Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...
" featured him in an advertisement for
Adidas Adidas AG (; stylized as adidas since 1949) is a German multinational corporation, founded and headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, that designs and manufactures shoes, clothing and accessories. It is the largest sportswear manufactur ...
' "Magic" campaign. B.o.B was announced to be a performer at the
2010 MTV Video Music Awards The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards took place on September 12, 2010 at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, honoring the best music videos from the previous year. Chelsea Handler hosted the event, the first woman in sixteen years – since the 1994 MTV ...
on August 18. He was added to the lineup of
Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
,
Linkin Park Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. The band's current lineup comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, lead guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave Farrell, DJ/turntablist Joe Hahn and drummer ...
, Kanye West, Drake,
Usher Usher may refer to: Several jobs which originally involved directing people and ensuring people are in the correct place: * Usher (occupation) ** Church usher ** Wedding usher, one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony ** Fiel ...
,
Paramore Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro. Williams and Farro are founding members of the group, whil ...
,
Florence and the Machine Florence and the Machine (stylised as Florence + the Machine) are an English indie rock band that formed in London in 2007, consisting of lead vocalist Florence Welch, keyboardist Isabella Summers, guitarist Rob Ackroyd, harpist Tom Monger, and ...
, and Justin Bieber. On August 14, 2010, Hayley Williams announced via the Official Paramore Fan Club that B.o.B would be the main support for Paramore's November UK Tour. B.o.B also opened for
Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
and
Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
's The Home & Home Tour at Comerica Park. B.o.B also did a MTV Unplugged session. He performed songs off his debut album, as well as a cover of "
Kids Kid, Kids, KIDS, and K.I.D.S. may refer to: Common meanings * Colloquial term for a child or other young person ** Also for a parent's offspring regardless of age * Engage in joking * Young goats * The goat meat of young goats * Kidskin, lea ...
" by
MGMT MGMT () is an American indie rock band formed in 2002 in Middletown, Connecticut. It was founded by multi-instrumentalists Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser. Alongside VanWyngarden and Goldwasser, MGMT's live lineup currently consists of ...
, with guests Robin Thicke, Melanie Fiona, and Janelle Monáe. B.o.B also made an appearance in
Lollapalooza Lollapalooza (Lolla) is an annual American four-day music festival held in Grant Park in Chicago. It originally started as a touring event in 1991 but several years later made Chicago the permanent location for the annual music festival. Musi ...
2010. B.o.B made an appearance at the 2010 MTV VMA's on September 12, 2010. He performed parts of both his singles, "Nothin' on You" with Bruno Mars and "Airplanes" with Hayley Williams. B.o.B released his seventh mixtape, titled ''No Genre'', on December 7, 2010. ''B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray'' was certified 2× platinum by the
RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
on August 2, 2016.


2011–2012: ''Strange Clouds''

