Phresh Graffiti

May 25th Mixtape (by B.o.B) Review

February 1, 2010 at 11:11 pm (Mixtape, Music, Review) (Asher Roth, B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray, B.o.B., Charles Hamilton, Eminem, J. Cole, Lupe Fiasco, May 25th, The Adventures of Bobby Ray)

“The Biz”- B.o.B

B.o.B addresses the obvious recent questions that were and are being raised with his often over analyzed split persona of B.o.B and Bobby Ray (refer here for the difference or download B.o.B.vs. Bobby Ray), dropping his May 25th mixtape with the notorious name dropper DJ Drama, and other issues like the Grand Hustle situation with T.I. going to jail.

Then he starts rapping, effortlessly covering Mobb Deep’s classic “Shook Ones Part II,” in his own unique flow.

Bars to Savor:

“Well, the biz… the biz… I’m in the music biz/ I really couldn’t tell you what the main objective is/

Cuz really that depends, on if you got a hit/ or just a good song that they never ever spin/

and then that depends on the genre that you in/ if you’re a rock artist or  a Hip-Hop blend/

and that’s where I come in, they try to box me in/ I am not a square, nor a parallelogram”

“Champion”- B.o.B (prod. B.o.B)

If B.o.B ever went to college, he might have studied to become a broadcaster. But that’s besides the point, as he crafts this gem that is featured on NBA Live ’10 and served as the theme music for ESPN’s Bowl Week.

This will get any straight line pulse skeptic going, as B.o.B’s band parade thumping of “I am the Champion” serves as the catalyst to a great beat and an even greater production. From the instruments, to the sound board, to his rapping and hook, B.o.B conquered this one.

“Bet I”- B.o.B ft. Playboy Tre (prod. Kutta)

The first feature (with Playboy Tre) and the first high tempo track (by Kutta) on the mixtape. It serves it’s party, catchy hook aim.

There is no lyricism to savor here and that is the point. The point is simple and repetitive.

“Gladiators”- B.o.B ft. J.Cole (prod. The Alchemist)

The song that has the internet buzzing is a simple blend of two artists with lyricism, wittiness, production, and great potential to match.

And they match equally well here, with both B.o.B and J.Cole delivering smooth raps.

Bars to Savor:

“Many blessings sent from heaven, Man, thank God to be alive/

Flight attendant woke me up, said, “Mr. Cole you have arrived–Welcome”– J.Cole

“Out of time”-B.o.B (prod. B.o.B)

Vintage Bobby Ray on this track with a  D’Angelo meets new rock feel.

The “ticking clock” of the chorus, the various warnings within the lyrics bring light to the consciousness of the song.

“B is for B.o.B”-B.o.B

Dumbed down and dumb out.

“Fuck the Money”-B.o.B ft. Asher Roth (prod. Kanye West)

Covering a Kanye West production has been the new class way of paying homage to their unofficial forerunner. And Asher and B.o.B do it well.

“Monique and Me”

Just in case you don’t know, B.o.B is Bobby Ray, the genre defying anomaly.

“The Rain”-B.o.B (prod. B.o.B)

A psychedelic funk sound mixes with a very poppy sound–Vintage Bobby Ray.

“Uno is my Numeral”-B.o.B

Unnecessary and empty bars.

“Suprise Me”-B.o.B (prod. Infinity)

Basic but listen closely to the lyrics. He raps circles around this beat.

Bars to Savor:

“Yeah, Yeah, They thought I’d fade to the blackness, now they see me everywhere like Samuel Jackson–mother*****”

“Don’t Feel So Good”-B.o.B (prod. B.o.B)

Bobby rises from the ashes to lend another gem to the album, filling the track with a melodic Caribbean flow.

“Cool side”-B.o.B (prod. B.o.B)

The Caribbean flow continues with a more up tone feel. Catchy and soothing groove.

“2010”-B.o.B

B.o.B gets introspective on the current state of the music industry, stating it cannot “accommodate” its revolutionary artists.

“Fool for Love”-B.o.B ft. Charles Hamilton (prod. B.o.B)

Charles Hamilton steals the show on this track with his usual mindless raps that make sense in context.

Bars to Savor:

“Lady dropped me like a cut in the track, cuddling cats who love they cat and puzzling accent”– Charles Hamilton

Nothing for You – B.o.B ft. Bruno Mars

Great way to end the mixtape with the best B.o.B. radio song of the moment. Too bad, it’s only a snippet, suggesting this will definitely be on the album… dropping when?

Many artists try to put a lot of songs on their mixtapes, in order to showcase their talents, but B.o.B has been there and done that well (refer to B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray). This May 25th mixtape is a peek into what is to come, with Playboy Tre, J. Cole, Asher Roth and Charles Hamilton being replaced by industry forces in Lupe Fiasco and Eminem.

The appetizer is nice, but it will soon be forgotten whether or not The Adventures of Bobby Ray lives up to the billing.

—The Journalist gives B.o.B’s May 25th mixtape a grade A-

Permalink Leave a Comment