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?"
Descending
Big Boi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If ya don't know me by now
If ya don't know me by now
If ya don't know me by now
If ya don't know me by now
You will never know
If ya don't, if ya don't
When I think back, I'm glad I lived it all
The pain when I'm thinking about it, dad
I will not fall, even tired and all
Grand-mamas, great grand-mama they gone
My daddy's gone
If ya don't know me by now
If ya don't know me by now
If ya don't know me by now
If ya don't know me by now
You will never know
If ya don't, if ya don't
Hey, even with a storm to face, I still stand tall
I take beyond, the city I was born and raised
Lights, lights turn off, running along my own way
My body lift up, even when I go stray
By now you should know us
If ya don't know me by now
If ya don't know me by now
If ya don't know me by now
If ya don't know me by now
You will never know
If ya don't, if ya don't
From the bottom of my chest to my stomach
Got damn it, my daddy is gone
(From the waves that rock I listen for you
I'm listening through)
If ya don't know me by now
If ya don't know me by now
If ya don't know me by now
If ya don't know me by now
You will never know
If ya don't, if ya don't
The Big Boi song "Descending" is a poignant reflection on familial relationships, loss, and life experiences. The opening line, "Jag känner att jag faller," which is Swedish for "I feel like I'm falling," sets a melancholic tone for the rest of the song. The repeated chorus of "If ya don't know me by now" emphasizes the idea that some things about a person cannot be fully understood or known, particularly in the context of their familial ties and personal history.
The verse that mentions the pain of remembering the past and missing loved ones, particularly a father and grandmothers, adds to the sense of nostalgia and longing that runs through the song. The lines "even with a storm to face, I still stand tall" and "I take beyond, the city I was born and raised" suggest a resilience and determination to move forward despite obstacles and difficult circumstances. The closing lines "From the waves that rock I listen for you / I'm listening through" further reinforce the theme of trying to reach out to and connect with lost loved ones.
Overall, "Descending" is a haunting and introspective song that explores the complexities of family dynamics and the struggle to make sense of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
If ya don't know me by now
I am who I am and if you haven't taken the time to really understand me then you never will
If ya don't, if ya don't
If you haven't taken the time to know me by now, there's no hope for understanding me in the future
When I think back, I'm glad I lived it all
While there may have been hard times in the past, I wouldn't change a thing because they've made me who I am today
The pain when I'm thinking about it, dad
Reflecting on past pain reminds me of my father who has passed away
I will not fall, even tired and all
Despite any obstacles, I will persevere and keep standing strong
Grand-mamas, great grand-mama they gone
Several generations of my ancestors have passed away
My daddy's gone
My father has passed away and I can still feel his absence
Hey, even with a storm to face, I still stand tall
No matter what challenges come my way, I will remain resilient and strong
I take beyond, the city I was born and raised
I take pride in my hometown and its culture and carry it with me wherever I go
Lights, lights turn off, running along my own way
As I continue my journey, the world around me changes and people come and go, but I remain committed to my own path
My body lift up, even when I go stray
Even when I may temporarily lose my way, I will always find the strength to rise above and carry on
By now you should know us
If you haven't figured out who we are by now, you likely never will
From the bottom of my chest to my stomach, got damn it, my daddy is gone
I feel the pain of my father's absence deep within my being
(From the waves that rock I listen for you, I'm listening through)
Despite the waves of life that may try to distract me, I am always listening for my father's voice and guidance
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANTWAN PATTON, ANDY SLAGLE, GARY FLY, CHRIS CARMOUCHE, FREDRIK WALLIN, HAKAN WILHELM WIRENSTRAND, YUKIMI NAGANO, ERIK BODIN
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