Review Summary: B.o.B's first really successful release, The Adventures of Bobby Ray is a fun, yet serious and solid alternative hip hop record, proving to non-fans of the genre like myself that it can be very enjoyable.
Let me just start out by saying I don't consider myself to be a fan of hip hop whatsoever. I don't listen to Weezy, Eminem, 50, Snoop, any of the well known rappers today. The only rapper I listened to really at all (albeit briefly) before trying out B.o.B was Kid Cudi. To be honest, the only reason I downloaded
The Adventures of Bobby Ray was because of the guest vocals from Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams. Williams is far from the only guest on the album, as it features several well-known names from different genres including Eminem, T.I., Rivers Cuomo, Janelle Monae, Bruno Mars, Lupe Fiasco, Playboy Tre, and Ricco Barrino. Surprisingly, all these names mesh very nicely along with B.o.B to put together a very fun, solid record.
The Adventures of Bobby Ray starts out modestly enough with a very sincere track in "Don't Let Me Fall". B.o.B immediately separates himself from the hip hop genre in the song with some good, (not autotuned) singing and lyrics about deeper things than the triple play of hip hop lyrics; sex, drugs, and money. The album then goes on seamlessly to "Nothin' on You", where Bruno Mars makes an appearance on this track with some utterly flawless singing while B.o.B raps in the background. This track is probably the most popular from the album, and reasonably so; the lyrics are downright beautiful. Also thrown in are great singing and rapping and a nifty beat for good measure.
The first real change of pace on TABR comes with "Past My Shades". The first two songs were a softer, more alternative hip hop whereas Past My Shades is further towards regular hip hop on the spectrum. A harder beat and a little more rapping in comparison with the singing provides a pretty good backbone for a decent song. It is probably one of the weaker songs on the album, but is certainly still a good song. I'm sure anyone reading this review has already heard "Airplanes" featuring Hayley Williams by now. Along with "Don't Let Me Fall", it is surely the most well-known B.o.B song. This song is very difficult to put into words; it is damn near perfection, completely spot on.
Another good change of pace comes with "Bet I" featuring T.I. and Playboy Tre. This is the hardest and my personal favorite track on the album. A sick beat accompanied by good verses from all three artists really makes this one a good listen. "Ghost in the Machine" is a bit of a curveball on the record, but B.o.B hits a monster home run (couldn't resist the lame pun). Ghost is sung throughout by B.o.B, no lines are rapped. He really puts his singing talent on display, proving him to be a multi-talented artist. More sincere, heartfelt lyrics are offered in this gem of a song.
"The Kids" featuring Janelle Monae is a fun, lighthearted, crank-in-your-car tune. B.o.B provides some more solid (and humorous) lyrics before Monae's sparkling voice provides a verse of her own. "Magic" is another really fun track with a huge guest appearance by Weezer lead singer Rivers Cuomo, who steals the show...errr...track here with his upbeat singing and howling while B.o.B provides some amazing lines in his verse including:
'See, I'll deceive you with my intergalactic ether
I sing just like Aretha so respect me like I'm Caesar
I kick it like Adidas flowin' sticky like adhesive
Be cautious 'cause what I be on'll leave you with amnesia
I break all the rules like Evil Knievel
It's a spectacular show 'cause my heart pumps diesel'
The album then turns over to hard-hitting, bass-heavy ninth track "Fame". It is one of the few tracks leaving B.o.B without a guest, but he really doesn't need one here on yet another solid track. "Lovelier Than You" throws in some interesting percussion and B.o.B's best singing on the album in another very sweet heartfelt track. "5th Dimension" is my least favorite track on the album and I honestly can't provide an alibi as to why. It's a very alternative track, but really not a whole lot different from the others. I guess it just feels a little like a filler to me, it is one of the few dark spots on TABR.
The high-tension, angst-filled "Airplanes Pt. 2" brings the return of Miss Williams and the appearance of Eminem. Part one and two of Airplanes are like the twins you know that strangely are nothing alike. Despite having nearly the same chorus and song structure, part one is more radio-friendly and mainstream while part two is much darker. I can't say which one I like more, both are astoundingly good. A lot of people don't like Eminem's verse in part two, but I really enjoy it. "Airplanes Pt. 2" is a good way to end an outstanding album.
After my first listen to
The Adventures of Bobby Ray, I was instantly a fan of B.o.B. He is a very diverse musician, not only providing solid raps but also great singing, piano, and guitar. Despite falling into the hip-hop category which I generally don't delve into much, B.o.B is alternative enough to stray away from the (mostly, not entirely) stagnant cesspool of today's mainstream hip hop. If B.o.B is what hip hop really is, even if he is at its most peripheral (and previously inaccessible) limb, sign me up as a hip hop fan.
Recommended tracks:
"Don't Let Me Fall"
"Bet I"
"The Kids"
"Fame"
"Lovlier Than You"
