He can be identified by his rapid delivery and intricate rhymes, a style which has become more distinct since the album ATLiens.
In addition to his OutKast and Dungeon Family work, Big Boi has featured in other artists' songs. His most notable guest appearances were on the 1999 Missy Elliott hit, "All N My Grill," the Youngbloodz' "85 South," and Trick Daddy's 2001 single "In Da Wind."
After four increasingly successful albums as a duo since 1991, André 3000 decided to make a solo album as a side project. Big Boi also produced a solo effort, and the two albums were packaged together as Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2003. Big Boi's single from the album, The Way You Move featuring Sleepy Brown, was originally supported by urban radio then crossed over to pop charts. When "The Way You Move" supplanted Hey Ya! as the #1 song on the US pop charts, OutKast achieved the rare honor of a group replacing itself at the top of the charts. The second single from Big Boi's side of the album was Ghetto Musick, which featured André 3000 and a sample from Patti LaBelle's Love, Need & Want You.
Def Jam Records has announced "Sir Lucious Left Foot: the Son of Chico Dusty," a Big Boi solo effort will be released in the summer of 2010.
He released a mixtape/compilation album, "Got Purp? Vol 2," in conjunction with the Purple Ribbon All-Stars in November 2005 on Purple Ribbon Records. The first single from the album was "Kryptonite", which cracked the Billboard Hot 100 and was a hit on hip hop radio.
Big Boi is married to Sherlita Patton, with whom he has two children: a daughter, Jordan, and a son , Bamboo. His oldest son, Antwan Jr., is from a prior relationship. Numerous references to the Patton family are present in Big Boi's rhymes.
His younger brother James raps under the name Lil' Brotha, and is a member of hip hop group Konkrete.
Big Boi and André 3000 star in "Idlewild," a film about music in the Depression-era South. It was released in August 2006.
Big Boi also appeared in season 3 of Nick Cannon's "Wildin' Out," as well as guest starring and appearing as a musical guest on "Chappelle's Show." Besides "Idlewild" he has appeared in T.I.'s movie, "ATL," and starred in "Who's Your Caddy?"
Ascending
Big Boi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Y'all ain't gon' never know me
I go by the name of the B-I-G, the B-O-I
One half of the mighty Outkast
Yeah, one whole of me, the whole thing haha
Welcome to Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors, yeah
The opening lines of the song Ascending by Big Boi, "If y'all don't know me by now/Y'all ain't gon' never know me," encapsulate the rapper's perception of how people view him. He believes that if people have not yet understood him for who he is, then they are unlikely ever to. This sense of being misunderstood is something that many artists and creatives feel - that they are operating on a higher level that is only accessible to those who are similarly attuned or who possess a certain level of empathy for their work.
Big Boi then goes on to introduce himself as one half of the mighty Outkast, a nod to his partner in the band, Andre 3000. He refers to himself as "one whole of me, the whole thing," reiterating his belief that he is not someone who can be easily understood or compartmentalized. The name of the album - Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors - underscores this theme, suggesting that what we think we know or what we hear about Big Boi may not be entirely accurate. The song is a statement of intent, a declaration that he will not be pinned down or pigeonholed.
Overall, Ascending is a powerful piece of music that speaks to Big Boi's desire for authenticity and his frustration with the trappings of fame and celebrity. It is a call to arms for anyone who has ever felt misunderstood, and a reminder that sometimes, the most important thing is drawing a line in the sand and declaring who you really are.
Line by Line Meaning
If y'all don't know me by now
If you haven't become familiar with who I am at this point in time
Y'all ain't gon' never know me
It's highly unlikely that you will ever fully understand me
I go by the name of the B-I-G, the B-O-I
My moniker is the B-I-G, the B-O-I
One half of the mighty Outkast
I make up one-half of the notable group Outkast
Yeah, one whole of me, the whole thing haha
Though I am only one part of Outkast, I am still a complete individual
Welcome to Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors, yeah
This is the introduction to my album Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andy Slagle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind