B.o.B

2.1. Early Life and Musical Beginnings (1988-2006)

Bobby Ray Simmons Jr. was born on November 15, 1988, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Shortly after his birth, his family relocated to Decatur, Georgia. From elementary through high school, Simmons played the trumpet in his school band. Despite his parents' desire for him to continue his education, he decided in the sixth grade that he wanted to pursue a career in music. His father, a pastor, initially disapproved but later supported his son's choices upon realizing music served as a form of therapy and a creative outlet for B.o.B. Simmons later reflected on his parents' support, noting they helped him acquire his first keyboard and other equipment, even if they didn't fully grasp his musical aspirations. He attended Columbia High School in Decatur, Georgia, playing trumpet in the school band until he secured a record deal, prompting him to drop out in the ninth grade.

In 2002, at the age of 14, Simmons met his mentor and co-manager, B-Rich. Through B-Rich, B.o.B sold his first beat to former Slip-n-Slide recording artist Citti for the song "I'm the Cookie Man." Reflecting on this early success, B.o.B admitted to spending his earnings quickly on superficial items like a chain, but recognized two key lessons: the importance of saving money and his profound passion for music. He continued to hone his craft by performing at open mics and underground venues. In 2006, B-Rich helped the underage B.o.B gain entry to Club Crucial, a night club owned by Atlanta-based rapper T.I.. There, B.o.B performed "Cloud 9," a self-produced, spoken word-like ode to marijuana. In the audience was producer and industry veteran T.J. Chapman, CEO of TJ's DJ's, who agreed to co-manage B.o.B. This led to B.o.B's signing with Atlantic Records and its subsidiary imprint Rebel Rock, run by Florida-based producer Jim Jonsin. His first single for Atlantic, "Haterz Everywhere" (2007), featuring Wes Fif, reached the top five of Billboard's Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart. In addition to his solo work, B.o.B became a member of the production and rap group HamSquad, alongside Playboy Tre, DJ Swatts, DJ Smooth, Moss B, B-Rich, and T.J. Chapman.

2.2. Rise to Prominence and Mixtape Releases (2007-2008)

B.o.B began to gain significant recognition in early 2007. His underground single "Haterz Everywhere," featuring Wes Fif, peaked at number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles. A remix of "Haterz Everywhere" featuring Rich Boy was included in the video game Fight Night Round 4, for which a music video was also released. Another single, "I'll Be in the Sky" (2008), reached number 15 on the same chart. About.com lauded "I'll Be in the Sky" as "smart, funky artrap and a strong prelude to his album," ranking it number 13 on its "Top 100 Rap Songs of 2008." B.o.B also produced "Generation Lost", which appeared at number 32 on the same list. This period also saw the release of another single, "Don't Let Me Fall," which leaned more towards R&B than typical rap. B.o.B made a notable guest appearance on T.I.'s acclaimed album Paper Trail (2008), contributing to the song "On Top of the World" alongside Ludacris.

In 2008, B.o.B was featured on the cover of XXL magazine, alongside Asher Roth, Charles Hamilton, and Wale, as part of their "Hip-Hop's Class of '09" issue. In October 2008, he was also featured on the cover of Vibe magazine, recognized as a promising young talent alongside other emerging musicians. Between 2007 and 2008, B.o.B released four mixtapes: The Future (2007), Cloud 9 (2007), Hi! My Name is B.o.B (2008), and Who the F#*k is B.o.B? (2008). He also released two extended plays (EPs) during this time: Eastside (2007) and 12th Dimension (2008).

2.3. Mainstream Success and Debut Album (2009-2010)

In 2009, B.o.B was again included in XXL's annual Freshman Class, appearing on the cover with other rising rappers like Asher Roth, Wale, Kid Cudi, and Charles Hamilton. In February 2009, he created an original song titled "Auto-Tune" for the video game Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned. On May 16, 2009, B.o.B released a cover of Manu Chao's "Mr. Bobby", declaring his preference to be known mononymously as Bobby Ray and stating his intention to take his music in a "new direction" - one that is "more free and not trying to live up to any particular genre." He expressed a desire to be more "free-spirited" and open to diverse musical influences, including guitars, chords, and keyboards.

