B.o.B. to headline Lawnparties?

Lawnparties may not be for another two months, but it looks like at least one major artist may have already been confirmed for the event. On his official website and MySpace page, rapper B.o.B. lists that he will perform at the University on Sunday, Sept. 19, the weekend of Lawnparties.

His first album, “B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray,” was released in April, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. “Nothin' on You,” the album's first single, reached No. 1 after being released in February and has since gone double platinum. Its second single, “Airplanes,” peaked at No. 2, and the album has sold more than 300,000 copies since its release. Both songs have become national sensations - and if you don't recognize the names, look them up on Youtube (here and here). You've probably heard them.

We're working on getting the USG to confirm the concert, but given B.o.B.'s current popularity, it's likely he will headline fall’s slate of shows. USG Social Chair Jake Sally ’12 promised “an answer asap” in response to an e-mail asking for confirmation of the show, but rumblings from students involved with planning other clubs’ events make it seem likely.

One particular detail is still uncertain, though, as both of B.o.B.'s websites list the show as starting at 7 p.m. This is later than the traditional afternoon shows, so it is unclear whether this is a mistake, some sort of schedule change or a different, non-Lawnparties concert altogether.

The Roots headlined this past spring's USG Lawnparties concert, and Gym Class Heroes played in spring 2009. There was no USG-sponsored concert last fall after students controversially voted to donate the money allotted to that event to civic engagement endeavors. Lupe Fiasco, with whom B.o.B. collaborated on “Past My Shades” on “The Adventures of Bobby Ray,” played in fall 2008.

By Gabriel Debenedetti