Nov. 15: Rapper and record producer B.o.B. (Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr.)"Airplane" is 22 today.

B.o.B. is an American rapper and record producer. His debut single "Nothin' on You," featuring Bruno Mars, reached number one in both the U.S. and U.K.

Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr. also known by his stage name B.o.B., "Airplanes," B.o.B's second single also topped the charts in the U.K. and number two in the U.S. The song features guest vocalist Hayley Williams from Paramore along with Eminem.

His third single, "Magic," became B.o.B's third consecutive top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. His debut album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray, was released in April 2010. It includes performces by Lupe Fiasco, T.I., Playboy Tre, Hayley Williams, Rivers Cuomo (of Weezer), Rico Barrino, Janelle Monáe, Bruno Mars, and Eminem.

B.o.B was named the ninth Hottest MC in the Game by MTV of 2010. He was nominated for Favorite Breakout Artist in the 2010 "People's Choice Awards," and "Airplane" as best song.

(Continued below video and Amazon portals ...)

(Press album cover for direct link to the entire Amazon Website):

 

B.o.B. was born in  Winston-Salem, North Carolina but moved to Decatur, Georgia when he was an infant. In elementary school through high school, he played the trumpet in his school band. Although his parents wanted him to continue his education, Simmons decided in sixth grade that he wanted to pursue a musical career.

His father, a pastor, at first disapproved of his son's direction in life, until he recognized it was a positive creative outlet for him. To encourage him, they bought Bobby a keyboard.  As a teenager, Simmons was greatly influenced by Atlanta hip-hop, and chose his stage name B.o.B as a tribute to the Outkast song "B.O.B" ("Bombs Over Baghdad.") B.o.B has described his influences as "80's music, rap, techno, rock, funk, even doo-wop...."

B.o.B's talents first began to be recognized in 2007. An underground single, "Haterz Everywhere," featuring Wes Fif, gained the rapper recognition and peaked at #5 on the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles. The next year, the single, "I'll Be In the Sky," reached #115.

The same year, he appeared on the cover of XXL magazine along with Asher Roth, Charles Hamilton, and Wale as "Hip-Hop's Class of '09." In October 2008, B.o.B was featured on the cover of Vibe and was similarly identified as a promising young talent.

B.o.B has also worked with artists such as British rapper Giggs. Along with his solo producing career, B.o.B is part of a production/rap group called HamSquad, along with Playboy Tre, TJ Chapman, and B. Rich.

B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray was certified Gold by the RIAA on December 16, 2010. B.o.B was named "Best New Artist" by iTunes 2010 Rewind Chart. His song "Champion" from his mixtape was chosen as the ESPN Bowl Week theme.

####