B.o.B Redefines Hip-Hop
Southern Rap's Renaissance Man Sends the Genre in New Directions
Aug 3, 2008
Meet B.o.B, the most promising new talent in hip-hop. His thing is not the usual stuff. A visit to B.o.B's MySpace will confirm this: he strums the acoustic guitar, boasts with a croon that he's a "Mellow Fellow," and explains in an interview that he's from Jupiter. His original style is taking a genre that some have labeled dead to new places, and The FADER says, "It is awesome."
B.o.B's Musical Expansion in Atlanta
Southern hip-hop is going through a transition, and B.o.B is at the helm. In a recent profile, Vibe magazine declared, "... a musical renaissance has begun to take shape, and locals like B.o.B are putting a new movement in motion." Fearless experimentation, including a willingness to incorporate elements from country, is a major component in this change: think tough toasting over harmonicas.
From "Lonely People" to "Haterz Everywhere"
While Soulja Boy seems like the teen he is, B.o.B is savvy for his age. "Lonely People" samples "Eleanor Rigby" and expands on the song's painful theme of life with no friends. He plaintively sings and plays guitar on serious ballad "Lovelier Than You" and then raps the contentious, boasting anthem "Haterz Everywhere" with Ric Ross Juvie. Eclectic? Yes: in sources, content, and style.
Rapper B.o.B Is from Atlanta... and Another Planet
He claims his music is from outer space, which is difficult to debate. Whether he and his music are from Jupiter or Georgia, or both, they are now on tour – with Tribe Called Quest, Nas, and Mos' Def. MTV.com has called him one of the "next ATL stars," and named his video "Haterz Everywhere" Jam of the Week.
Music Not Money: Freeloads on B.o.B's MySpace
In interviews, B.o.B. emphasizes his basic and overriding love for music. The music comes first and foremost, according to him. His words aren't empty. He writes, produces, arranges, and mixes his own music, and plays multiple instruments. He sees the hip-hop industry returning to a focus on the music, not the money, thanks to methods of distribution via the Internet.
The Noise in 2009
Internet distribution is exactly how B.o.B arrived. With musical careers born on the Internet – and MySpace – becoming a norm, stars find themselves building a fan base prior to their first full-length release. The Adventures of B.o.B is due out in 2009, and he hopes to see the album surpass platinum and go diamond, i.e. reach 10 million in sales.
Now Listen
Check out early hit and ode to smoking "Cloud 9" on YouTube. B.o.B's MySpace has a bunch of his new songs up, and mixtapes to download, plus his new EP, 12th DIMENSION, on ITunes.
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