You know him as Big Boi, but he goes by many names. The man known as Daddy Fat Sax, Lucious Left-Foot, and Antwan-Andre-Patton-The-Only-One has proven to be as versatile as he is legendary, and his storied career has lasted nearly twenty-five years. That's older than nearly every member of the XXL Freshman Class. And to think, last week Big Boi dropped his third solo album Boomiverse, another solid entry to his already stellar catalog.
While Big Boi is best known for his contributions Outkast, he is often shrouded in the shadow of Andre 3000, whose name emerges in many a top-ten discourse. And while Andre is an amazing emcee in his own right, people simply cannot sleep on Big Boi's contribution to the game. Therefore, in honor of Big Boi's Boomiverse, here are five underrated Big Boi tracks you need in your life.
And maybe next time you and the homies are discussing top ten, you might consider putting some respect on Daddy Fat Sax' name.
Daddy Fat Sax
Big Boi's most memorable alias sets the tone for the classic Sir Lucious Left-Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty, opening the ceremonies with some synth-heavy funk. "It is I, the B-I-G the B-O-I," raps Big Boi, playing no games and establishing his presence from the jump. While fans of Outkast came to expect constant musical experimentation, Big Boi's foray into the solo scene found the rapper carving out his own sonic niche.
And what a niche it was. "Daddy Fat Sax" seems to capture everything that made Sir Lucious such a bonafide classic, resulting in one of the album's quintessential summer bangers.
Knowing
In 2003, Outkast surprised fans by announcing Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, a double album that marked the first foray into solo territory. While the project was a critical and commercial success, scoring the rare hip-hop Grammy for Album of The Year, Big Boi's Speakerboxxx found the rapper holding his own for an entire album. Clearly, the gamble paid off.
"Knowing" immediately stood out as one of the more Outkast-esque joints, finding Big Boi going in over some dark, uptempo production. Andre even stops by for the chorus, giving the track some of that classic 'Kast flavor. Big Boi demolishes the beat with his ridiculous flow, blending dexterous lyricism with poignant storytelling.
Apple Of My Eye
While Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors failed to live up to the lofty expectations set by Sir Lucious, it remained an interesting and musically refreshing album in its own right. Big Boi's sophomore solo project featured a slight deviation into indie-territory, foreshadowing his future collaboration with Phantogram, while also implementing some live instrumentation.
Enter "Apple Of My Eye," which finds Big Boi hopping on a beat that's one part Surf-rock, one part Cottonmouth's Club from Luke Cage, and one part classic Outkast. It manages to be at once dancefloor friendly, while still retaining a sense of enigmatic mystique, and remains a standout cut from VLDR.
In Da Wind ft. Trick Daddy & Cee-Lo Green
Okay, so this isn't technically a Big Boi track. It's actually a Trick Daddy joint, off 2002's Thug Holiday. Still, Big Boi delivers the closing verse, all while representing the Montreal Expos baseball team throughout the video. This track popped off during the peak of the Platinum Era, where BET & Much Vibe kept the popular tracks on heavy rotation. "In Da Wind" quickly became a go-to for pool parties, barbecues, and general summer debauchery.
Enter Big Boi, who cruises over the beat with an untouchable flow. Honestly, how come more people aren't celebrating Big Boi's flow? Damn. It must also be noted that Cee-Lo Green absolutely bodies his verse. Bodies. It may be fifteen years old, but this one still sounds fresh.
Royal Flush ft Andre 3000 & Raekwon
Last but not least comes "Royal Flush," the closest thing we get to a new Outkast track in recent memory. It also marks a reunion of sorts, bringing Rae into the fold for the first time since Aquemini's"Skew It on the Bar-B." The track was originally supposed to appear on Sir Lucious (imagine!?) but the inclusion was thwarted by, as always, record label politics.
Big Boi sets the tone with a rapid fire verse, breaking down the political tension popping off at the time, and leaving us fans wondering what if? What if an Outkast album dropped this side of the decade, where Big Boi and Andre traded bars like the glory days? While we may never have an answer, "Royal Flush" stands out as a time capsule of sorts, a welcome glimpse into what might have been.