B.o.B. Interview [9:14m]: 
Questions by Elizabeth Brooks
Interview by Ariella Weintraub
Slope Media caught up backstage with chart-topping rapper, singer, and songwriter, B.o.B. before his performance at Cornell during Homecoming weekend. Listen to what what he had to say about the music industry, his climb to the top, and his pre-show rituals. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, fresh haircuts before shows are often a must – even if it’s 5 minutes before show time…and during an interview. You’re tuning in when Slope had just asked B.o.B. about how his career got started.
B.o.B.: I got signed at seventeen out of high school and from there I’ve just been putting out mix tapes and really, really like a lot of, a lot of my following was built on line, through like, you know I started out on MySpace. And like, and so from there, it’s really been like, I remember like the first mix tape I did. I was handing out my mix tapes in Florida during the Super bowl, and the Super bowl was in Miami. Who, who was playing then? You know who that was? And so uh, I just remember like nobody knowing who I was, just passing out mix tapes on the street. You know, they’re walking down the street and seeing it on the ground, picking it back up, passing it back out again. You know that whole thing so. You know it’s really just; it’s really just persistence. You know what I mean, everybody. You have the same tools to begin with, to start out with.
Slope: But you need tough skin to keep going.
B.o.B.: Yea, even when I was in high school, you know, just got to stick with it.
Slope: Just gotta keep going
B.o.B.: Stiff upper lip, stiff upper lip
The Sun: How was it debuting at number one? I mean what was that like?
B.o.B.: Honestly that was like the moment where I felt like, the moment where I felt like out of all the moments in my career, the moment where it really started to feel like a dream you know what I mean? And when I say dream I mean like literally like, before you wake up in your dream and it starts to get real crazy and you’re like, this has got to be a dream. It kind of felt like that you know. I never expected it. It kind of showed me. I guess I feel like I was off the radar I guess? I don’t know, you know. I’m the type of person where I never really. I think of myself as the underdog all the time, so.
The Sun: Did you ever imagine debuting at number one or was it just a complete surprise?
B.o.B.: Definitely a surprise, it’s all about the team you have. You know I think a lot of artists they try to do everything themselves you know you gotta understand that it takes a team to do something like debut number one. Granted it’s the music but you know you got to spread the awareness about the music and build it right to where everything happens appropriately, or the best way that it can happen.
Slope: My next question is, you’re playing at Cornell and we all kind of have this allegiance to the song Airplanes because the people who wrote the chorus were Cornell alumni
B.o.B.: Oh wow
Slope: Are you excited to sing that song tonight?
B.o.B.: Oh definitely. It kind of feels like I’m in an airport hanger
Slope: It actually is because this is a military base; they used to hold airplanes here.
The Sun: There have been a lot of great concerts here, really really great concerts here. Grateful dead played here a bunch of times, yea in ’77. ZZ top opened for them.
B.o.B.: ZZ pops?
The Sun: ZZ tops
B.o.B.: That’s cool
Slope: And what would you say you were trying to achieve with your music. Do you have any overarching goals? Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
B.o.B.: Well I definitely, performing is just ridiculous, so I definitely think I’ll definitely still be performing. Probably getting more, getting my hands dirty in a lot more entertainment. Like different aspects of it like fashion entertainment, music and you know there are so many things you can do. The worlds between like sports and video games and music and fashion and art are so integrated now, you know that there is no telling.
The Sun: Speaking of which, you’re in a comic strip now for A.K.O.O. clothing?
B.o.B.: A.K.O.O.
The Sun: A.K.O.O.
B.o.B.: A King of Oneself. A.K.O.O. And uh I’m sorry go ahead
The Sun: And you’re fighting with like a whack fashion. What’s it like to be in a comic strip?
B.o.B.: Haha. It’s like uh, haha. Apparently I’m like knocking down all the buildings that are where all the whack fashion comes from, haha. I felt very heroic.
Slope: If you could change one thing about the music industry today, what would it be?
B.o.B.: You know I wouldn’t really change anything. I feel like, I feel like everything has its place. I feel like, I feel like any complaint could simply be solved by turning off whatever you’re listening to.
Slope: That’s true.
B.o.B.: But you know what, I also say, if you feel like something could be better, then make it.
Slope: Be the change you wish to see.
B.o.B.: Yes, make the change (high-fives)
Slope: Ghandi said that. I wish I were that smart.
B.o.B.: Hahahaha
The Sun: What’s the coolest place you’ve been or performed? So far?
B.o.B.: Cornell University
Slope: Hahahahah. You’re just flattering us. My last question is do you have any pre-show routine. Do you have like a pre-show ritual? Like maybe getting a fresh cut.
B.o.B.: Hahahaha. [As he is getting his haircut] I think getting a fresh cut is definitely one of them. Probably because I go, I just get so beastly before the show. I get so scruffy. But really man, we just hang out, say a prayer before we go on stage. Pretty much just leave it up to the crowd to give us the engine.
The Sun: and hopefully the crowd…
B.o.B.: Which I’m pretty sure they will.
