so i recently got the chance to sit down with b.o.b., who has been named one of XXL’s freshman (along with wale, chuck ham, asher, etc) and has one of the most anticipated albums for 2009. he’s been on the rise as of late, using the steam from his most recent single, “i’ll be in the sky,” which is quite a hot track. he’s signed to t.i.’s grand hustle, so there’s no way that could hurt.

if you haven’t already, head over to bob’s myspace and download the rest of his mixtapes.

download his most recent mixtape, who the fuck is bob:

hit the interview after the jump.

-grizzly

Roshan Bhatt, weworemasks: First, what does B.o.B. stand for?

B.o.B.: B.o.B. stands for — me just blasting outta barriers, putting brains over bullets and battling our brothers. And in the meanwhile, I’m staying in a bubble of bliss, because you know, there’s a lot of hate out there. This is the year of Barack Obama, and everyone is ecstatic over Barack over Bush, and in the meantime I’m just celebrating by burning on blunts. I actually don’t smoke anymore, but it’s mainly just the celebration factor. B.o.B. is many many different acronyms and they’re always changing. They just come to me as I go through life, cause I catch a new meaning. I just add them up in my mental rolodex of B.o.Bs.

WWM: How would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard of you, and why do you feel people should listen to your music?

B.o.B.: I don’t feel like people should listen to me in terms of right and wrong, but the ideas, point and message and what I do with my music, they’re gonna run into it either way. The awareness is really spreading in music and culture, period. I feel like my music is free and liberal because I live that way. My parents are really religious and we kinda disagree on certain things, but my music speaks for that generation of people who grew up in that society; A society where people have felt constricted by ideas that they didn’t even necessarily believe in, but because of the rigidness in society they had to live by for years. Now, I feel like I’m the pioneer and the one giving the torch that will help people express themselves freely. I think it’s safe to say a large part of this new fresh generation is just anxious and itchin’ to be free, and that’s what I’m trying to do. At the same time, I’m trying not to get caught up in any type of cause, like I’m for this or against this, or vote for this. It’s not about republican or democrat, but I’m just really just liberal, but not opposed to whatever the opposite of liberal is, just freedom.

WWM: How’s the new album coming along? Is it almost finished?

B.o.B.: The new album – I’m really trying to get it to where it’s obvious to me that it’s an album, and it’s not obvious to me yet. I feel like I have excellent songs, like the songs I’ve been putting out. They’ve been consistent and surpassing my expectations, but I want it to be a movie. I want people to put it in and want their world to become Widescreen when they’re listening to the album. You hear Morgan Freeman come on and narrate it as you put the CD in your CD player, when B.o.B. comes on. I want it to be cinematic.

WWM: Do we have a release date for the album yet?

B.o.B.: Um, well you know there isn’t an actual official date, but we are aiming for late spring or early summer in April or May. We’re really just trying to keep the wheels moving through word of mouth and expectations, and then let the label follow up and release the album.

WWM: How was it working with T.I. and Grand Hustle Entertainment?

B.o.B.: Working with T.I. and Grand Hustle is fun. People at GH keep a light, funny spirit. We recently had a lockdown in the studio for a week from 12-12, just recording. We got a lot of stuff done. It’s really a family. Grand Hustle, as a family is really on their business.

WWM: You meddle with a lot of different genres, from pop to soul to electro, and even incorporate cello in your music. Will we continue to hear that experimental side of hip-hop in your music?

B.o.B.: I’m gonna be as experimental as I can possibly be. It’s not so much I’m being experimental just to be different, I do it because it’s my passion and I’m inspired to see and do as I wish and feel

WWM: Who are some of your favorite artists currently? Anybody you’d like to collaborate or work with?

B.o.B.: I’d really like to work with Santogold, or M.I.A. I wanna go international with it!

WWM: I’m from Houston, and I noticed you’re playing a few shows at South by Southwest this year. Is this your first time on the tour? When are you playing?

B.o.B.: No it’s my second, and I’m coming back because I freakin’ loved it. I have the dates, but not the venues, but I’ll be down there March 18 through the 21st.

WWM: Word, it’ll definitely be a good time. That’s pretty much it, though. You have any words of advice for aspiring rappers or just musicians in general?

B.o.B.: I’m gonna say this with the utmost sincerity, even though it may sound corny cheesy or elementary, but please just be yourself. Please do not be afraid to say what the fuck you want to say. Please say what’s on your mind. When you live, just think, speak and act friendly. Whatever you choose to be, make sure you’re confident, because if you’re not, it’ll show and you’ll just look silly.