Listen Up spotlight: B.o.B.'s 'Strange Clouds"

B.o.B's follow-up to his 2010 debut boasts a guest list that includes Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj. (Credit: By Joseph Cultice)

• Album: Strange Clouds
• Artist: B.o.B
• Release date: May. 1, 2012
• Download: Bombs Away, So Good

B.o.B., Strange Clouds

***½ RAP

On his follow-up to 2010's acclaimed debut, The Adventures of Bobby Ray, the rapper delivers his infectious musings in a variety of sonic flavors. His penchant for radio-friendly genre mash-ups is reflected in a guest list that might overwhelm a lesser artist. Not the charismatic B.o.B. He easily traverses the stylistic breadth between the inspirational Both of Us, with Taylor Swift's gentle chorus, and the quirky Out of My Mind featuring Nicki Minaj's off-kilter verses. Lil' Wayne drops in on the potent title track. Chris Brown and T.I., join him on the celebratory Arena while OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder sings the hook on the rockish Never Let You Go.

— Steve Jones

>> Download:Bombs Away, So Good

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