The Rundown: B.o.B, Underground Luxury
A track-by-track review of the Grand Hustle MC's third LP.
1 / 16
Underground Luxury - Grand Hustle heavyweight B.o.B is "still in this" with his third album, Underground Luxury, a summary of how he's had a taste of the mainstream, but remains rooted — with some help from T.I., Juicy J, Mike WiLL Made It, 2 Chainz, and Future; and a diverse array of topics. Read on for a track-by-track look at the "Strange Clouds" rapper's latest.(Photo: Grand Hustle Records)
2 / 16
"All I Want" - B.o.B kicks off his junior album on the R&B tip with a slow, subtle track. The Atlanta MC makes it clear that his motivation in this rap game is strictly financial. "It's just so many women, it's just so many chains, it's just so many watches, it's just too many things," boasts Bobby Ray. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Playboy)
3 / 16
"One Day" - A lone lounge piano opens up the track, which starts out with B.o.B daydreaming of a day when all his aspirations will come to fruition, while being confronted with the realities of his pre-fame situation. "My uncle say that's how it is where we come from/ And if it ain't for bad luck, then we'd have none/Hard to tell the good days from the bad ones/ And if I could catch a shooting star then I would grab one," B.o.B. recalled. (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
4 / 16
"Paper Route" - B.o.B doesn't hold back on this one, taking shots at the establishment that, as he put it, silenced the Dixie Chicks. He raps, "This the type of talk that'll probably piss off my publicist/ And I ain't even started, the water ain't even bubbling/ The type of talk that'll probably get me in trouble with the law or maybe the government/ Come after me in public." The beat kicks into high gear about a minute in with heavy claps and electric guitar.(Photo: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
5 / 16
"Ready" featuring Future - Booming bass and a catchy hook from B.o.B's friend and fellow ATLien, Future, keep this banger in heavy rotation on radio stations nationwide. The "Same D**n Time" MC keeps it grimy, rapping, "Money on my mind, can't take it off that s**t/ N***a got five different iPhone's only picking up for that grip."(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
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6 / 16
"Throwback" featuring Chris Brown - A plethora of percussion and an overlapping chorus of female chantings paint the canvas for this track, but don't let the title fool you, B.o.B ain't talking about bringing back old-school hip hop on this Chris Brown-assisted club jam. "Go crazy to this, all my b*****s get together, go crazy, and throw that back, throw that back, don't play, b***h throw that back."(Photo: John Ricard / BET)
7 / 16
"Back Me Up" - Slow keys against fast drums give this psychedelic track a unique sound, perfect for B.o.B, who gives props to all the regions, and spits flames to his haters with lines like, "N****s tryna act like Bob ain't go, stop that s**t/ That's $50,000 alpaca, you gotta blot that s**t, fool/ Look at this resumé, can't nobody top that s**t." (Photo: Kristian Dowling/PictureGroup)
8 / 16
"Coastline" - B.o.B shows his versatility on this alternative heater. Offbeat drums complemented by synth and bass come together to cultivate what has become a signature sound for the "Ray Bans" rhymer, who shows that he can hold a few notes in addition to spitting. "Why am I here, in the same club with my back to the wall/ speeding through life just to end up running back to the start?/ Backward and forward and every direction, disaster's in store," he sings.(photo: John Ricard / BET).
9 / 16
"Wide Open" - With only a basic vocal cut, looped properly, and a simple drum pattern, B.o.B pays homage to N.W.A's early hit, "I Ain't Tha 1." "I'm your main b***h top priority/ She talkin' bout she wanna stop at Lawry's/ I'm like we finna go to Hardees/ Hittin' high notes like a gospel artist/ F**k a b***h silly like my c**k retarded," spit B.o.B.(Photo: Jeff Daly/PictureGroup)
10 / 16
"FlyMuthaF***a - With a title like this it would be wrong for B.o.B to not get extra fly for this quasi-acoustic track. "I swear to God I'm always on a hater's mind, don't know why. I guess 'cause I'm a fly muthaf***a," proclaims the Down South lyricist. (Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
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