Not many rappers are found in the LGBT community, with only the work of Cazwell and Grammy-nominated Frank Ocean quickly coming to mind, but it seems like more and more artists are stepping into the usually-homophobic genre to make their presence known.
One artist with enough talent, and the seductive good looks to go along, to make it big is Robert Antonio Zumaya, better known as ROB.B. The 25-year-old Mexican-American raps about everything from relationships, death, partying and drug use on his debut mix tape, Meat. Featuring original material, remixes and covers, the effort showcases a talent for songwriting, production and vocal performance.
The interesting mix tape kicks off with “I’m On One” which quickly showcases ROB.B’s impressive ear for effective verses. The track describes the struggle of making it big in the music industry, from making minimum wage to making the front page of a magazine. The artist’s vocals are to be commended while the opening song is nicely held together by featured guest Solomon’s contribution on the addictive, slightly-explicit chorus. Nice start.
The artist rides solo for “ROB.B Killin’ Em’”, yes I know the song actually has his name in the title, a song that explains just how he is rising to the top of the rap game, leaving all others in the dust. The freestyle clocks in at a little less than three minutes, but still packs a powerful punch. “If God hates fags, I’m the devil in Prada” is a line you can’t help but tip your hat to.
“Y U Mad?” featuring Solomon was the first track I heard from the artist, but thankfully it was not the last. The song is decent in terms of the verses, however, the featured guest does not pull his share of the weight this time around. The hook falls flat and brings the finished product down even though a few clever lines are sprinkled throughout. It is not good, it isn’t bad, just okay.
Many artists assist ROB.B on “Cocky”, a mix bag of verses which surprisingly all come together nicely to create an enjoyable listen. Once again themes of narcissism are played out, a theme I would normally roll my eyes with, but the song is just too good to look past. Stop assuming gay men cannot do exactly what big names such as Drake and Lil Wayne are doing because this is a prime example of greatness.
Frequent collaborator Solomon and Bry’Nt appear on “Drop Ya Jaws”, a high-energy, hip-hop anthem I could hear playing on radio stations today. The artists call out others for flopping with their mixtapes when it is clear ROB.B is slowly rising in the ranks while giving quick references to Madonna, Rihanna and Jay-Z’s “99 Problems”. One of my favorite tracks off the project. The whole thing, from beginning to end, just works for me.
A minute and a half freestyle, “Make You Look”, serves as an interlude if you would. The track is quick and simple, getting the point across without fooling around for too long. Nicely done.
The energy is toned down a bit once “Stay Schemin’” comes around the corner. While the track is pretty good as a whole, there are times when the verses come off sloppy and amateurish. “Son just shine, and pay them no mind” are words everyone should live by, but once the artist repeatedly uses the f-word towards the middle of the song I unfortunately lost my interest. Not the effort’s strongest point.
Was never a fan of Rihanna’s original version of “Cake”, especially the added verse by Chris Brown on the official remix, but ROB.B has honestly made the track dirtier, sexier and more enjoyable for me. With a verse not safe for listening to at work, the artist talks about what exactly he will do in the bedroom with the man he brought home. It even tops what Brown has to offer in the end. I’ll lick the frosting.
ROB.B gives his own interpretation of Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin’ Bout You”, providing new verses directed towards the man of his dreams while retaining Ocean’s seductive and flawless vocals on the chorus. It is nice to see the artist tone down the vulgarity and show a softer side of his usually tough artistic exterior. His vocals compliment Ocean’s well and the finished product sits nicely next to the original.
“U the Boss” is a song I have never been particularly fond of. The original version by Rick Ross featuring the vocals of Nicki Minaj was a “come and go” track which did not leave any positive impression on me as a listener. ROB.B provides some new lines, but in the end the track sounds just as unoriginal and slightly boring as it did when it first came out.
Things take a turn for the better when the artist’s take on Lloyd Banks’ “I Don’t Deserve You” starts to play. The artist’s vocals paired with those of Jeremih are the perfect combination for this track describing the pain of a lost love. The song was a hit in my eyes and ROB.B does not take away from its power. The artist seems to excel when featured on slower pieces such as this.
Featured alongside Solomon and other guests, ROB.B’s “Round and Round Remix” is a nice original display of talent after going through a couple of preceding covers. The artist opens up the track with an impressive verse and the greatness keeps pouring out as Solomon’s performance on the hook shows the talent the pop/rap artist really has. The song is a touching, real confession.
Lily Allen’s vocal sample on “5 O’ Clock” was the best part of the recent T-Pain track and even though ROB.B’s verses are better and worth commending, Allen steals the show once again. This is soon followed by “The Light”, an open letter to his deceased mother that showcases true emotion and strength.
The mix tape officially closes with “Closer to My Dreams”, a track that follows the difficult process of coming to terms with losing a loved one. “Only in my dreams am I closer to you”, the artist sings as the lyrics play like the pages of a journal. ROB.B is letting listeners hear his personal thoughts about the woman who raised him. As a closing song, it shows maturity, love and lyrical talent.
Meat is an impressive debut from an artist who is not afraid to say exactly what is on his mind. It is that bravery that allows him to cover topics, such as gay sex, in rap music and actually succeed. While the covers such as “Cake” and “Thinkin’ Bout You” are the definite highlights, original material like “Drop Ya Jaws” and “Closer to My Dreams” showcase the fact the artist deserves a record deal as soon as possible. The verses found throughout the album from every artist are strong, the words hold meaning and production helps mesh everything together. The mix tape receives an 83%.
Tracks to Hear: “Cocky”, “Drop Ya Jaws”, “Cake” and “Thinkin’ Bout You”
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