Album: B.O.B, B.O.B Presents The Adventures of Bobby Ray (Atlantic)

B.O.B, aka Bobby Ray Simmons, is the latest breakout star from the prolific Atlanta hip-hop scene, so it's unsurprising that this excellent debut shares similarities of inflection and melodic appeal with OutKast, Cee-Lo Green and Dungeon family.

Like Andre 3000, Simmons sings, raps and plays most of the instruments on the album; and he shares Andre's fancy for a concept, with tracks such as "Don't Let Me Fall" and "I'll Be In The Sky" developing a theme about the schizoid confusion between the real Bobby Ray and the fantasy superstar. Small wonder, then, that Eminem should be among the guest collaborators, which includes Lupe Fiasco, Paramore and most surprisingly, Weezer's Rivers Cuomo on the catchy "Magic".

DOWNLOAD THIS Magic; I'll Be In The Sky; The Kids; Ghost In The Machine; Nothing On You