Jessie J Jessica Ellen Cornish (born 27 March 1988), known professionally as Jessie J, is an English singer. Born and raised in London, she began her career on stage, aged 11, with a role in the West End musical '' Whistle Down the Wind''. She studied ...
released a single featuring B.o.B, titled " Price Tag", on January 30, 2011. The song was quick to reach number one in the United Kingdom charts selling 84,000 copies in its first week of sales. On March 22, 2011, Electronic Arts released the Launch Trailer for the upcoming first-person-shooter '' Crysis 2'' which featured a song by B.o.B titled "New York New York" containing the main piano chorus from the song " Theme from New York, New York" commonly sung by
Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...
; the artist who sang the chorus is unconfirmed. The full song later appeared on his eighth mixtape ''E.P.I.C. (Every Play Is Crucial)'', showing the song was produced by Mike Caren. In early 2011, Odd Future's Tyler, the Creator released a song titled " Yonkers". In the song Tyler raps ''(What you think of Hayley Williams?) Fuck her, Wolf Haley robbing 'em / I'll crash that fucking airplane that that faggot nigga B.o.B is in / And stab Bruno Mars in his goddamn esophagus / And won't stop until the cops come in''. In response, on March 25, B.o.B released "No Future" a song in which he takes aim at the hip hop collective and their leader. In June 2011, it was announced that B.o.B was featured and produced a song on Tech N9ne's twelfth studio album, ''
All 6's and 7's ''All 6's and 7's'' is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Tech N9ne. It was released on June 7, 2011, through Strange Music. The album was released to universal acclaim by music critics, and peaked at number four on the ''Billboard 200 ...
''. The track, titled " Am I a Psycho?" features rapper Hopsin as well, who also seems to have issues with Tyler, the Creator. B.o.B also appeared on the official remix to
Kesha Kesha Rose Sebert (; born March 1, 1987), formerly stylized as Ke$ha, is an American singer and songwriter. In 2005, at age 18, Kesha was signed to Kemosabe Records. Her first major success came in early 2009 after she was featured on America ...
's hit single "
Blow Blow commonly refers to: *Cocaine *Exhalation * Strike (attack) Blow, Blew, Blowing, or Blown may also refer to: People * Blew (surname) * Blow (surname) Arts and entertainment Music *The Blow, an American electro-pop band Albums * ''Blow ...
". The remix was released to
iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...
on May 17, 2011. In the summer of 2011, B.o.B was announced the new face of T.I.'s clothing line AKOO. He will be featured in AKOO Clothing's upcoming fall 2011 national advertising campaign alongside Curtis Granderson of the New York Yankees,
Carl Crawford Carl Demonte Crawford (born August 5, 1981), nicknamed "The Perfect Storm", is an American former professional baseball left fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. He ba ...
of the Boston Red Sox, and star of the BET hit sitcom,
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,
Hosea Chanchez Hosea Chanchez (born September 12, 1981), also credited as Hosea, is an American actor best known for his recurring role on ''For Your Love'' and the quarterback football player Malik Wright on The CW/BET sitcom, '' The Game'' and its 2021 revi ...
. He will be appearing in a graphic novel for A.K.O.O titled ''Hide in Plain Sight – Saving the World From Fashion Conspiracy''. On August 27, 2011, a video appeared on YouTube of B.o.B performing at Colorado State University, where he previewed a song titled " Strange Clouds" and announced it features Lil Wayne. In an interview with
Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...
's The Daily Orange, B.o.B spoke of his second studio album for the first time. He went on to say "It's a more mature sound but nothing too experimental. It's a happy medium between the sound of ''B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray'' and the mixtapes, so everyone should be able to enjoy it. I'd say I'm 90 percent done with it right now, but the album title is still
TBA To be announced (TBA), to be confirmed (TBC), to be determined or decided or declared (TBD), and other variations, are placeholder terms used very broadly in event planning to indicate that although something is scheduled or expected to happen, a ...
." On September 23, 2011, B.o.B released a trailer, through his website, for the upcoming single " Strange Clouds". The trailer announced the single will be officially released October 3. The single
leaked A leak is a way (usually an opening) for fluid to escape a container or fluid-containing system, such as a tank or a ship's hull, through which the contents of the container can escape or outside matter can enter the container. Leaks are usuall ...
prior to the release date on September 25, causing the single to be released on iTunes on September 27. Later that day B.o.B appeared on an online video stream on radio station V103 and announced the title of the album to also be '' Strange Clouds'' and was set to be released in early 2012. Bobby Ray held the first listening session for his album ''Strange Clouds'' at Tree Sound Studios on October 25, 2011. Seven new songs were previewed during the listening session, including the promotional single "
Play the Guitar "Play the Guitar" is a song by American hip hop recording artist B.o.B, featuring fellow American rapper André 3000.
