Photo by: BoBAtl.com

B.o.B’s debut album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray, combines unusual instrumentals and beats not found in the typical rap album. Plus, the choruses aren’t just catchy, they are mind-blowing and carry hidden messages.

B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray is loaded with star power featuring artists like Bruno Mars, Lupe Fiasco, Paramore’s lead singer Hayley Williams, T.I., Weezer’s lead singer Rivers Cuomo and Eminem.

The album also surprises with the unexpected use of a piano and tambourine that help fuse rap and rock–B.o.B brings the rap, while Rivers Cuomo adds the rock. On “Magic,” Cuomo contributes that well-known Weezer sound to a track that stands apart from the others.

“Magic” has a steady beat led by guitar and carries a soft tone throughout.

The guitar riffs carry this song, and the strong chorus makes it easy for you to get hooked.

Another standout track is “Airplanes” where Hayley Williams sings: “Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?”

“Airplanes” has the potential to be B.o.B’s next No.1 hit, with its dueling B.o.B rap and Williams’ knockout vocal.

B.o.B had more to say on “Airplanes,” so he ends B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray with “Airplanes, Part II” featuring Williams and Eminem. Eminem brings his usual slice of the difficulties of growing up with his painful lyrics.

The best track though comes in his No. 1 song “Nothin’ on You,” featuring Bruno Mars. This song combines B.o.B’s craft of rapping with Mars’ soft tone and the steady sound of the soothing piano.

The only problems with this album are in tracks 10 and 11 where the beats are inconsistent and the lyrics lack creativity. These two songs affect the enjoyment of the rest of the album. “5th Dimension,” features Ricco Barin whose voice and delivery are mediocre and do not complement the other tracks.