Being “alone” can be looked at the same way as that “half-full/halfempty” argument. On one hand you have perks like going where you want to, when you want to and leaving when you feel like it. On the other hand, you’re talking to yourself because no one else is around. Life can be cheap because you’re only looking out for self, but it can also get costly trying to compensate for lack of company.
Now, all eyes are on Big Boi to see if he can deliver the same groundbreaking music he did as a member of Outkast, alone.
Big Boi is figuring out where he stands on being “alone.” As a member of Outkast with his rhyme partner Andre 3000, Big Boi has made history, blazed trails and helped build the entity that is “Southern Hip Hop.” Even as the group began to show noticeable splits in personality, dress and musical direction, the pair was still just that - a pair. But in 2003 when Outkast released their most successful album to date, Speakerboxx/The Love Below, the split started becoming even more apparent. Not only did they release two different albums, but Dre also elected to stop touring after its release. Three years later when they put out the soundtrack to their movie Idlewild, rumors and rumblings said Outkast had broken up as a group. To this day, neither Big or Dre has confirmed any break up, but that hasn’t stopped the people from forming their own opinions.
So you are officially signed to Def Jam Records now? The last time this news leaked out, you came back and refuted it. I’m signed to Def Jam as of a week ago. Jive let me go. I asked to be released due to creative differences. I’m back with the man [Antonio “L.A.” Reid] who understands my music and the creative process. Much respect to Barry Weiss at Jive though. Much thanks to him for respecting my craft and letting me do what I gotta do.
Big Boi, obviously the more outgoing half of the group, hears these conspiracies and questions often. Why? Because he’s the only one out there still making music, doing shows and being amongst the people. For the last four years Big Boi has used the Outkast logo and both a shield and flag to let people know that the music has not died. Similar to Bun B’s “Free Pimp C” campaign, Big Boi has been in the streets going at it alone trying to juggle a label and friendships along the way. But in his case, he wasn’t crusading to free a person. He was actually trying to get his own album out. After working on it for the past 3 years and experiencing numerous delays, Big Boi’s solo album Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty is finally seeing the light of day. The journey started on Jive Records, but is now ending on Def Jam Records. Def Jam has finally given the project a solid release date of July 6th. His move to the house that Russell built reunites him with the man who signed him to his first deal, LaFace Records co-founder Antonio “L.A.” Reid. With many former LaFace staff now working under Reid at Def Jam, Big Boi compares his new situation to a family reunion.
OZONE caught up with Big over a span of weeks to find out about outrageous label demands, making moves in this current musical climate, and the status of his Purple Ribbon Entertainment record label.
Did you ever imagine yourself being signed to Def Jam? I always loved Def Jam since Krush Groove, but I never imagined being over there. But I don’t care where I’m at, as long as the team has the marketing and promotion to get it where it needs to be. That’s all that matters. You said the final straw was when Jive asked you to record your own version of Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop.” Why would they think that would be a good idea? They don’t know us like that. Up until Speakerboxx/The Love Below, Outkast was not a radio-driven group. We are Soul Funk crusaders. The type of music we make, we weren’t seeing eye-to-eye with the label on it. For a man to tell me to go make my own version of “Lollipop?” That doesn’t even sound right. That’s what the president of Jive told me. When he told me that, that’s when I had to start putting my own songs out. I was leaking songs just trying to figure out how to make the right moves. I want to put this album out under the right circumstances. Things weren’t jelling over there. Did you take a suggestion like that as disrespectful? At first, you take it as disrespect, but then you realize that they just don’t know any better. They’re just trying to work the radio. It’s not about integrity with music anymore. We make music. We’re not just making songs for your phone to ring to, were making music for you to live by. [Jive] didn’t get that. They didn’t get that memo. There was a time that whenever an Outkast song left the studio, whether OZONE MAG // 41