Big Boi

Beyond his work alongside André 3000 in OutKast and his key position within the Dungeon Family collective, Big Boi has developed an extensive independent body of recordings as a rapper and producer. Recognized for his composed attitude and clever, rapid-fire lyrics, Big Boi made his effective solo introduction through the opening portion of OutKast's award-winning major success Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, which earned a Grammy in 2003. His initial standalone full-length project, Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty, reached the upper reaches of the Billboard 200 in 2010, aided by the Grammy-nominated track "Shutterbugg." Subsequent solo efforts such as Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors from 2012 and Boomiverse in 2017, together with joint projects including Big Grams alongside Phantogram in 2015 and The Big Sleepover with Sleepy Brown in 2021, have complemented his substantial contributions as a producer and guest performer. In these roles and others, he has supported the progress of artists including Killer Mike and Janelle Monáe.

Following OutKast's emergence in 1993 via the Top 40 success "Player's Ball," Big Boi, who entered the world as Antwan André Patton in Savannah, Georgia, made occasional solo guest spots over the subsequent decade. Charting releases encompassed "Dirty South" by fellow Dungeon Family members Goodie Mob, "All N My Grill" by Missy Elliott, "In da Wind" from Trick Daddy, and "A.D.I.D.A.S." with Killer Mike. For OutKast's fifth album, Big Boi and André 3000 chose to create separate collections packaged together as Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. This release, which topped the Billboard 200, secured the Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album and Album of the Year in 2003. In the following three years, Big Boi expanded through his Purple Ribbon imprint, issuing the Purple Ribbon All-Stars collections Got That Purp and Got Purp? Vol. II. The latter featured early work from Janelle Monáe and included the Top 40 success "Kryptonite (I'm on It)," a group track with Big Boi and Killer Mike. During this period, Big Boi also appeared on Brooke Valentine's Top 40 song "Girlfight" and Fantasia's charting "Hood Boy." OutKast's extended break commenced after the Idlewild album in 2006.

Big Boi readied his debut proper solo album, releasing isolated singles throughout 2008 and 2009. "Royal Flush," featuring André 3000 and Raekwon, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. During 2010, he contributed to Janelle Monáe's "Tightrope" and released the solo single "Shutterbugg," ahead of Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty dropping in July. This energetic and freewheeling album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, R&B/hip-hop, and rap charts. "Shutterbugg" secured another Grammy nod in rap categories, while "Tightrope" was nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors, the next album, arrived in December 2012 and peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200, with guests extending well past rap to include Little Dragon, Wavves, and Phantogram. Big Boi persisted in collaborating with Phantogram under the Big Grams name, and their self-titled EP reached the Top Ten on the rap and alternative charts in 2015. His third solo album, BOOMIVERSE, came out in June 2017, with primary production from longtime associates Organized Noize, plus contributions from Scott Storch, Dr. Luke, and Cirkut, among others who worked on "Shutterbugg."

In between releases, Big Boi received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song for "Chase Me" by Danger Mouse, which also featured Killer Mike and El-P, known as Run the Jewels. Around the time of his February 2019 performance with Maroon 5 at the Super Bowl halftime show in Atlanta, Big Boi put out the single "Doin' It" featuring Sleepy Brown. Further joint efforts with Brown included "Intentions," also with CeeLo Green, and "Can't Sleep" in 2020. The Big Sleepover, the anticipated collaborative album from Big Boi and Sleepy Brown, was scheduled for 2021, introduced by the single "The Big Sleep Is Over."