B.o.B. came into the mainstream nearly seven years ago with an anthem called “Haterz.” The mixtape number became a Southern sensation which helped garnet the Decatur MC/producer/singer attention from T.I., and in turn, Atlantic Records. Hardly an abrasive voice, Bobby Ray had a unique approach to dealing with those trying to hold him down.

What feels like a lifetime later, B.o.B. now is among Rap’s most successful out-of-genre stars, with plenty of plaques, and high-profile collaborations with everybody from Eminem to Andre 3000, Bruno Mars to Paramore under his belt. Thematically, “Many Rivers” takes all back to square one though.

Bobby Ray uses a church-rooted standard about perseverance (with a heavy Civil Rights Era backbone) to make a song about pushing forward, past negativity from others. The verses use Hip-Hop, the streets, and race as illustrations to apply the message. The video, shot in black-and-white, uses a Southern ’60s setting to also bring it all home:

This is from B.o.B.’s No Genre, Part 2.

Related: Purist B.o.B. Fans Will Rejoice With The Soulful Get It (Audio)