" which features André 3000. Other big guest appearances confirmed, as the album was not fully complete, include Lil Wayne,
Big K.R.I.T. Justin Lewis Scott (born August 26, 1986), better known by his stage name Big K.R.I.T. (a backronym for King Remembered in Time), is an American rapper and record producer. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, he started his musical career in 2005. Af ...
,
Nelly Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. (born November 2, 1974), better known by his stage name Nelly, is an American rapper, singer, actor and entrepreneur. He embarked on his music career with the hip hop group St. Lunatics in 1993 and signed to Universal ...
and a song with T.I. titled "Arena". In addition he has worked with
OneRepublic OneRepublic is an American pop rock band formed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2002. It consists of lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Tedder, lead guitarist and violist Zach Filkins, rhythm guitarist Drew Brown, bassist and cellis ...
on a song and has been quoted as having: "the song of 2012 with a mega feature from somebody who never does features with anyone!". On November 15, 2011, B.o.B said he would be releasing a mixtape titled ''E.P.I.C. (Every Play Is Crucial)'' prior to the album's release. The mixtape was released on November 28, 2011, featuring guest appearances from
Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
, Mos Def, Roscoe Dash, Meek Mill, and
Bun B Bernard James Freeman (born March 19, 1973), known professionally as Bun B, is an American rapper. He is best known as one half of the southern rap duo UGK (UnderGround Kingz), a group he formed in 1987 alongside Pimp C. Aside from his work with ...
amongst others and included production from Ryan Tedder to Lil C and Jim Jonsin. While on set for the "Strange Clouds" music video, MTV interviewed B.o.B and confronted him of a rumor that he and T.I. are working on a collaborative album, B.o.B responded: "The joint album, it actually started as a joke. Tip would always refer to me as 'the Martian', and in one of his lyrics, he said, 'It's the man and the Martian,' and we said, 'Man that could be an album title.' We kinda just played around with it. But it seems to be taking form in a very organic way." On December 1, 2011, B.o.B appeared on New York City's Hot 97 radio station and confirmed that he and T.I. are indeed working on a collaborative album titled ''The Man & The Martian''. On December 22, 2011, B.o.B released a snippet of "
Play the Guitar "Play the Guitar" is a song by American hip hop recording artist B.o.B, featuring fellow American rapper André 3000.
", a promotional single, featuring André 3000 and a
sample Sample or samples may refer to: Base meaning * Sample (statistics), a subset of a population – complete data set * Sample (signal), a digital discrete sample of a continuous analog signal * Sample (material), a specimen or small quantity of s ...
of "
Fancy Fancy may refer to: Places * Fancy, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a settlement * Fancy River, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Music Albums * ''Fancy'' (Bobbie Gentry album), 1970 * ''Fancy'' (Idiot Flesh album), 1997 * ''Fancy'' (video ...
" as performed by Drake, T.I. and Swizz Beatz. "Play the Guitar" was later released to digital retailers on December 27, 2011. On February 14, 2012, B.o.B released a trailer for the second official single, " So Good". The song, produced by Ryan Tedder, was released on February 21. In 2012 in an interview with PopCush, B.o.B expressed his desire to work with
Kid Cudi Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (born January 30, 1984), also known by his stage name Kid Cudi ( ), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor and fashion designer. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Cudi would move to New Yo ...
, James Blake and Skrillex: "I would also like to work with James Blake. That'd be crazy. I think me, James Blake and Kid Cudi should do a song and it should be produced by Skrillex. I think the sky would fall if we did that song and the sky would come down to Earth and party with us." On March 20, 2012, B.o.B released "
Where Are You (B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray) Where Are You may refer to: Albums * ''Where Are You?'' (Frank Sinatra album), 1957 * ''Where Are You?'' (Mal Waldron album), 1989 Songs * "Where Are You?" (1937 song), written by Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson, covered by many performers ...
", the second promotional single from ''Strange Clouds''. " So Hard to Breathe" was released as the third promotional single on April 17, 2012. In an April 2012 interview with HipHopDX, B.o.B announced he would be releasing a
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
album. B.o.B appeared on Haley Reinhart's debut studio album '' Listen Up!'' on the intro track "Oh My". ''Strange Clouds'', B.o.B's second studio album, was released May 1, 2012, to critical acclaim. The album debuted at number five on the US ''Billboard'' 200, with 76,000 copies sold the first week. " Both of Us" serves as the album's third single and was sent to Top 40 Mainstream radio on May 22, 2012. The song features American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It debuted on Australia Top 50 singles chart at number 46. The song sold 143,000 copies first week, along with the album release, debuting at number 18 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and became the week's top debut.


