The last 8 years have been rough. Who knew in 2001 when Bush got elected President that everything in the following years would suffer so much...hip hop included. Ironically '01 was also the year Jay Z released his classic Blueprint album. In the years following the masterpiece Hov dropped, more and more critics have come to claim that hip hop is dead.

Today 2008 has brought new signs of hope. America has been inspired by a new leader of progress while hip hop is witnessing the emergence of a fresh new class of elite MCs. The resurgence of what many believed to be a dying genre has been given a new creative energy that isn't afraid to push the limits of artistry. The names may not yet be familiar to most, but I promise, you will come to know and love the names of Charles Hamilton, B.O.B., Wale, Willie Northpole, Curren$y, Asher Roth and others. Always on top of our game Blazinstreetz.com introduced you to a young MC by the name of Charles Hamilton awhile back before the world caught on. Now let us put you on game again and tell you 'Who the F*CK is B.O.B.

Blazin: What's good homey?

B.O.B: Oh, I'm good man.

Blazin: Well let's get straight into it. You got the new mixtape out "Who the F*CK is B.O.B. What will people learn about B.O.B from listening to this mixtape?

B.O.B: Well my manager B.Rich told me I needed to come out with a mixtape to get people familiar with who B.O.B. is before my album The Adventures of B.O.B. drops. I want people to get familiar with the unknown side of hip hop. The part that few see. I'm showing people me where I stand as a man and as a musician. I'm exposing them to the sincerity in my music.

Blazin: People may not know B.O.B but they are definitely feeling your singles "I'll Be in the Sky" , "Cloud 9", and of course "Haterz". Did you expect this big of a response from those songs ?

B.O.B.: Actually I didn't. Starting with Haterz, it just kinda took off it got a good buzz and everyday it kept getting bigger and bigger. I'm still amazed that its all taken off so fast with so many people, because I still got my points across. I guess its just an example of what hard work can do for you.

Blazin: No doubt. Its hard to place you into any box with in the hip hop genre. Your music touches on a wide range of subjects and you use a variety of sounds and beats. What type of listeners have embraced your style at your shows?

B.O.B.: Yeah, I hear people saying that they can't put my work into any certain box. I think they have a hard time because I ain't the typical rap stereotype of just being about a 808, some bass, big jewelry, dope and shit even though some of that is apart of me. I really embrace all the elements of hip hop. I just like all music.

Blazin: They try to put Atlanta into a box of snap and trap rap. Being from there you actually know that Atlanta has a broad spectrum of artists from Outkast and Gnarls Barkley to TI, from Jeezy and Ludacris to Gucci Mane, OJ the Juiceman, and Yola. How do you feel about the Atlanta rap scene past and present and what impact will B.O.B. have on the future of it?

B.O.B.: Well the past was great. It was built on a great foundation. There has always been great musicians in the south. Past Southern artists have inspired TI, Goodie Mob, and Outkast to become who they are today. Since then Atlanta has grown and changed so their music changed. I think now you get more of what the city has to offer with all its sounds old and new. I want to continue what they started by building a huge following and taking the music beyond limits.

Blazin: Its seems that nowadays young people get a bad rap. Everyone from Oprah and Bill Cosby, even old rappers like Ice T have harsh criticisms. How do you respond to it?

B.O.B.: We're not perfect. No one is perfect. Some songs might not be the most positive but sometimes the industry forces people to compromise. Andre 3000 said on Elevators (Atliens) "I live by the beat like you live check to check, if you don't move your feet then I don't eat..." So while artist may know its not right and wanna keep it all about the art. The business side of music is telling us that this is what sells. Because at the same time we wanna just make our music, we gotta make money while we doing this. So I feel them on that.

Blazin: Hip Hop takes a lot of hits for that. Probably one of the reasons they say hip hop is dying. You along with Willie Northpole, Asher Roth, Charles Hamilton, Wale and the rest have been regarded as the leaders of the new school of rap. Feel any pressure?

B.O.B.: Nope . Actually I feel less pressure. I don't feed into hype because when you do you'll start believing in what's not true. Hype takes away from the power of music. I just stay positive, work hard and let the power of music speak for itself.

Blazin: Well its obvious that this new school is more than just rappers. You yourself also produce, engineer, act, play the guitar, and are a bit of fashionista. What led you to express so much of yourself to the world?

B.O.B.: Well I was at this open mic once and I was looking around trying figure out what makes me different from the rest of the people performing. I mean we trying to get our songs on the radio, we all dress the same, rap the same, and we all dreaming the same. So I decided I didn't want to be like everyone. I figured if I'm going to fail trying to live off music, I'm going to succeed or fail being me. I think people identify with me just being myself as an artist.

Blazin: That's real.

B.O.B.: I feel like the standard of being a true artist is being free to be yourself. To have the freedom to go where you want to go. Freedom in expressing yourself and ideas. With the music that's been out the past couple years, I think people just got tired of seeing everyone trying to be the same thing. Tired of everyone trying to do the same thing in the same way. I guess this new school is showing the change in the music. The change was inevitable. I guess I represent that. We do it all.

Blazin: I guess great change is occurring everywhere, from hip hop to the steps of the White House. What are your feelings about the change Barack Obama is taking to the White House in 2009?

B.O.B.: I mean, I love it man. I think Obama represents a great model for America especially Blacks. But I think we all gotta do our parts. Its a good look for black people but I don't think its gonna make black people change. Like just a couple of days ago someone broke into my car. Which is crazy because we just elected a black president and everybody is suppose to be inspired and want to do something positive. We still out here robbing, killing, and selling drugs like it ain't happen. I think ultimately Blacks will change when we want to change.. I'm happy we got Obama but I hope we don't forget that lots of change is still necessary. Blazin: The model for hip hop is changing. Its moving away away from its dependence on the club and radio play for exposure. The needed exposure now comes from myspace, youtube, and blogsites. How has new media channels helped you build your fan base?

B.O.B.: It definitely has helped. Even though my some of my fans haven't had the chance to see me perform you still wanna reach out to them and let them be apart of the movement. With the internet its possible to connect with them. Where else can you connect with your fans, haters, listeners and everybody else. Hip hop today is more than just radio.

Blazin: You recently have been doing your thing on the Rock the Bells Tour. How has it been performing with legendary hip hop icons like Q-tip, Nas, and Mos Def?

B.O.B. : Its been real cool just being around them man. You know who really impressed me though? Redman and Methodman. Their performance was on point. They had the crowds going crazy. They were jumping into the crowd, people carrying them, its crazy. They showed me I have much more room for improvement in my performance. Its a great experience, I'm getting valuable lessons early in my career. Blazin: 2009 is gonna be huge. JayZ and 50 dropping. Your debut The Adventures of B.O.B. is coming too. What do you want to accomplish with your music in the coming months and years?

B.O.B.: I think my music will be in a field of its own. I think my music goes beyond hip hop. I wanna be compared to more than just Andre 3000, JayZ, or 50. I plan to be in the company of the Coldplays, Outkasts, The Gorillaz, TI's, Kanye's and Nickelbacks of music. I want people to see me as great in music not just hip hop.

Blazin: That's big.

B.O.B: Yeah I want to do a lot. I want to do great music. I want to do some acting in movies. I want to do a lot of things as an artist. I think learning how to act makes you a better performer (in music). It helps your stage presence. The psychology involved in understanding your character requires you to think deeply and use your mind.

Blazin: I guess people are right in comparing you to Andre 3000?

B.O.B.: I guess I agree, a little. I mean I don't mind its just an opinion. I'm just focusing on being B.O.B. and expressing my ideas.

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