B.o.B. @ BILLBOARD 21.07.10

(Photography: Chauntelle Roelandts)

Originally posted at http://itsofficial.com.au/

OK, so even though it’s a B.o.B review, massive props go out to local support Diafrix.

MCs Momo and Azmarino combine quality lines with quality delivery.

Azmarino transitions between gruff growl, high-pitched rhyme and gospel song; but it’s the energy, humour and kinship between the lads that makes the Diafrix performance bloody brilliant.

Acts like this are responsible for the rapid growth in the Aussie hip-hop fan base; they’re bringing world-class music to our local venues. My tip: see them while you can, ‘cause soon the internationals will come looking for the boys whose shit is ‘too hot to handle’.

And onto our main man... Atlanta’s B.o.B

He’s 19 and people are making a pretty big deal about it.

For me there’s 2 ways this can go: you’re either using your age as a gimmick (aka. Lil Bow Wow - shudder) or you better prove yourself.

Because call me a cranky old c@#t, but when I’m presented with a teenager my first thought is “and what the fuck do you think you have to offer”?

B.o.B replied with “a shit load”; consisting of booty dancers, backup vocals, bass, guitar, drums, keys, DJ/hype man; plus appearances by Playboy Tre and TJ’s DJ’s founder cum photographer, TJ Chapman.

Hit

The crowd went nuts for hip-hop tracks Haterz Everywhere, Fame and Nothing on You and here’s why: B.o.B put so much effort into his band that it sounded like a studio recording. We witnessed the onstage energy missing from the album without sacrificing a single element of the songs we love.

Don’t Let Me Fall showed B.o.B’s rhythmical skills and quality rhyming. He’s nailed rap at 19 and like the Good Will Hunting of hip-hop he’s bored and branching out... the boy sings, he strums his electric acoustic, he does a pop synth cover of MGMT’s Kids, he does the vulnerable moment on keys; and most of the time he pulls it off....

Miss

An electric-acoustic war song about a returned solider who’s wife has remarried.

Sing from experience or FAIL.

B.o.B was confident, he was warm, he literally jumped into the crowd, and he had a dance.

He’s got heaps to offer right now; and his potential for the future... well you can take it from the man himself:
“I’ll be in the sky”... I tend to agree with him.