On June 22, 2009, B.o.B released his fifth mixtape, B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray, which echoed the concept of T.I.'s T.I. vs. T.I.P. (2007). The mixtape was primarily produced by Fury and B.o.B himself, and included tracks like "Fly Like Me" (produced by Red Spyda) and "Put Me On," a re-imagining of A Tribe Called Quest's 1990 hit "Bonita Applebum". Reebok later used "Put Me On" to celebrate their Reebok Classic Remix collection, making the track exclusively available for download to customers who purchased items from the collection at Foot Locker stores. During the summer of 2009, B.o.B joined fellow up-and-coming rappers Kid Cudi and Asher Roth for 'The Great Hangover' concert tour. Although he was scheduled to open for Blue October's 'Pick Up the Phone' tour in October-November 2009, the tour was canceled due to lead singer Justin Furstenfeld's hospitalization.

On January 13, 2010, B.o.B announced that his debut studio album, tentatively titled The Adventures of Bobby Ray, was expected to be released on May 25, 2010. To promote the album, he released a mixtape titled May 25 on February 1, 2010, which received critical acclaim. This mixtape featured guest appearances from artists such as J. Cole, Asher Roth, Playboy Tre, Charles Hamilton, and Bruno Mars, with Mars also featuring on the bonus track and B.o.B's debut single, "Nothin' on You". Due to the significant commercial success of May 25 and "Nothin' on You," the release date for his debut album was advanced to April 27, 2010.

B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray was released under Atlantic and T.I.'s Grand Hustle imprint. The album featured a diverse array of guest artists including Lupe Fiasco, T.I., Playboy Tre, Hayley Williams of Paramore, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, Ricco Barrino, Janelle Monáe, and Bruno Mars. Upon its release on April 27, 2010, the album garnered generally positive reviews, selling NaN Q 84000 copies in its first week and debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. This achievement made B.o.B the thirteenth solo male artist to have a debut album reach number one in its first week. In July, B.o.B announced 'The SHOOTiN for Stars Tour'. He received nominations for his album, singles, and himself from the BET Awards, Teen Choice Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and the new Suckerfree Summit. The song "Airplanes" was featured in the trailer for the movie Charlie St. Cloud, and "Magic" was used in an Adidas "Magic" campaign advertisement, featuring B.o.B. He was also announced as a performer at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards on August 18, joining a lineup that included Eminem, Linkin Park, Kanye West, Drake, Usher, Paramore, Florence and the Machine, and Justin Bieber.

On August 14, 2010, Hayley Williams announced that B.o.B would be the main support for Paramore's November UK Tour. B.o.B also served as an opening act for Eminem and Jay-Z's The Home & Home Tour at Comerica Park. He participated in an MTV Unplugged session, performing songs from his debut album and a cover of "Kids" by MGMT, with guest appearances from Robin Thicke, Melanie Fiona, and Janelle Monáe. B.o.B also performed at Lollapalooza 2010 and the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, 2010, where he performed parts of "Nothin' on You" with Bruno Mars and "Airplanes" with Hayley Williams. On December 7, 2010, B.o.B released his seventh mixtape, No Genre. B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray was certified two-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on August 2, 2016. On January 30, 2011, Jessie J released her single "Price Tag" featuring B.o.B, which quickly reached number one in the United Kingdom, selling NaN Q 84000 copies in its first week.

2.4. Strange Clouds and Collaborative Projects (2011-2012)

On March 22, 2011, Electronic Arts released the launch trailer for the video game Crysis 2, which featured a song by B.o.B titled "New York New York," incorporating the main piano chorus from Frank Sinatra's "Theme from New York, New York". The full song later appeared on B.o.B's eighth mixtape, E.P.I.C. (Every Play Is Crucial), produced by Mike Caren.