2012–2014: ''Underground Luxury'' and No Genre

On October 9, 2012, B.o.B was featured on the annual BET Hip Hop Awards cypher, alongside his Grand Hustle label-mates Iggy Azalea, T.I., Chip and Trae tha Truth. On November 15, 2012, B.o.B released his ninth mixtape, entitled ''Fuck 'Em We Ball''. The mixtape features guest appearances from T.I., Juicy J,
Mac Miller Malcolm James McCormick (January 19, 1992 – September 7, 2018), known professionally as Mac Miller, was an American rapper and record producer. Miller began his career in Pittsburgh's hip hop scene in 2007, at the age of fifteen. In 2010, h ...
,
Playboy Tre Bobby Ray Simmons Jr. (born November 15, 1988), known professionally as B.o.B, is an American rapper and record producer. Raised in Decatur, Georgia, Simmons was signed to Jim Jonsin's Rebel Rock Entertainment imprint in 2006. Two years later ...
,
Snoop Lion Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
, Spodee and Iggy Azalea, with much of the production coming from B.o.B himself. The mixtape also spawned a single, with the release of the club banger, "
We Still in This Bitch "We Still in This Bitch" is a song by American hip hop recording artist B.o.B, released on December 30, 2012 as the first single from his third studio album ''Underground Luxury'' (2013). The song, produced by Mike WiLL Made It and Marz, featur ...
". In early December, B.o.B revealed to
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
plans to release a rock music-influenced extended play: "I've been holding back so much rock for so long. I have been performing with my band for a while, so I guess this is a real good canvas for me to paint on. No one's really expecting anything so I can do what I want to do." He also spoke lightly on his third studio album as well: "My album is basically a continuation of ''The Adventures of Bobby Ray'' and ''Strange Clouds''. I feel like it kinda bridges the gap between where all my fans are and finally getting everybody up to speed on what my sound is and exactly where I'm going." While filming the video for " Memories Back Then", in an interview with
Rap-Up ''Rap-Up'' is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the ...
, B.o.B spoke on a series of projects including his third album, a rock EP, and the Hustle Gang compilation. Rap-Up TV caught up with Bobby Ray, where he stated his rock EP is in the works and will reflect his diverse influences: "When I drop it, everyone's gonna have an eargasm. It's really how I fell in love with rock music, from indie to alternative to classic rock to even some forms of country music." He spoke of his third album, which is nearing completion: "This project is a lot more effortless than anything because I've really shown the full spectrum of what I can do musically, so now I'm just having fun with it. I'm 24 years old, so I'm partying." In March, B.o.B teamed up with fellow Atlanta rapper Big Boi of OutKast to release the official theme song for the 2013 video game '' Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel''; if pre-ordered the rappers were also playable characters. The song, titled "
Double or Nothing Double or nothing (UK often double or quits) is a gamble to decide whether a loss or debt should be doubled. The result of a "double or nothing" bet is either the subject doubled to twice the amount as the original ''or'' the doubling of a debt. It ...
", was accompanied with a music video directed and produced by Vice, Noisey and EA. On April 22, 2013, it was announced B.o.B would tour with fellow American rappers Wiz Khalifa,
A$AP Rocky Rakim Athelaston Mayers (born October 3, 1988), known professionally as ASAP Rocky ( ; stylized as A$AP Rocky), is an American rapper, music producer and record executive. Born and raised in Harlem, he embarked on his musical career as a membe ...
, Trinidad James,
Joey Bada$$ Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott (born January 20, 1995), known professionally as Joey Badass (stylized as Joey Bada$$), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. A native of Brooklyn, New York City, he is a founding member of the hip-hop collective Pro ...
, and Smoke DZA, for the Under the Influence concert tour. The tour would then begin on July 17, 2013. On May 12, 2013, B.o.B tweeted: "Underground Luxury ... coming this summer... #staytuned", revealing the title of his third studio album. In May, B.o.B also premiered a music video for a newly released song of his titled "Through My Head". The video was directed by Peruvian film director
Ricardo de Montreuil Ricardo de Montreuil (born May 17, 1974) has achieved recognition in a wide range of media, including film, television, advertising and print. Biography Early life Born in Lima, Peru, de Montreuil was raised in the coastal city of Trujillo, ...
. On May 13, 2013, radio personality Funkmaster Flex premiered " HeadBand" (featuring
2 Chainz Tauheed K. Epps (born September 12, 1977), known professionally as 2 Chainz (or Tity Boi), is an American rapper. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, he initially gained recognition as one-half of the Southern hip hop duo Playaz Circle, al ...
), the lead single from ''
Underground Luxury ''Underground Luxury'' is the third studio album by American rapper B.o.B. The album was released on December 17, 2013, by Grand Hustle Records, Rebel Rock Entertainment and Atlantic Records. The album was supported by four singles " We Still in ...
''. The song would be released to retail on May 21, 2013. The song has since peaked at number 65 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. B.o.B later revealed in an early September interview, that the album would be released in December 2013. On September 10, 2013, the second single from ''Underground Luxury'', titled "
Ready Ready may refer to: Film and television * ''Ready'', a 2002 British short starring Imelda Staunton * ''Ready'' (2008 film), a Telugu film * ''Ready'' (2011 film), a Hindi remake of the Telugu film * "Ready" (''New Girl''), a television epis ...
", was released to iTunes. The song, produced by
Noel "Detail" Fisher Noel Christopher Fisher (born ), professionally known as Detail, is an American former record producer, singer and songwriter. Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Detail is perhaps best known for producing several hit singles, including "Sexy Can I ...
", features fellow Atlanta-based rapper
Future The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently ...
. In September 2013, B.o.B revealed he has plan to launch his own record label imprint. During an interview, he stated "I'm putting my
CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
pants on, man. I'm finna start a label called HamSquad and I'm looking for artists to be the flagship artists for the label. So I'm really excited about that." In the same interview he announced ''Underground Luxury'', would be released in December. B.o.B called his third album a "Career Shifting Project", adding that the album will revolve around how his life has changed since achieving "major success". On October 15, 2013, the music video for "Ready" was released. On October 17, 2013, during an interview on BET's ''
106 & Park ''106 & Park'' is an American hip hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that was broadcast on weekdays at 6:00 pm ET/5:00 pm CT on BET; it aired on a one-day delay on BET International. It was the network's highest- rated ...
'', B.o.B announced that the album would be released on December 17, 2013. ''Underground Luxury'' debuted at number 22 on the ''Billboard'' 200, with first-week sales of 35,000 copies in the United States. This was a steep decline in sales from his first two albums which respectively sold 84,000 and 74,000 in their first week. In its second week the album dropped to number 30, selling 19,000 more copies in the United States. In its third week the album sold 9,000 more copies. In its fourth week the album sold 6,600 more copies in the United States. On June 9, 2014, in an interview with Bootleg Kev, B.o.B announced his new record label imprint,
No Genre Label No Genre is an Atlanta, Georgia-based independent record label, founded in 2014, by American recording artist and music producer B.o.B. History In September 2013, B.o.B revealed he had plans to launch his own record label imprint. During a ...
, named after his 2010 mixtape. On July 9, 2014, B.o.B released ''No Genre 2'', the sequel to his seventh mixtape. ''No Genre 2'' features guest appearances from Kevin Gates,
Victoria Monet Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...
, Mike Fresh, Ty Dolla Sign, Sevyn Streeter, Mila J, T.I. and more. On October 14, 2014, B.o.B released a song titled "
Not For Long "Not for Long" is a song by American hip hop recording artist B.o.B. It was released on October 14, 2014, as a standalone single. The song, which was produced by P-Lo and Mark Nilan, and written by Paris Jones. It features guest vocals from Ame ...
", featuring Trey Songz, as a single via digital distribution. On October 7, 2014, an up-and-coming singer named Tora Woloshin, announced she signed to No Genre. On October 24, 2014, B.o.B released a song titled "Fleek", the song was credited to B.o.B's new label imprint, No Genre. The song features No Genre's newly signed artists, Lin-Z and London Jae. On November 28, 2014, B.o.B released ''New Black'', his eleventh solo mixtape. The project is a cohesive
concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...
, compiled of politically charged songs, including "
Generation Lost The discography of the American punk rock band Rise Against consists of nine studio albums, two compilation album, eleven extended plays, twenty singles, four promotional singles, two documentaries, and twenty-five music videos. The band was ...
", as the third track.


