That's That...: Big Boi

Showing posts with label Big Boi. Show all posts

OutKast - "Last Call" (feat. Slimm Calhoun, Lil' Jon & The Eastside Boyz, & Mello)

Quick post today since I'm out of town:

Even though Speakerboxxx/The Love Below was labeled as an OutKast album, in reality it was just Three Stacks and Left Foot's first solo albums that they released together. Only two of the thirty-nine tracks feature the ATLiens performing together.

The Love Below is more popular, with hits like "Hey Ya!" and "Roses." It also features more singing than rapping from André 3000, which is perfectly fine. I hold that Benjamin and Lauryn Hill are the only people on earth talented enough to pull off both (to which the new wave of rappers bears increasing testimony--as much as I love J. Cole the emcee, I hate J. Cole the tone deaf singer who ruins J. Cole the emcee's songs).

But Speakerboxxx is the better pure hip hop album and my favorite of the two. From the booming bass of the "Intro/Ghetto Musick" to "Church" to the Hova-assisted "Flip Flop Rock" to the closing "Last Call" there isn't a single skippable song on the album. Big Boi often gets overshadowed in everyone's love of his recording partner, but he's a Top-15 emcee in his own right. Any Top-25 list is not to be taken seriously without mentioning Patton somewhere on the list.

"Last Call" is a sneaky good party track that a surprising amount of people haven't heard (mostly because a lot of people just pay attention to singles). Its one of my personal favorites and is one of the best ATL songs. Bump it at the party this weekend and, whatever your plans, remember to stay classy.

Peace, Love, & ATLiens,

Noah

Previous: Purple Ribbon All-Stars - "Kryptonite (I'm On It)"

Big Boi, Killer Mike, BlackOwned, C-Bone & Rock D - "Kryptonite (I'm On It)"

An underrated ATL classic, "Kryptonite" is a song ideally meant to be blasted in the car, headphones, or on a superb speaker system. It doesn't get as many spins as it deserves simply because a lot of people haven't heard it (the track was relegated to Purple Ribbon's 2005 collaborative album Got Purp, Vol.2 rather than a Big Boi solo album). Still, I defy you not to get amped up as you listen to this song.

OutKast - "Gasoline Dreams"

I don't know why, but I woke up this morning and really just wanted to listen to this Stankonia classic. It's going to be a good day.

Don't everybody like the smell of gasoline, well burn motherf***er, burn American Dreams!

OutKast - "Gasoline Dreams"
Previous: Big Boi - "Daddy Fat Sax" x "Last Call"

Big Boi - "Daddy Fat Sax" x "Last Call"

For one reason or another, many hip hop heads have always considered Big Boi to be living in the shadows of fellow OutKast member, André 3000. Not to take anything away from Three Stacks—as far as rhymesayers go, he’s as innovative as they come—but I’ve always viewed Big Boi an equal member of the groundbreaking duo and actually consider his half of the group’s 2003 double album, Speakerboxxx, to be better from a hip hop standpoint than Dré’s The Love Below. While André has always been more in the vein of a male Lauryn Hill and is really the only artist other than Hill who can pull off singing and rapping, Big Boi has always kept the group grounded in hip hop sensibilities.

Originality is something greatly lacking in today's hip hop community. Many of the trends in today's genre can be traced back to Atlanta group OutKast. Today there is no dearth of Spacemans, KiD CuDis, Lil' Waynes, of Dyme Defs that label themselves as martian rappers, but this trend dates back OutKast's landmark 1996 album, ATLiens. Artists like Drake, B.o.B, and CuDi are credited as innovative rapper/singer hybrids, but the tradition dates back to the Fugees' Lauryn Hill and OutKast's André 3000. Twelve years ago, the ATLiens released one of the most innovative and experimental albums in hip hop history with their third project, Aquemini.

Two of my favorite songs by one of my favorite groups of all time. Aquemini is considered in many circles to be the ATLien's best album (I personally prefer Stankonia) and ranks among the best albums the genre has to offer. With songs like this pair of gems, it's hard to argue otherwise. Big Boi's solo album is going to be amazing, but what everyone really wants is an OutKast reunion. I'm just sayin'...

"Part 1"

"Part 2"

B.o.B - "Nothin' On You (Remix)" (Feat. Big Boi & Bruno Mars)

Sir Luscious Left Foot joins his fellow ATLien B.o.B on the remix of his run away hit. Big Boi's debut solo album (if you don't count Speakerboxxx) has been delayed until May 4th, but The Adventures of Bobby Ray has been pushed forward to April 27th...should be an interesting eight days for Atlanta hip hop.

Previous: That's That Mixtape, Vol. SE7EN

Big Boi - "Fo Yo Sorrows" feat. George Clinton & Too $hort

Big Boi is another one of those emcees that needs no introduction. One half of the legendary OutKast crew, this Dirty South rapper has an entire discography argue with anyone who would dare question his status as one of the greatest to ever do it. I've been waiting for this song for a while now (I may or may not have listened to it five times straight the first time I heard it). It comes off of his upcoming Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (no release date as of yet). I've also included two classic OutKast songs. The first two songs after the intro off of their sophomore LP ATLiens, "Two Dope Boyz (In A Cadillac)" and "ATLiens" might be one of the best 1-2 punches I've ever heard on an album. Still waiting on (but not holding my breath) for the next OutKast LP, but these solo projects will more than hold me over.

Who them boys that be havin' the crunk every occasion,
This side niggas dustin', that side niggas lacin',
But in the middle we stay calm, we just drop bombs!

Peace, Love, & OutKast,
Neophobic Noah

"ATLiens"