Review: B.O.B. Your Head to This

Many of you know how I have a tendency to talk about when southern rappers used to rap instead of chanting, talking, and instructing people to move their bodies. Back then, southern rappers talked about life's trials and tribulations. They didn't glorify wet street dreams. They talked about life-- beautiful and ugly. The imperfections of our decisions, and our desires to live in a perfect world. Southern rappers used to capitalize on lyrics like blues musicians. They also rely on jazz' rich southern heritage to conjure up the best production in the game. The south could finally hold its head up in the rap game with the consistent releases of delicious soul food. Then, the unexpected happen to the south.

Master P stepped into center stage. Percy Miller, one of hip-hop's smartest businessmen, made the decision to repackage the minstrel show and flood the market with variations of it. Master P was able to capitalize on the glorification of the African-American community's flaws. Without regret, Percy exploited his own people until he was ranked in Fortune's "40 Richest People under the age of 40." Many so-called rappers decided to take the low road and follow Percy's steps in self-degradation to produce mediocre rap music with over-the-top street tales with below average Yamaha keyboard and basic 808 drum production. When we thought lyrics could not get any dumber, then the do! Southern rappers released a million and one workout instructional songs in rapid fire succession. How many songs can one person listen to that tell you to shake it, drop it, pop it, slide, superman, batman, crank that, hop that, beat that, and any other action that makes you look like a whore or an idiot? Well, we don't know because they are still coming out.

Well, B.O.B. has released a number of mixtapes that combine what I used to love from southern rap and what I hate from southern rap. Furthermore, B.O.B. is able to combine them like legos. He uses intelligent lyrics, ignorant topics, sultry production, and bouncy 808 beats, and repetitive snares to make his masterpieces. On occasion, he jumps leaps and bounds in lyrics and production. I recognize he is straddling the lines of two worlds. He is not trying to stray too far from what is out there and expected from southern rappers, but he wants to open up in the art department. I'm giving his mixtapes a lukewarm welcome because you can see the potential in him. He also has a collaborator that appears on a number of tracks named Willie Joe. Willie Joe is witty. He is a combination of Jadakiss and Ludacris. His subtle delivery pours like syrup over the beats. The other featured artists are par to sub-par.

B.O.B. is worth a listening. I have not decided if he is going to be a hero in southern hip-hop or will he be another southern rapper fad. B.O.B. could be a force to reckon with if he continues to evolve as an artist and not become a crowd chaser.

One thing is for sure, his music is better than everything out of the "young" South.
Download B.O.B. is The Futer Mixtape


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