In early 2011, Odd Future's Tyler, the Creator released the song "Yonkers", which included critical lyrics aimed at B.o.B and Bruno Mars. In response, on March 25, B.o.B released "No Future," a diss track targeting Odd Future and Tyler. In June 2011, it was announced that B.o.B would be featured on and produce a song for Tech N9ne's twelfth studio album, All 6's and 7's. The track, "Am I a Psycho?", also featured rapper Hopsin, who similarly had issues with Tyler, the Creator. B.o.B also appeared on the official remix to Kesha's hit single "Blow", released on iTunes on May 17, 2011.

In the summer of 2011, B.o.B was named the new face of T.I.'s clothing line, AKOO. He was featured in AKOO Clothing's fall 2011 national advertising campaign alongside baseball players Curtis Granderson and Carl Crawford, and actor Hosea Chanchez. He also appeared in a graphic novel for AKOO titled Hide in Plain Sight - Saving the World From Fashion Conspiracy. On August 27, 2011, a video surfaced on YouTube showing B.o.B performing at Colorado State University, where he previewed a new song titled "Strange Clouds" and announced it would feature Lil Wayne. In an interview with Syracuse University's The Daily Orange, B.o.B first discussed his second studio album, stating it would feature a more mature sound that served as a "happy medium" between his debut album and his mixtapes, indicating it would be enjoyable for all fans. He mentioned the album was "90 percent done" but the title was still TBA. On September 23, 2011, B.o.B released a trailer for the "Strange Clouds" single, announcing its official release for October 3. However, the single leaked on September 25, leading to its early release on iTunes on September 27. Later that day, B.o.B appeared on radio station V103's online video stream and confirmed that the album title would also be Strange Clouds, scheduled for an early 2012 release.

Bobby Ray held the first listening session for his album Strange Clouds at Tree Sound Studios on October 25, 2011. Seven new songs were previewed, including the promotional single "Play the Guitar" featuring André 3000. Other confirmed guest appearances, as the album was not fully complete, included Lil Wayne, Big K.R.I.T., Nelly, and a song with T.I. titled "Arena." He also revealed a collaboration with OneRepublic and hinted at a major feature for what he called "the song of 2012." On November 15, 2011, B.o.B announced the release of the mixtape E.P.I.C. (Every Play Is Crucial) prior to the album. The mixtape, released on November 28, 2011, featured appearances from Eminem, Mos Def, Roscoe Dash, Meek Mill, and Bun B, with production from Ryan Tedder and Jim Jonsin.

While filming the music video for "Strange Clouds," B.o.B was interviewed by MTV about a rumored collaborative album with T.I. B.o.B explained that the idea started as a joke, with T.I. referring to him as 'the Martian,' leading to the phrase "It's the man and the Martian," which they thought could be an album title. He noted that the project was "taking form in a very organic way." On December 1, 2011, B.o.B appeared on New York City's Hot 97 radio station and confirmed that he and T.I. were indeed working on a collaborative album titled The Man & The Martian.

On December 22, 2011, B.o.B released a snippet of "Play the Guitar," featuring André 3000 and a sample of "Fancy" by Drake, T.I., and Swizz Beatz. "Play the Guitar" was digitally released on December 27, 2011. On February 14, 2012, B.o.B released a trailer for the second official single, "So Good". The song, produced by Ryan Tedder, was released on February 21. In a 2012 interview with PopCush, B.o.B expressed his desire to collaborate with Kid Cudi, James Blake, and Skrillex, envisioning a sky-falling, party-starting song if they worked together. On March 20, 2012, B.o.B released "Where Are You (B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray)," the second promotional single from Strange Clouds, followed by "So Hard to Breathe" as the third promotional single on April 17, 2012.

