B.o.B
A genre-blending rapper and producer who shot to stardom with chart-topping pop-rap hybrids before courting controversy with unconventional views.
Born 1988 (age 38)·American rapper·Birthday: November 15·Millennials
Biography
Hailing from Decatur, Georgia, Bobby Ray Simmons Jr., known as B.o.B, emerged as a prodigious talent, producing his own beats and rapping with a melodic, accessible flow. Signing to T.I.'s Grand Hustle label, he exploded onto the scene in 2010 with the Bruno Mars-assisted 'Nothin' on You,' a smooth, heartfelt hit that topped the Billboard Hot 100. He quickly followed with the anthemic 'Airplanes' featuring Hayley Williams, proving his knack for crafting crossover smashes. His debut album, 'B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray,' showcased his eclectic vision, blending hip-hop, rock, and pop. However, his later career became increasingly defined by his public embrace of flat-Earth conspiracy theories and polemical music, which alienated much of his mainstream audience. His journey reflects the modern trajectory of a digital-age artist, from viral sensation to provocative figure operating outside the industry mainstream.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
B.o.B was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When B.o.B Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
B.o.B's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His debut single "Nothin' on You" (feat. Bruno Mars) reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 2010.
- The single "Airplanes" (feat. Hayley Williams) also peaked at number two on the Hot 100, giving him two massive simultaneous hits.
- His debut studio album 'The Adventures of Bobby Ray' debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
- Received three Grammy Award nominations in 2011, including Best Rap Song for "Nothin' on You."
Did You Know?
He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays piano, guitar, trumpet, and French horn.
He released a series of mixtapes under the alias 'Bobby Ray' before his major-label debut.
He collaborated with Taylor Swift on the song "Both of Us" from her 2012 album 'Red.'
He independently released an album titled 'The Upside Down' in 2022.
““I'm not a flat-Earther. I'm a 'see for yourself'-er.””
