B.o.B, born Bobby Ray Simmons, took his moniker from a song by the hip-hop group Outkast, who was one of his biggest musical influences growing up. Despite the disapproval of his father, who was a preacher and disliked hip-hop music, Simmons began teaching himself the keyboard and absorbing all the Southern rap he could in Atlanta, his hometown. By age 22, Simmons had three number one US and UK Billboard hits and was named iTunes "Best New Artist" of 2010.
