Hobart and William Smith Colleges

15 January 2015 B.o.B Concert Kicks off Spring Semester

Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist B.o.B will perform for the HWS community at the Bristol Field House on Saturday, Jan. 24.

In the past five years, B.o.B has released three albums, had four Top 10 hits, and collaborated with some of the biggest names in pop, including T.I., Taylor Swift, Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, Andre 3000, Nelly, Eminem, and others.

HWS student performers Rotimi Adeoye 18, also known as Rotimi A, and Kathleen Fowkes 18 will open for B.o.B.

A hip-hop artist hailing from Philadelphia, Penn., Rotimi A is known for his unique style and lyrical content, often mentioning his hometown and his Nigerian heritage. Inspired at age 13 after seeing the music video for Jay-ZsShow Me What You Got, he soon after developed a small but stable YouTube fan-base and, in 2012, released his first experimental project, Sincerely Yours, to high praise from independent hip-hop blogs and local Philadelphia radio stations.

This lead to Rotimi A, in 2013, releasing his first official mixtape, Dreamville, with features fromproducers Reefa (The Game, Fabolous, Rick Ross, French Montana), August Rigo (Justin Bieber, Musiq Soulchild), and new hip-hop/funk producer SANGO. Then later in 2013, Rotimi A released the mixtapeLIVING (a collaboration with Philadelphia artist Tucash) withBeyonces full-time engineer, Jordan DJ Swivel Youngmixing vocals.

Rotimi A says he is excited to bring his own eclecticsound to the Hobart and William Smith Colleges stage alongside classmate Kathleen Fowkes and B.o.B.

During the 2014 Orientation Variety Show, Fowkes performed for a completely full Smith Opera House audience the only first-year to do so. With only 24 hours of prep time, she received a standing ovation and gave an encore performance. She is now member of Perfect Third a cappella group.

I am so grateful to be opening for B.o.B, says Fowkes, who plans to focus her studies in theatre, French and another as of yet undecided discipline. In just one semester, HWS has already given me so many wonderful opportunities and I am nothing short of overwhelmed by just how wonderful these opportunities are. I so look forward to the next three and a half years, and I want to thank everyone who has helped me get to where I am today.

Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for HWS students and $15 for HWS guests.

This event is sponsored by the Concert Advisory Committee and the Campus Activities Board.