In an April 2012 interview with HipHopDX, B.o.B announced his intention to release a rock album. B.o.B also appeared on Haley Reinhart's debut studio album Listen Up! on the intro track "Oh My". Strange Clouds, B.o.B's second studio album, was released on May 1, 2012, to critical acclaim. The album debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200, with NaN Q 76000 copies sold in its first week. "Both of Us" served as the album's third single, released to Top 40 Mainstream radio on May 22, 2012. The song, featuring American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, debuted at number 46 on the Australia Top 50 singles chart and sold NaN Q 143000 copies in its first week, debuting at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the week's highest debut.

2.5. Underground Luxury and No Genre Establishment (2012-2014)

On October 9, 2012, B.o.B was featured in the annual BET Hip Hop Awards cypher, alongside his Grand Hustle label-mates Iggy Azalea, T.I., Chip, and Trae tha Truth. On November 15, 2012, B.o.B released his ninth mixtape, Fuck 'Em We Ball, featuring guest appearances from T.I., Juicy J, Mac Miller, Playboy Tre, Snoop Lion, Spodee, and Iggy Azalea, with B.o.B producing much of the project himself. The mixtape also spawned the club-oriented single "We Still in This Bitch". In early December, B.o.B revealed to MTV his plans to release a rock-influenced extended play, stating he had been holding back rock music for too long and that the EP would provide a canvas for him to express this side of his artistry without external expectations. He also hinted that his third studio album would be a continuation of The Adventures of Bobby Ray and Strange Clouds, bridging the gap between his existing sound and his future direction.

While filming the video for "Memories Back Then", B.o.B discussed multiple upcoming projects with Rap-Up, including his third album, a rock EP, and the Hustle Gang compilation. He indicated that his rock EP would reflect his diverse influences, from indie to alternative to classic rock and even country music. Regarding his third album, he noted it was nearing completion and felt more effortless, expressing that at 24 years old, he was simply "partying" and enjoying the creative process. In March, B.o.B collaborated with fellow Atlanta rapper Big Boi of OutKast to release "Double or Nothing," the official theme song for the 2013 video game Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel, where they were also playable characters if the game was pre-ordered. A music video for the song, directed and produced by Vice, Noisey, and EA, accompanied the release.

On April 22, 2013, it was announced that B.o.B would tour with other American rappers, including Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Trinidad James, Joey Bada$, and Smoke DZA, for the 'Under the Influence' concert tour, which began on July 17, 2013. On May 12, 2013, B.o.B revealed the title of his third studio album, Underground Luxury, via Twitter, teasing its release for that summer. In May, he also premiered a music video for his new song "Through My Head," directed by Peruvian filmmaker Ricardo de Montreuil. On May 13, 2013, radio personality Funkmaster Flex premiered "HeadBand" (featuring 2 Chainz), the lead single from Underground Luxury. The song was commercially released on May 21, 2013, and peaked at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100. In early September, B.o.B confirmed the album would be released in December 2013.

On September 10, 2013, "Ready," the second single from Underground Luxury, was released to iTunes. The song, produced by Noel "Detail" Fisher, featured fellow Atlanta rapper Future. In September 2013, B.o.B also disclosed his plans to launch his own record label imprint, stating, "I'm putting my CEO pants on, man. I'm finna start a label called HamSquad and I'm looking for artists to be the flagship artists for the label. So I'm really excited about that." He referred to Underground Luxury as a "Career Shifting Project," explaining that the album would focus on how his life had changed since achieving mainstream success. On October 15, 2013, the music video for "Ready" was released. During an interview on BET's 106 & Park on October 17, 2013, B.o.B announced that Underground Luxury would be released on December 17, 2013.

Underground Luxury debuted at number 22 on the Billboard 200, selling NaN Q 35000 copies in the United States in its first week. This marked a notable decline in sales compared to his first two albums, which sold NaN Q 84000 and NaN Q 74000 copies in their respective first weeks. In its second week, the album dropped to number 30, selling an additional NaN Q 19000 copies. It sold NaN Q 9000 more copies in its third week and NaN Q 6600 more in its fourth week.

