Feature Mixtape Review: B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray

Categorized | Downloads

Posted on 25 June 2009.

Artist: B.o.B. aka Bobby Ray
Mixtape: B.o.B. vs Bobby Ray (DJ Green Lantern & Don Cannon)

Like his boss T.I. (or is it T.I.P), B.o.B. has somewhat of a split personality. On B.o.B. vs Bobby Ray, he exhibits the two very different styles to create one extremely eclectic mixtape.

When B.o.B. mentioned his government name on “Generation Lost” (B.o.B was the name/ I ain’t like Bobby Ray ’cause I was ashamed) and then changed his name back, nobody lost much sleep over it. The split personality thing has been played out since Cassidy’s first album, so it’s hard to see the point in it.

But, when you compare one half of the mixtape to the other, it’s like comparing Speakerboxxx to The Love Below. Granted, Bobby gets compared to Andre 3000 enough, but that’s what it’s like, two totally different projects that seem to come from the same place.

When he’s B.o.B., the goal is to outshine any and everybody he gets on the song with. The scary part is that he does, save for features by Killer Mike and South OG Bun B. Also, B.o.B. relinquishes most production duties to Fury, which makes for a nice cohesive feel supported by good chemistry. Basically, he’s the rapper.

Bobby Ray is the artist.

He produces most of the songs from track 12 and on while avoiding guest emcees, so the music is almost entirely his vision. It’s not easy to describe either. “Satellite” sounds like a reggae party on one of Saturn’s rings. Without the rap verses, “Wonderland” is a Top 40 pop dance song. “No Mans Land” is like three quarters Blues and one quarter Enya. Yeah, pretty serious. Whatever it is, if you keep an open mind, it bumps.

Almost one year after XXL printed their Freshmen issue, a lot of the emcees have come under fire for one reason or another. It’s good to see that B.o.B. hasn’t fell off and has only continued to grow. Hopefully, by the time his album drops, he will have found the perfect balance between B.o.B. and Bobby Ray.

download link : http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/31t4hb

tracklisting:

01. B.o.B – Intro
02. B.o.B – Patron & Swag Freestyle
03. B.o.B – One (feat. Big Kuntry & Mac Boney) (Produced by Fury)
04. B.o.B – My Sweet Baby (Produced by Fury)
05. B.o.B – Change Gonna Come (feat. Asher Roth & Charles Hamilton) (Produced by Fury)
06. B.o.B – Do You Have The Stamina (feat. Kanye West) (Produced by B.o.B)
07. B.o.B – I Am The Man (feat. OJ Da Juiceman & Bun B) (Produced by Fury)
08. B.o.B – Say What You Want (feat. Playboy Tre & Killer Mike) (Produced by Fury)
09. B.o.B – Voltage (feat. Playboy Tre & Mickey Factz) (Produced by B.o.B)
10. B.o.B – I’m That Nigga (feat. T.I.) (Produced by Fury)
11. B.o.B – Fly Like Me (Produced by Red Spyda)
12. Bobby Ray – Intermission
13. Bobby Ray – Satellite (Produced by Bobby Ray)
14. Bobby Ray – Wonderland (Produced by Bobby Ray & Eastsiders)
15. Bobby Ray – Mr. Bobby (Produced by Bobby Ray)
16. Bobby Ray – Trippin’ (Produced by Bobby Ray)
17. Bobby Ray – Goodnite (Produced by Bobby Ray)
18. Bobby Ray – Camera (Produced by Big Toombs)
19. Bobby Ray – No Mans Land (Produced by Bobby Ray)
20. Bobby Ray – Put Me On (Produced by Bobby Ray)
21. Bobby Ray – Already There (Produced by Bobby Ray)
22. B.o.B & Bobby Ray – Outro