Artist B.o.B

Atlanta-based rapper B.o.B, a.k.a. Bobby Ray Simmons Jr., is the artist behind the dangerously ubiquitous summer jams “Nothin’ On You” and “Airplanes.” The word “behind” is stressed, for B.o.B’s verses take a backseat to the monster hooks that have elevated the songs into the summer stratosphere, hooks sung by producer Bruno Mars and Paramore’s Hayley Williams, respectively. Having hubristically combined his name with the title of the Outkast classic, B.o.B’s nimble flow is serviceable at best—the main reason he’s but a tourist on his own tracks. Already forgotten is his latest single, “Magic,” a collaboration with Rivers Cuomo (seriously) that manages to be the first (and hopefully last) rap song to reference Criss Angel’s MindFreak. 

Updated 08/05/2010