On June 9, 2014, in an interview with Bootleg Kev, B.o.B announced his new record label imprint, No Genre, named after his 2010 mixtape. He emphasized that the label would allow him to "do what the f*ck he wants to musically." On July 9, 2014, B.o.B released No Genre 2, the sequel to his seventh mixtape, featuring guest appearances from Kevin Gates, Victoria Monet, Mike Fresh, Ty Dolla Sign, Sevyn Streeter, Mila J, and T.I. On October 14, 2014, B.o.B digitally released "Not For Long" featuring Trey Songz as a single. On October 7, 2014, up-and-coming singer Tora Woloshin announced she had signed with No Genre. On October 24, 2014, B.o.B released "Fleek," credited to No Genre, featuring newly signed artists Lin-Z and London Jae. On November 28, 2014, B.o.B released New Black, his eleventh solo mixtape. This project was a cohesive concept album, comprising politically charged songs, including "Generation Lost" as its third track.

2.6. Psycadelik Thoughtz and Elements Series (2015-2017)

On February 24, 2015, B.o.B appeared on Tech N9ne's "Hood Go Crazy", which achieved moderate success. Later that year, B.o.B discussed the possibility of a collaborative mixtape with Tech N9ne. On August 14, 2015, B.o.B released an experimental project titled Psycadelik Thoughtz, which he described as "one of the most defining projects" for his artistry. It featured guest appearances from singers Jon Bellion and Sevyn Streeter. This commercial mixtape, released without any prior promotion or singles, debuted at number 97 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

Following the release of multiple projects with Atlantic, including three EPs, three studio albums, and a retail mixtape, B.o.B and the label parted ways. B.o.B claimed that Atlantic was "suppressing" him, writing on Twitter, "There's a ban on BoB. They boycott me, they are afraid I'll get too much exposure. My own label doesn't even promote my albums, mixtapes, shows or events... ZERO promo." After his split from Atlantic, B.o.B expanded his independent label, No Genre, partnering with Empire Distribution. On December 4, 2015, B.o.B self-released a mixtape titled WATER.

On January 2, 2016, B.o.B tweeted, "I haven't forgotten about the rock album.. when the time is right." On January 18, 2016, he released his second mixtape in two months, FIRE, which continued the elemental and acronymic concept of his previous work. On April 22, 2016, in celebration of Earth Day, B.o.B released a mixtape titled EARTH. This mixtape included the controversial flat Earther anthem "Flatline", in which he espoused multiple conspiracy theories. On November 4, 2016, B.o.B released his first compilation album, Elements, which was composed of songs from his four solo mixtapes: WATER, FIRE, EARTH, and AIR. The mixtapes compiled in Elements largely focus on B.o.B's political and philosophical views.

2.7. Independent Album Releases (2017-Present)

On May 12, 2017, B.o.B released his fourth studio album, Ether. The album featured a diverse array of guest artists, including Lil Wayne, Young Thug, T.I., Big K.R.I.T., Ty Dolla Sign, Usher, CeeLo Green, and Young Dro. Ether continued the conscious hip hop themes explored in his Elements mixtapes and was met with positive reviews from music critics. The album, however, narrowly entered the Billboard 200 chart.

On July 5, 2018, B.o.B released his fifth studio album, Naga, which did not achieve significant commercial success. Although he stated at the time that Naga would be his final project, he released a follow-up mixtape, Southmatic, the following year in 2019. In subsequent years, he continued to release new music, including his sixth studio album, Somnia, in 2020, and the compilation album Lost Tapes in 2021. He further expanded his discography with the studio album Better Than Drugs in 2022 and A Town Full of Nowhere in 2023.

