Is B.o.B. the poor man’s Cee-Lo, a wannabe 3000, or a great artist in the making? Your neighborhood brain trust investigates. Here’s our take on B.o.B.’s The Adventures of Bobby Ray.
Andrew:
B.O.B. has skills, but the proverbial diamond, that’s been given plenty of polish, in the rough is using his talents to satiate a different crowd than I had hoped. When I first listened to B.o.B., at that point vacillating between his acronym moniker and the nondescript ‘Bobby Ray,’ his talent was obvious with his fluid flow and above par writing skills, however The Adventures of Bobby Ray was the prism that unfortunately focused Mr. Simmons’ talents into fleshing out his crossover sound and appeal moreso than a singular rap sound. Selfishly, I wanted a microphone fiend.
Jaap:
Bobby Ray is already bigger than hip-hop on his major label debut. That doesn’t mean he turned his back on rap, it means he draws inspiration from all musical directions and doesn’t seem preoccupied with conventions of what a rap record should sound like. He’s neither a socio-conscious force nor a lyrical powerhouse. As a result, his album sounds more like a well produced pop record than a rap album and certainly won’t appeal to any purists who hate the sight of a tight pair of pants. B.o.B has a knack for catchy hooks, a recognizable voice and flow, and massive crossover appeal. But the pop sheen can become a bit overbearing at times. With all the gloss and slick production, you’d wish there was some roughness left around the edges. Alas, that’s nowhere to be found. You’ll find plenty of potential hit records though, and a promising debut by a guy unafraid to sound like himself.
Nahshon:
As far as debut albums, don’t expect many more like this. B.o.B. blends his broad musical tastes with clever lyrics and a damn-near perfect guest list. Adventures of Bobby Ray is the album that his mixtapes promised us: an increasingly rare occurrence in this genre. This album is a snapshot of the man who made it, so beyond its musical merits I expect people to genuinely connect with the personality of the record. I think his fans and first time listeners alike will forgive him for failing to tackle really anything relating to life beyond his own brain because people will relate to the personal reflection in a big way. Adventures’ masterful production and fresh style could use more focused lyricism, and we will see if that comes with time. For now, expect any notable guest star besides T.I. to “Renegade” him. While difficult to categorize, it’s easy to predict high marks all around for this project.
Black Barbie:
When I think of B.o.B., I think of an eclectic artist –- one that melds r&b, hip-hop and rock together in a way that is uniquely his (damn all of those Andre 3000 comparisons). The Adventures of Bobby Ray is a pure reflection of B.o.B.’s versatility. The problem is that it’s not done in a thorough way, which makes this album all over the place and seemingly jumbled. There are some standout tracks on the album (e.g. “Nothing On You”, “Airplanes (I & II)”, “The Kids” and “Bet I”), but there’s just as much filler material that should’ve been left on the cutting room floor. Overall, its okay. Here’s hoping that Bobby Ray can consolidate the two sides of his musical personality to create a cohesive project the next go-round.
(PS. When will rappers learn to stop doing features in which they’re outshined by their guests? I thought the point of the feature was to hold your own?)
Rizoh:
I have a friend who likes to go on trips without necessarily spelling out any specific plan of action. His favorite expression in these situations, “We’ll play it by ear,” best describes B.o.B.’s mantra on The Adventures of Bobby Ray. It’s an adventure without a map. B.o.B. simply goes wherever the beat leads him, drawing strands from soul, pop, and everything in between. While he’s a prolific songwriter and a gifted instrumentalist, you won’t find yourself hitting the rewind button trying to catch a double entendre. Instead, he simply dazzles with his rhythmic rhyming and captivating hooks. Where the album suffers immensely is in its lack of cohesion. I don’t believe that an album must be cohesive to succeed, but it needs musical continuity of some sort (Think The Roots). Moreso, an artist needs a defined sense of direction to avoid getting lost in the strum.
Sidenote: This is non-album cut is my jam on Fight Night 4.
Overall Rating:
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