Steve 'Flash' JuonB.o.B (born Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr.) had already been active on the hip-hop scene for a few years by 2010. He had even scored a fairly successful radio play hit with the song “Haterz Everywhere” back 2007, and continued to keep interest up in his music with mixtapes (a LOT of mixtapes) and cameos with other artists. His name was certainly “bubbling” as they say in the music biz, but he hadn’t quite hit his peak of artistic prowess yet.
2010 changed everything for B.o.B.
The chart topping success of “Airplanes” with Hayley Williams of Paramore and “Nothin’ On You” with Bruno Mars paved the way for B.o.B to be a star. Not just a rising rap star, not just a crossover commercial artist, but a STAR point blank period. B.o.B went from well liked to household name virtually overnight. I don’t think B.o.B has looked back since, but I don’t think he’s had a year as big as 2010 since either. Then again off the strength of those two songs alone he could probably tour and bank royalties for the rest of his lifetime – that’s how big he got in this 12 month span.
1.) B.o.B f/ Hayley Williams – “Airplanes”
2.) Drake – “Over”
3.) Eminem f/ Rihanna – “Love the Way You Lie”
4.) Kanye West – “Power”
5.) Rick Ross f/ Styles P – “B.M.F.”
6.) Nelly – “Just a Dream”
7.) Young Jeezy f/ Plies – “Lose My Mind”
8.) Nicki Minaj – “Your Love”
9.) Ludacris f/ Nicki Minaj – “My Chick Bad”
10.) B.o.B f/ Bruno Mars – “Nothin’ On You”