Elements is a compilation album by American rapper B.o.B, released on November 4, 2016, by his independent label No Genre. It is composed of his 2015 and 2016 conscious mixtapes WATER, FIRE, EARTH and AIR, where he comments on society, politics and conspiracy theories.[1][2] The compilation was released as a prelude to his fourth album and the fifth installment in the Elements series, Ether.
| Elements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | November 4, 2016 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 158:31 | |||
| Label | ||||
| B.o.B chronology | ||||
| ||||
On October 21, 2021 the compilation was re-released in a vinyl version.[3]
Charts
edit| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[4] | 10 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5] | 18 |
| US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[6] | 10 |
WATER
edit| WATER | |
|---|---|
| Mixtape by | |
| Released | December 4, 2015 |
| Recorded | 2015 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 35:59 |
| Label | No Genre |
| Producer | B.o.B |
WATER (We Are The Enemy Really) is a mixtape by American recording artist B.o.B. The project was produced entirely by B.o.B himself,[7] and released on December 4, 2015, by No Genre.[8] The tracks "Cold Bwoy (Freestyle)", "Purple Mountain" and "Blank Mafia" from the mixtape were released with their music videos.[9][10]
Music and lyrics
editIn the mixtape the rapper raps mainly over trap productions, and lyrics about corruption and dangers of the government.
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Born to Die" | 3:28 |
| 2. | "Cold Bwoy (Freestyle)" | 3:34 |
| 3. | "The Crazies!!!" | 4:10 |
| 4. | "Blank Mafia" | 3:39 |
| 5. | "Uncomfortable" | 3:32 |
| 6. | "Hurt" | 3:56 |
| 7. | "Behind Ya Back / Purple Mountain" | 5:36 |
| 8. | "Cut Throat" | 8:00 |
| Total length: | 35:59 | |
FIRE
edit| FIRE | |
|---|---|
| Mixtape by | |
| Released | January 18, 2016 |
| Recorded | 2015–16 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 37:35 |
| Label | No Genre |
| Producer | B.o.B |
FIRE (False Idols Ruin Egos) is a mixtape by American recording artist B.o.B. The project was produced entirely by B.o.B himself, and released on January 18, 2016, by No Genre.[11]
The tracks "Bend Over", "Excuse Me" and "Summers Day" from the mixtape were released with their music videos.[12][13][14]
Music and lyrics
editThe mixtape has productions with various influences of funk, jazz, soul and electronic, and opens with news and other audio clips about drug deaths and other tragic occurrences, hinting that the emcee wants to get to the bottom of what’s happening to hip hop and politics. Throughout the tape, B.o.B. seems disillusioned with the state of hip hop.[15]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bend Over" | 4:58 |
| 2. | "Excuse Me" | 2:53 |
| 3. | "Mr. Mister" | 3:04 |
| 4. | "Summers Day" | 3:45 |
| 5. | "False Flag" | 4:03 |
| 6. | "King Tut" | 3:02 |
| 7. | "Lights Out" | 3:40 |
| 8. | "Shhh" | 3:10 |
| 9. | "Action News" | 9:00 |
| Total length: | 37:35 | |
EARTH
edit| EARTH | |
|---|---|
| Mixtape by | |
| Released | April 22, 2016 |
| Recorded | 2016 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 44:40 |
| Label | No Genre |
| Producer | B.o.B |
EARTH (Educational Avatar Reality Training Habitat) is a mixtape by American recording artist B.o.B. The project was produced entirely by B.o.B himself, and was released on April 22, 2016, on Earth Day, by No Genre.[16]
The tracks "Earthquake" and "$tacks of Dreams" from the mixtape were released with their music videos.[17][18]
Music and lyrics
editThe main themes of the mixtape are B.o.B's belief that the earth is flat and conspiracy theories. The mixtape contains samples of speeches by scientists, pundits, conspiracy theorists, and Barack Obama, and spans also controversial topics like astral projection and cloning.[19]
