QuadWorks announced American rapper and record producer B.o.B. as the headliner act for the annual Bearstock concert Wednesday afternoon in the Connell Student Center.
Secondary acts for the show include pop rock band Hot Chelle Rae, best known for their 2011 double platinum single "Tonight Tonight," and three Mercer-affiliated acts: MothaFunka, who performed at Bearstock 2025, as well as 2025 Cubstock performers Kosher Pickle and Trinity Scales '27.
B.o.B hails from Decatur, Ga., and has been a recurring face in the rap industry since his 2009 breakout collaboration with Bruno Mars, "Nothin' on You," which nabbed three Grammy nominations and topped the Billboard charts. His music often blends a variety of different styles and often incorporates collaborations with pop artists in addition to his usual rap focus.
He is also known for "Airplanes," a collaboration with Hayley Williams of Paramore which re-spiked in popularity in 2021 due to its media muse in various social memes. More recently, B.o.B gained notoreity for his various controversial posts on social media supporting conspiracy theories. His last music release was the 2024 album "Space Time."
Hot Chelle Rae is a pop rock band formed in Nashville, Tenn. After the success of their 2011 single "Tonight Tonight", the band released their 2011 album "Whatever" and opened for Taylor Swift during her 2012 Speak Now World Tour. The band went on an unofficial six-year hiatus from 2014 to 2020, and most recently released an EP called "Tangerine" in 2020.
MothaFunka was formed in 2024 for a QuadWorks talent show as a band of eight Mercer students, and opened Bearstock 2025, as well as Cubstock later that fall, which they won. Last year's performance featured covers of popular songs by Earth, Wind & Fire and Frank Ocean, and often featured funk and jazz influences.
Also present at Cubstock 2025 were Kosher Pickle, a student-formed ska band, and Scales, a singer-songwriter and Mercer student.
Bearstock 2026 will take place on Cruz Plaza on Saturday, March 14 from 1-7:30 p.m.
Jacob Hossler '28 is an English and Law and Public Policy double major at Mercer University. While not serving as the Sports Editor at The Cluster, he enjoys running, writing and photography.
