Riding 808s to the Top
In this long-awaited, bass-thumping drop, Outkast’s Big Boi throws down some of the most inventive lyricism and high tempo cadences showing us that he has been hard at work for the last three years. The complex beats and varied musical styles from an array of genres are the result of lots of work from the album’s large production team that includes Andre 3000, Scott Storch, and even Salaam Remi. Three years of heavy layering and high production give Sir Luscious Left Foot a unique and wild sound.
Big Boi truly found his niche sound in the hip-hop world with this album, with obvious roots in Southern hip-hop, meaning 808s and live instruments combined with Big Boi’s lyricism add a fresh, jaw-dropping sound. His swagger is fast and versatile and sometimes contemptuous, but still seems to remain clever and exuberant. The dexterous flow of Big Boi is accompanied by a great blend of bass-heavy beats and bouncy rhythms from a multitude of genres: dubstep beats and rock guitar on “Tangerine”; funky psychedelic rhythms and hooks from George Clinton blends perfectly with the Atlanta-thumping Big Boi on “Fo Yo Sorrows”; and even zany skits about sex moves called the “David Blaine” with guests that range from Jamie Foxx and Yelawolf to spoken word master Big Rube.
It’s easy to see why Outkast was a success for so long and it’s even easier to see that Big Boi is the reason for that, a multi-talented rapper with a hard and nimble flow and a dream team of musicians, rappers, and producers to back him. Here’s to hoping we don’t have to wait another three years for another high-caliber drop like this.
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