The track "Flatline Pt.2" is an extended and revisited version of his song "Flatline", released on his SoundCloud account in January 2016.[20]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Under the Dome" | 5:08 |
| 2. | "$tacks of Dreams" | 3:11 |
| 3. | "Fck' Science Bro" | 4:00 |
| 4. | "Dumb" | 3:53 |
| 5. | "H.A.A.R.P Music" | 3:17 |
| 6. | "PoW WoW" | 3:36 |
| 7. | "Break the Rules" | 3:15 |
| 8. | "They Live" | 3:00 |
| 9. | "Earthquake" | 5:20 |
| 10. | "Flatline Pt.2" | 10:00 |
| Total length: | 44:40 | |
AIR
edit| AIR | |
|---|---|
| Mixtape by | |
| Released | August 29, 2016 |
| Recorded | 2016 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 44:17 |
| Label | No Genre |
| Producer | B.o.B |
AIR (Art Imitates Reality) is a mixtape by American recording artist B.o.B. The project is entirely self-produced, and it was released on August 29, 2016, by No Genre.[21][22]
The tracks "Escape", "War Witch" and "Air Bender" from the mixtape were released with their music videos.[23][24][25]
Music and lyrics
editThe mixtape is based on gospel-esque productions influenced by trap, and lyrics where the rapper talks about the ruling class and their propaganda and illicit yet obvious institutions.
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fingerprint" | 3:06 |
| 2. | "Air Bender" | 2:54 |
| 3. | "Negative Space" | 3:10 |
| 4. | "Mercy Me" | 4:25 |
| 5. | "Masters of War" | 2:25 |
| 6. | "Yung'n" | 4:34 |
| 7. | "Bobby Neutron" | 3:09 |
| 8. | "Stanley Kubrick" | 3:36 |
| 9. | "War Witch" | 3:27 |
| 10. | "Vultures" | 2:31 |
| 11. | "Escape" | 11:00 |
| Total length: | 44:17 | |
References
edit- ^ "Stream B.o.B Mixtapes | Listen to Elements playlist online for free on SoundCloud".
- ^ "Elements by B.o.B on Apple Music".
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: B.o.B Elements NOW AVAILABLE on Vinyl. YouTube.
- ^ "B.o.B Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
- ^ "B.o.B Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
- ^ "B.o.B Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
- ^ "New Mixtape: B.o.B – 'WATER' | HipHop-N-More". HipHop-N-More. 2015-12-05. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ B.o.B - WATER | Download & Listen [New Mixtape], retrieved 2017-04-20
- ^ "B.o.B "Blank Mafia" Video [New Video]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ "B.o.B "Cold Bwoy" Video [New Video]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ "B.o.B Announces New Mixtape "FIRE"; Dropping In Two Days". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ "B.o.B "Bend Over" Video [New Video]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ "B.o.B "Excuse Me" Video [New Video]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ "B.o.B "Summers Day" Video [New Video]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ B.o.B - FIRE (False Idols Ruin Egos) | Download & Listen [New Mixtape], retrieved 2017-04-20
- ^ B.o.B - EARTH | Download & Listen [New Mixtape], retrieved 2017-04-20
- ^ "B.o.B "EARTHQUAKE" Video [New Video]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ "B.o.B "Summers Day" Video [New Video]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ "B.o.B, Flat Earth Truther, Releases E.A.R.T.H. Mixtape on Earth Day | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ "B.o.B "E.A.R.T.H." Mixtape Stream, Cover Art, Tracklist & Download". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ B.o.B - AIR (Art Imitates Reality) | Download & Listen [New Mixtape], retrieved 2017-04-20
- ^ "B.o.B. Releases New 'A.I.R.' Mixtape - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ "B.o.B "Escape" Video [New Video]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ "Video: B.o.B – 'War Witch'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
- ^ "B.o.B "Air Bender" Video [New Video]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2017-04-20.