2015–2017: ''Psycadelik Thoughtz'' and ''Elements'' series

On February 24, 2015, B.o.B. appeared on Tech N9ne's "
Hood Go Crazy "Hood Go Crazy" is a song by American rapper Tech N9ne featuring fellow American rappers 2 Chainz and B.o.B, released released on February 26, 2015 as the lead single from the former's fifteenth studio album ''Special Effects'' (2015). Produced by ...
", alongside
2 Chainz Tauheed K. Epps (born September 12, 1977), known professionally as 2 Chainz (or Tity Boi), is an American rapper. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, he initially gained recognition as one-half of the Southern hip hop duo Playaz Circle, al ...
, which received moderate success. Later that year, B.o.B spoke about the possibility of a collaborative mixtape with Tech N9ne. On August 14, 2015, B.o.B released an experimental project titled ''
Psycadelik Thoughtz ''Psycadelik Thoughtz'' is the twelfth mixtape by American rapper B.o.B. The album was released on August 14, 2015, by Grand Hustle Records, Atlantic Records and Rebel Rock Entertainment. The song " Back and Forth" was released online a day bef ...
'', stating that it was "one of the most defining projects" for his artistry. It features guest appearances from singers Jon Bellion and Sevyn Streeter. The commercial mixtape, which was released without any promotion or pre-release singles, debuted at number 97 on the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart. Having released multiple projects with Atlantic, including three extended plays (EPs), three studio albums and a retail
mixtape A mixtape (alternatively mix-tape, mix tape or mixed tape) is a compilation of music, typically from multiple sources, recorded onto a medium. With origins in the 1980s, the term normally describes a homemade compilation of music onto a cassette ...
, the two sides separated soon after B.o.B claimed that the label was "suppressing" him. "There's a ban on BoB," he wrote on Twitter, before diving into his issues with his then-label. "They
boycott A boycott is an act of nonviolent, voluntary abstention from a product, person, organization, or country as an expression of protest. It is usually for moral, social, political, or environmental reasons. The purpose of a boycott is to inflict som ...
me, they are afraid I'll get too much exposure," he continued. "My own label doesn't even promote my albums, mixtapes, shows or events... ZERO promo." Since his split with Atlantic, B.o.B. ventured off with his label
No Genre Label No Genre is an Atlanta, Georgia-based independent record label, founded in 2014, by American recording artist and music producer B.o.B. History In September 2013, B.o.B revealed he had plans to launch his own record label imprint. During a ...
and partnered up with Empire Distribution. On December 4, 2015, B.o.B self-released a mixtape titled '' WATER''. On January 2, 2016, B.o.B said "I haven't forgotten about the rock album.. when the time is right." On January 18, 2016, B.o.B released his second mixtape in as many months. The mixtape, titled '' FIRE'', follows the concept of his previous one, adopting the title of an element and the use of acronyms. On April 22, 2016, in celebration of
Earth Day Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org (formerly Earth Day Network) including 1 b ...
, B.o.B released a mixtape titled '' EARTH'', which includes the controversial song "
Flatline A flatline is an electrical time sequence measurement that shows no activity and therefore, when represented, shows a flat line instead of a moving one. It almost always refers to either a flatlined electrocardiogram, where the heart shows no el ...
", where he explains many of his conspiracy theories. On November 4, 2016, B.o.B released his first compilation album, ''
Elements Element or elements may refer to: Science * Chemical element, a pure substance of one type of atom * Heating element, a device that generates heat by electrical resistance * Orbital elements, parameters required to identify a specific orbit of ...
'', composed of songs from his last four solo mixtapes, ''WATER'', ''FIRE'', ''EARTH'' and '' AIR''. The mixtapes contained in it focus on his political and philosophical views.