3.1. Musical Influences

B.o.B has cited a wide array of musical influences, including genres such as "80's music, techno, rock, funk, and even doo-wop." In a 2012 interview, when asked about the influence of Southern hip hop artists like Goodie Mob, Outkast, and T.I. from his upbringing in Atlanta, Simmons affirmed their impact. He specifically mentioned Outkast, Goodie Mob, Trillville, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, Crime Mob, and Bone Crusher as playing a significant role in shaping his sound. Beyond Southern hip hop, B.o.B also expressed admiration for artists such as Eminem, DMX, and Dr. Dre, highlighting his appreciation for a universal range of music. His 2015 album Psycadelik Thoughtz was notably influenced by "'70s rock and funk."

3.2. Musical Style and Dual Personas

In a 2009 interview, B.o.B stated his artistic goal was to be "more personal than try to be different." In a review of his debut album The Adventures of Bobby Ray (2010), HipHopDX praised his versatility, noting it was evident from the album's outset. B.o.B is known for his ability to sing, rap, and play both the piano and guitar, all of which are frequently featured throughout his debut work.

His musical style seamlessly incorporates various genres, including pop music, political hip hop, trap music, rock music, and club music. To manage this wide range, B.o.B often divides his artistic expression into two distinct personas: B.o.B and Bobby Ray. The B.o.B alter ego is primarily responsible for his pop, trap, and club-oriented music, embodying his more commercially accessible sound. In contrast, Bobby Ray represents the more heartfelt, multi-instrumentalist side of his artistry, through which he delivers his views via conscious rap and rock music. Simmons heavily explored this concept on his 2009 mixtape B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray and later on the 2012 single "Where Are You (B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray)", clearly differentiating these two facets of his musical identity.

4.1. General Views and Conspiracy Theories

B.o.B holds strong anti-establishment views and is a vocal proponent of various conspiracy theories. He has consistently spoken out on social and political issues, including the rights of African Americans, police brutality, and American exceptionalism. His publicly stated beliefs include that the Earth is flat, the Apollo 11 moon landing was faked, the 9/11 attacks were an inside job, the world will be taken over by the Illuminati, and celebrity cloning is administered by the U.S. government.

His 2016 song "Flatline" notably delves into these beliefs, and also contains allusions to antisemitic conspiracy theories. In the song, he directly encourages his audience to "Do [their] research" on Holocaust denier David Irving. He further asserts, "Stalin was way worse than Hitler / That's why the POTUS gotta wear a Kipper [a mispronunciation of kippah or yarmulke]." These lyrics drew significant attention from the Anti-Defamation League, which highlighted how they invoke the antisemitic conspiracy theory that alleges Jewish control over the U.S. government.

4.2. Flat Earth Controversy

In January 2016, B.o.B publicly expressed his belief that the Earth is flat, sharing photographs that he claimed supported his view. This sparked a notable public exchange with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who responded to B.o.B on Twitter and attempted to scientifically explain that the Earth is round. However, the rapper remained steadfast in his views, accusing NASA of avoiding his questions and subsequently releasing a diss track titled "Flatline" aimed at Tyson. The song further elaborated on B.o.B's flat Earth claims.

In response, Tyson and his rapper nephew, Stephen, released their own diss track titled "Flat to Fact." Tyson later appeared on the Comedy Central late-night talk show The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore in January 2016, where he directly addressed B.o.B. During his appearance, Tyson emphasized, "It's a fundamental fact of calculus and non-Euclidean geometry: Small sections of large curved surfaces will always look flat to little creatures that crawl upon it... And by the way, this is called gravity," concluding with a dramatic mic drop. Despite the widespread scientific consensus and public rebuttals, B.o.B accepted membership in The Flat Earth Society in 2016.

In September 2017, B.o.B launched a crowdfunding campaign, initially seeking 200.00 K USD in donations to fund the launch of his own satellites to verify the shape of the Earth. Shortly after, he increased his fundraising goal to 1.00 M USD to cover the costs of more extensive tests, including the use of drones, weather balloons, and additional satellites. These efforts highlighted his determination to scientifically prove his unconventional beliefs, further cementing his role as a public figure in the Flat Earth movement and raising broader societal questions about scientific literacy and the spread of misinformation.