The Music Ish

With the release of Strange Clouds just around the corner, B.o.B is giving us something to be excited for. The latest single, ‘So Hard To Breathe,’ is said to be Bobby Ray’s favorite off the album. So far, I have to agree with him. This is what B.o.B does so well. He bends genres that mold into something brand new and completely his own. The light acoustic guitar at the beginning is a pretty serious juxtaposition to the angrier sounding verses about the struggles of stardom. But that’s what makes this track so great; it gives us signs of alternative rock with the guitar and the hook (which B.o.B sings himself), while still sticking to the hip-hop roots that you would expect from, well, a hip-hop artist.

This is the best we’ve heard from B.o.B and Strange Clouds, but I have a feeling we’re in for some great surprises come May 1st.

B.o.B – So Hard To Breathe [audio http://themusicish.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bob-so-hard-to-breathe-hiphopearly-t12567.mp3]

Since B.o.B “went mainstream” he’s received a lot of criticism. I’d like to go ahead and say that he hasn’t gone mainstream just because he has some tracks that are radio hits. Isn’t it every musicians dream to hear their song on the radio. If people criticize an artist for going mainstream because they start hearing it on the radio, then what’s the point of making music. All the radio does is get the music to the masses, and if it’s not an artists goal to have as many people as possible listen to their music, then they are destined for a failed career. Bobby Ray definitely has some softer, radio friendly tracks, but he still releases mixtapes, still throws down some hard and heavy hip-hop verses on a lot of his tracks, and he produces some of the best melodies and beats in hip-hop. He’s come a long way since The Future and Cloud 9 (his first few mixtapes). And some may see that as a bad thing, but I’m glad to see an artist progress and continue to push boundaries and change their style around. It keeps an artist interesting and relevant.

B.o.B’s newest track, ‘Where Are You (B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray),’ is a reflection of his progression as an artist, and a lot of the criticism he’s received from a lot of critics. It starts off and almost seems like an apology. But I think it’s really him saying that this is who he is, this is where his music is going, and he doesn’t care about the critics, as long as he believes in the music he’s making and his fans are behind him. It’s a smooth, jazzy track with some really meaningful lyrics. B.o.B has always put together very coherent, intelligent tracks, and this is no different. Great melody, great beat, great lyrics. Everything you’d expect from B.o.B.

Pick up the track on iTunes, and be on the lookout for Strange Clouds, dropping May 1st.

[audio http://themusicish.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/bob-where-are-you-bob-vs-bobby-ray-hiphopearly-t11993.mp3] B.o.B – Where Are You (B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray)