About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

The third time around B.o.B., aka Bobby Ray, proves that he has both a tremendous gift at combining pop and hip hop, and he can range across multiple styles with astonishing ease. The two previous huge chart hits "Nothin' On You" and "Airplanes" effortlessly combined strong raps with a memorable hip hop chorus, but those two as well as "Magic" are all significantly distinct in overall musical style.

Rivers Cuomo, leader of Weezer, is the guest for "Magic," and he brings his power pop background at its high-spirited best.

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Pros

• Perfect blend of power pop and hip hop
• Supremely confident lyrics
• Zippy charm

Cons

• Lacks any sense of weightiness

Description

• Written by Bobby Simmons and Rivers Cuomo
• Produced by Dr. Luke
• Released July 2010 by Atlantic Records

Guide Review - B.o.B. - "Magic" featuring Rivers Cuomo

The confidence in "Magic" could give Kanye West a run for his money in self-promotion. However, as with Kanye, B.o.B. has proven over three singles that he really has the goods. Here, synth and drum machine backing kicks off a power pop and rap blend that is a true gem on the current pop charts. Rivers Cuomo, leader of Weezer, is the guest here. He brings his unmistakable vocal style, but, as with Hayley Williams of Paramore on "Airplanes," the song "Magic" is distinct enough to show this clearly isn't a Weezer tune.

"Magic," with all of its lyrical boasting, has a delightfully light touch.

Judging by his chart success, B.o.B. really does have, "the magic in me." Often his vocal stylings are compared to those of Outkast's Andre 3000, and his raps here seem a dead ringer at times. However, if you were picking a pop-oriented rapper to emulate, Andre 3000 is a very good choice indeed. Some credit for the catchiness of "Magic" must be given to producer Dr. Luke as well who, with Ke$ha, Katy Perry, and Taio Cruz projects, is having a very hot 2010.

B.o.B. is clearly in the running to rank as the top new pop artist for 2010. He already has a #1 and #2 pop hit to his credit, and "Magic" could clearly go top 10. Pop and hip hop blends are back in full force for 2010 with B.o.B. leading the charge. He clearly does have the "Magic."