2017–present: Independent albums

On May 12, 2017, the rapper released his fourth studio album, '' Ether''. The album features guest appearances from artists like Lil Wayne, Young Thug, T.I.,
Big K.R.I.T. Justin Lewis Scott (born August 26, 1986), better known by his stage name Big K.R.I.T. (a backronym for King Remembered in Time), is an American rapper and record producer. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, he started his musical career in 2005. Af ...
, Ty Dolla Sign,
Usher Usher may refer to: Several jobs which originally involved directing people and ensuring people are in the correct place: * Usher (occupation) ** Church usher ** Wedding usher, one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony ** Fiel ...
, CeeLo Green and
Young Dro D'Juan Montrel Hart (born January 15, 1979), better known by his stage name Young Dro, is an American rapper. After gaining recognition with his regional hit song "Yes Sir", from his 2002 independent album ''I Got That Dro'', Young Dro aligned ...
. ''Ether'' follows the
conscious hip hop Political hip hop is a subgenre of hip hop music that was developed in the 1980s as a way of turning hip hop into a call for political and/or social action and a form of social and/or political activism. Inspired by 1970s political artists su ...
themes of his ''Elements'' mixtapes, and was met with positive reviews from music critics. On July 5, 2018, B.o.B. released his sixth studio album, ''Naga'', receiving no success. Though he stated at the time that it would be his last, a follow-up mixtape, ''Southmatic'', was released the following year. In 2020 and 2021, he released two further projects, his sixth studio album ''Somnia'' and the compilation album ''Lost Tapes''.


Artistry


Influences

B.o.B has described his influences as "
80's music : ''For music from a year in the 1980s, go to 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89'' This article includes an overview of the famous events and trends in popular music in the 1980s. The 1980s saw the emergence of ...
, techno,
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
,
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
, even
doo-wop Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a genre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chica ...
". In a 2012 interview with HipHopDX, when asked "given your age and where you grew up, how have the sounds of Goodie Mob, Outkast, T.I. and other Southern hip hop artists influenced you?", Simmons responded with: "Oh yeah all of them. Outkast, Goodie Mob, Trillville,
Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz Jonathan H. Smith (born January 17, 1971) better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, producer and former frontman of the rap group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz. He was instrumental in the emergence of the hip hop subgenre cru ...
,
Crime Mob Crime Mob is an American hip hop group from Atlanta consisting of six members: M.I.G., Cyco Black, Princess, Lil' Jay, Diamond, and Killa C. The group is best known for their songs "Knuck If You Buck" and " Rock Yo Hips". After an arrest in 2003, ...
, Bone Crusher. All of them played a huge role in creating the sound that I had. When you are in Atlanta you see everything, but I still ventured off into other areas. I was a huge
Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
fan. A
DMX Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021), known professionally as DMX, was an American rapper and actor. He began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album ''It's Dark and Hell Is Hot'' in 1998, to both critical acclaim ...
fan.
Dr. Dre Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known professionally as Dr. Dre, is an American rapper and record producer. He is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics, and previously co-founded, co-owned, and ...
an I think that's why I have a universal appreciation for such music." Simmons' 2015 album ''
Psycadelik Thoughtz ''Psycadelik Thoughtz'' is the twelfth mixtape by American rapper B.o.B. The album was released on August 14, 2015, by Grand Hustle Records, Atlantic Records and Rebel Rock Entertainment. The song " Back and Forth" was released online a day bef ...
'', was influenced by " '70s rock and funk".


