B.o.B
Biography
Bobby Ray Simmons Jr., known professionally as B.o.B, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer born on November 15, 1988, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Raised in Decatur, Georgia, he played the trumpet in his school band from a young age. He decided to pursue a music career in the sixth grade and dropped out of high school in the ninth grade after landing a record deal. In 2006, he was signed to Jim Jonsin's Rebel Rock Entertainment record label. Two years later, he signed a joint deal with Atlantic Records and T.I.'s Grand Hustle Records.
Career Breakthrough
B.o.B rose to prominence with his debut single "Nothin' on You" featuring Bruno Mars, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2010. This success was followed by other hit singles, "Airplanes," featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore, and "Magic," featuring Rivers Cuomo of Weezer. These songs appeared on his debut album, "B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray" (2010), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album was praised for its blend of alternative hip hop, pop rap, and rock, and it eventually went multi-platinum.
Subsequent Albums and Musical Style
His second album, "Strange Clouds" (2012), also performed well, debuting at number five on the Billboard 200. It featured the top-ten single of the same name with Lil Wayne, along with other successful singles like "So Good" and "Both of Us" featuring Taylor Swift. His third album, "Underground Luxury" (2013), included the platinum-certified singles "We Still in This Bitch" and "HeadBand". Throughout his career, B.o.B has been known for his versatile style, often blending different genres. After parting ways with Atlantic Records, he started his own independent label called No Genre.
Later Career and Other Ventures
B.o.B has continued to release music independently through his No Genre label, including albums like "Ether" (2017), "Southmatic" (2019), and "Somnia" (2020). He has collaborated with a wide range of artists across different genres throughout his career. B.o.B has also been a subject of media attention for his belief that the Earth is flat.
Awards and Nominations
B.o.B's work has been recognized with numerous award nominations. His single "Nothin' on You" was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year. His debut album also received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. He has also been nominated for BET Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards.