Review Summary: B.o.B likes to have fun, and he successfully made a record that channels that mentality, while at the same time creating quality music.
If the freshman class of 09 hip-hop graduated to sophomore level last year, consider B.o.B held back a year, going to summer school. His album set to release in 2010, many wondered if Bobby Ray would lose the traction that he had garnered with the rest of freshman class (with Wale, Asher Roth, and Kid Cudi). But thankfully, his playful first single, "Nothin' On You" went to #1, and his album's release was pushed up a month.
Now, B.o.B comes out with his first LP, and making the jump from relative obscurity to having great popularity seems to have been seamless for him. Simultaneously a rapper, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, one would think Bobby Ray would have the biggest canvas to work with and at the same time the most potential and pressure of all the freshman. And, for the most part, he pulls off this album with gusto.
How the "freshman", without a record in stores can manage to get Hayley Williams, Rivers Cumouo, Eminem, and Lupe Fiasco to appear is baffling. One would have to think it was out of artistic respect, or just being on friendly terms with some of the most random people in the music industry. Either way, B.o.B took a risk, with these more out-there guests, and it payed off. (He also samples Vampire Weekend on a song, for good measure).
B.o.B is, at his core, an alternative hip-hop artist, but he's nonetheless still a hip-hop artist. To balance out his more alternative song choices, he makes sure to include Lupe Fiasco and T.I., but the songs they are featured on seem to lag a bit, as if B.o.B is more comfortable, (or at least better), at alt-hop.
The songs in general are catchy, poppy, and enjoyable listens, and you never hear the same types of songs more than once within the course of 6 songs, which is refreshing. "Don't Let Me Fall" is a solid, spacey opener. Verging on being an entirely-sung ballad, "Ghost In The Machine" is a fantastic change of pace, and also shows that B.o.B can sing well, and without auto-tune. "Nothin' On You", which I'm sure you've already heard, is great for what it is, an adorable love song with a little bit of rapping swag. "Airplanes", featuring a skillful Hayley Williams appearance, is emotional, angsty, and very very good on both ends, chorus and verse. "Magic" is awesome, though that may be all due to the greatness of Rivers Cuomo. "Bet I", despite featuring T.I., is slightly less awesome. "Fame" also stays at a slightly lower level, but nothing on the record is terrible.
The album boils down to a fun, pop-influenced, listen. It works perfectly for its on-the-cusp-of-summer release. This is an album you play loudly as you drive around or walk around in the sun in June. You'll have fun. And maybe that's B.o.B's intention.
Oh, and Eminem destoyed "Airplanes, Part.2".
