B.O.B vs. Bobby Ray: A Quick Review

Okay, I know what you are thinking when you read that title. This mixtape came out a few weeks ago already, right? However, because he is such a prominent figure in the new class, and because we did post the link for the mixtape, I still think it is important to get out my opinion of this tape out onto the blog. I also plan on doing a review of the J.Cole mixtape as well.

Let me start off by saying that B.o.B. has had somewhat of a roller coaster when it comes to mine and Jordan's opinion of him. When we first downloaded his mixtapes before, we both saw he had a lot of talent. Jordan really like him, and I thought he was pretty solid. However, after those mixtapes, Bobby Ray somewhat disappeared from the game. He maybe had a song here and there, but for about 6 months, we really didn't hear a lot from him. This had both Jordan and I worried about what he was doing. Then about 2 months ago, it surfaced that he was working on this new mixtape. I heard what the concept was about and got really excited. I already knew he could spit, and that he could play piano and guitar well, so I was really anticipating hearing how this tape would sound. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

B.O.B.
Mr. Bobby got it started with a live freestyle titled "Patron & Swag." In the freestyle, he spits about how the content and lyricism of current rap is in terrible shape, a prominent theme within the up and coming class of rappers. B.o.B. is an artist who focuses on lyricism and it is definitely much appreciated. Throughout the rest of the B.o.B. portion of mixtape, he is joined by quite a few well known geusts. "One" has a great beat and rocks the sample perfectly. On this song B.o.B. is joined by Big Kuntry, another dude on Grand Hustle, and Mac Boney. There are no lyrics that make you pause and rewind the song on this track, but all three artists put in a decent verse that fit well together for the song. On "Change Gonna Come" we see him team up with fellow XXLers Charles Hamilton and Asher Roth. I personally love this song. I think its got a great message about the moves forward this country is making, and I think this is one of Asher's best verses that he's put out. I'd say hes got the best one out of the three on this song. The only fault in this song: Hamilton. I just can't get into that dude. On "Do You Have the Stamina" B.o.B. uses a live Kanye sample for the chorus of the song. Now I usually think the quality of live songs sound pretty bad, but this one actually works. The song discusses the stresses and difficulties of being a part of the game. B.o.B. handles the track very nicely staying well versed with nice rhymes as he explains how he keeps his composure while staying true to himself.
On "I am the Man" he shows a bit of his cocky side alongside. OJ da Juiceman and Bun B. The song is pretty average for a couple reasons. It could have been pretty boring if it was just OJ on the track. His verse has very little substance and just sounds overall not very well put together. He makes it worse by putting his annoying "aye, aye, aye" in the background of the verse. He also stopped very abruptly making his portion of the song pretty undesirable to listen to. However, Bun B stepped in to fix things by going hard on this track like he usually does. Bun used some pretty solid lines to bring this song back to an average rating.
Moving along we find the song "Voltage" featuring Mickey Factz and Playboy Tre. All three go in on this track and make it pretty fun and uptempo with a bouncy kind of flow. Finally, we got to "Im Dat N***a"(as a white kid from Munster, not very comfortable with that word haha) which features fellow Grand Hustler T.I.P. At the end of this song, the two both are confident that they each had the better verse over the other, and ask guys like me to "blog about it." So here's what I think. To be completely honest, i find it hard to locate the margin between the quality of these two verses. They are both very solid and pretty similar by basically saying that they are the hottest in the game right now and the scene wouldn't be the same without them. However I am gonna have to give the slight edge to B.o.B. because of his Brian Nichols reference. (For those who don't know he's the guy that broke out of jail and murder his judge, a court reporter, a sheriff's Deputy, and a Federal Agent). "they show me straight to the judge/just like Brian Nichols I ain't spittin' nothin but slugs." For that line I give B.o.B. the win.

BOBBY RAY
Alright, now we arrive at the second half of the mixtape that focuses on Bobby Ray, who is still part rapper, but also add the element of singing and shows his versatility with the instrumentals.

He jumps off by launching us into "Satellite," a fitting name as the synthesizer and other sound effects give us a very spacey feel. This is the first song that we get to hear his vocals which really fit well on the chorus. The song is extremely different from something you'd normally expect from a rapper, but that's exactly why he is not only a rapper, but a true artist. This song was very refreshing and got me excited for the remainder of the tape.
Mr. Ray continues with "Wonderland," a song set up by a very lively drum kit. The juiced up tempo goes nicely with Bobby Ray rhyming about the high stakes and high rewards of taking chances to go for what you really want to do.
The tape is even more diversified when we hear "Mr. Bobby," a very relaxed raggae track that's really easy on the ears.
"Camera" is an interesting track that discusses the path of a girl who is built up to believe that she has a legitimate chance at using her beauty to get her through life. However, the song quickly shows that women often lose sight of their morals end up being degraded and disrespected by themselves and others.
"No Man's Land" is one of my favorite songs on the whole tape. The beat is made up of a great twangy guitar riff with tambourine and clapping in the back. Somehow a beat that sounds like it could be played at a barn dance works perfectly for the song.

So there it is...a quick (sort of, it turned out longer than I thought) review of the B.o.B. vs. Bobby Ray mixtape. Most of the other songs I missed are good too, so don't just skip them because I didnt' talk about them. The only song I really have a problem with is "Trippin'" Its not really bad, its just a little weird for me. But who knows, maybe I should take shrooms and listen to it.

So quickly:
FAVORITE SONGS: "One," "Change Gonna Come," "Voltage," "Satellite," No Man's Land"
LEAST Favorite (But still not garbage): "Fly Like Me," "Trippin'"

To close this thing out, I would just like to say that this mixtape has shot B.o.B. way up in the ranks of the new rapper class. I really have even more respect for him after hearing this collection of music and I cannot wait until his album drops.

Rating: 4.5/5


DOWNLOAD: B.o.B. Vs. Bobby Ray Mixtape