Musical style

In a 2009 interview, when asked about his music B.o.B said: "I try to be more personal than try to be different". In a review for his debut album ''The Adventures of Bobby Ray'' (2010), '' HipHopDX'' wrote: "The versatility that B.o.B encapsulates is evident from the outset of the album." B.o.B sings, raps, plays the piano and the guitar, all throughout his debut. He utilizes pop music, political hip hop, trap music, rock music, and club music, often dividing himself into two personas that handle specific genres; the B.o.B
alter ego An alter ego (Latin for "other I", " doppelgänger") means an alternate self, which is believed to be distinct from a person's normal or true original personality. Finding one's alter ego will require finding one's other self, one with a differen ...
is responsible for the pop, trap and club music, while Bobby Ray is the more heartfelt multi-instrumentalist who shares his views through conscious rap and rock music. Simmons heavily explored this concept on his 2009 mixtape ''B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray'', and later on the 2012 single "
Where Are You (B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray) Where Are You may refer to: Albums * ''Where Are You?'' (Frank Sinatra album), 1957 * ''Where Are You?'' (Mal Waldron album), 1989 Songs * "Where Are You?" (1937 song), written by Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson, covered by many performers ...
".


Beliefs

B.o.B is an outspoken conspiracy theorist and is noted for his anti-establishment views, which he has expressed in interviews, social media and his music. He has also been vocal on several social and political issues, including the rights of African Americans,
police brutality Police brutality is the excessive and unwarranted use of force by law enforcement against an individual or a group. It is an extreme form of police misconduct and is a civil rights violation. Police brutality includes, but is not limited to, ...
and American exceptionalism. He believes that the
Earth is flat The flat-Earth model is an archaic and scientifically disproven conception of Earth's shape as a plane or disk. Many ancient cultures subscribed to a flat-Earth cosmography, including Greece until the classical period (5th century BC), the ...
, the
1969 moon landing Apollo 11 (July 16–24, 1969) was the American spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module ''Eagle'' on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC, and ...
was faked,
9/11 The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial ...
was an inside job, the world will be taken over by the Illuminati and celebrity cloning is administered by the
U.S. government The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the national government of the United States, a federal republic located primarily in North America, composed of 50 states, a city within a fede ...
. B.o.B's 2016 song "Flatline" alludes to antisemitic conspiracy theories, asking his audience to "Do their research" on Holocaust denier David Irving, adding "Stalin was way worse than Hitler / That's why the POTUS gotta wear a Kipper 'kippah''">kippah.html" ;"title="'kippah">'kippah''" These comments gained the attention of the Anti-Defamation League, which stated the lyrics invoke the antisemitic conspiracy theory that Zionist Occupied Government, alleges Jews control the U.S. government.


"Flat Earth"

In January 2016, B.o.B expressed the belief that the Earth is flat. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson responded to B.o.B on Twitter and attempted to persuade him that the Earth is round, but the rapper refused to retract his views and accused NASA of avoiding questions, while releasing a diss track against Tyson. The track, titled "
Flatline A flatline is an electrical time sequence measurement that shows no activity and therefore, when represented, shows a flat line instead of a moving one. It almost always refers to either a flatlined electrocardiogram, where the heart shows no el ...
", expands on B.o.B.'s views about the shape of the Earth. Tyson and his rapper nephew, Stephen, responded to B.o.B's flat Earth diss with their own diss track titled "Flat to Fact". Tyson followed this with a January 2016 television appearance on the Comedy Central late-night talk show '' The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore'' where he addressed the rapper: "It's a fundamental fact of calculus and non-Euclidean geometry: Small sections of large curved surfaces will always look flat to little creatures that crawl upon it ... And by the way, this is called gravity" Tyson said, dropping his mic. B.o.B. accepted membership in The Flat Earth Society in 2016. In September 2017, B.o.B sought $200,000 in donations to launch his own satellites to verify the shape of the Earth. Shortly after seeking the original $200,000, B.o.B upped his request to $1,000,000 to cover the cost of many test seeking drones,
weather balloons A weather balloon, also known as sounding balloon, is a balloon (specifically a type of high-altitude balloon) that carries instruments aloft to send back information on atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity and wind speed by means of a ...
, and satellites.


Discography

Studio albums *'' B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray'' (2010) *'' Strange Clouds'' (2012) *''
Underground Luxury ''Underground Luxury'' is the third studio album by American rapper B.o.B. The album was released on December 17, 2013, by Grand Hustle Records, Rebel Rock Entertainment and Atlantic Records. The album was supported by four singles " We Still in ...
'' (2013) *'' Ether'' (2017) *''Naga'' (2018) *''Somnia'' (2020) *''Better Than Drugs'' (2022) Other commercial projects *''
Psycadelik Thoughtz ''Psycadelik Thoughtz'' is the twelfth mixtape by American rapper B.o.B. The album was released on August 14, 2015, by Grand Hustle Records, Atlantic Records and Rebel Rock Entertainment. The song " Back and Forth" was released online a day bef ...
'' (2015) *''
Elements Element or elements may refer to: Science * Chemical element, a pure substance of one type of atom * Heating element, a device that generates heat by electrical resistance * Orbital elements, parameters required to identify a specific orbit of ...
'' (2016)


Awards and nominations


BET Awards

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2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...
, Video of the Year , rowspan="2" , "Nothin' On You" (with Bruno Mars) , , - , Best Collaboration , , - , Best Male Hip-Hop Artist , B.o.B , , - , rowspan="3" ,
2011 File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...
, Video of the Year , rowspan="2" , "Airplanes" (with Hayley Williams) , , - , Best Collaboration , , - , Best Male Hip-Hop Artist , B.o.B ,


BET Hip Hop Awards

, - ,
2009 File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...
, B.o.B , Rookie of the Year , , - , rowspan="7" ,
2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...
, rowspan="2" , B.o.B , Made-You-Look Award , , - , MVP of the Year , , - , "Airplanes" (with
Hayley Williams Hayley Nichole Williams (born December 27, 1988) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and businesswoman who is best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and keyboardist of the rock band Paramore. Born and raised in Missi ...
)
, Track of the Year , , - , rowspan="3" , "Nothin' On You" (with Bruno Mars) , Perfect Combo Award , , - , People's Champ Award , , - , Best Hip-Hop Video , , - , ''The Adventures of Bobby Ray'' , CD of the Year , , - ,
2011 File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...
, ''No Genre'' , Best Mixtape , , - ,
2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fact ...
, "
We Still in This Bitch "We Still in This Bitch" is a song by American hip hop recording artist B.o.B, released on December 30, 2012 as the first single from his third studio album ''Underground Luxury'' (2013). The song, produced by Mike WiLL Made It and Marz, featur ...
" , Best Hip-Hop Video , , - , rowspan="2" ,
2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
, " Paranoid" , rowspan="2" , Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse , , - , "
Up Down (Do This All Day) "Up Down (Do This All Day)" is a song by American rapper and singer T-Pain featuring fellow American rapper B.o.B, released on August 13, 2013, as the first single from the former's Greatest Hits/compilation album, '' T-Pain Presents Happy Hour: ...
" ,


Grammy Awards

, - , rowspan="5" align=center ,
2011 File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...
, rowspan="3" , " Nothin' on You" (featuring Bruno Mars) , Record of the Year , , - , Best Rap/Sung Performance , , - ,
Best Rap Song The Grammy Award for Best Rap Song is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality songs in the rap music genre. Honors in several ...
, , - , "
Airplanes, Part II "Airplanes" is a song by American rapper B.o.B, featuring vocals from Hayley Williams, lead singer of the American rock band Paramore. The song was released in April 2010, as the third single from his debut studio album, '' B.o.B Presents: The ...
" (featuring
Hayley Williams Hayley Nichole Williams (born December 27, 1988) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and businesswoman who is best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and keyboardist of the rock band Paramore. Born and raised in Missi ...
&
Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
)
,
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals The Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality pop songs on which singers c ...
, , - , ''
The Adventures of Bobby Ray ''B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray'' is the debut studio album by American rapper B.o.B, released on April 27, 2010, by Grand Hustle Records, Rebel Rock Entertainment and Atlantic Records. Production for the album took place during 200 ...
'' , Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, Best Rap Album , , - , align=center ,
2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...
, '' Doo-Wops & Hooligans'' (as featured artist) ,
Album of the Year Album of the Year, often abbreviated to AOTY, may refer to: Awards * ARIA Award for Album of the Year, Australia * Brit Award for British Album of the Year, UK * Grammy Award for Album of the Year, US * Juno Award for Album of the Year, CA * Lati ...
,


Other awards and nominations


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:B.o.B Living people 1988 births 21st-century American rappers African-American male rappers Rappers from Atlanta Pop rappers American hip hop record producers African-American record producers American conspiracy theorists Flat Earth proponents Atlantic Records artists Grand Hustle Records artists American multi-instrumentalists Illuminati conspiracy theorists Moon landing conspiracy theorists 9/11 conspiracy theorists 21st-century American male musicians 20th-century American male musicians American pop rock musicians