As one of Southern Rap’s most important and popular acts, it was appropriate that OutKast stood up to New York elitism at the 1995 Source Awards, where East Coast emcees weren’t yet willing to give the South its due.
In an interview with Montreality, Big Boi recalled the scenario, during which he and fellow OutKast member Andre 3000 were booed, and said the duo was right about the role of Southern Rap.
Back then, we said, ‘The South got somethin’ to say.’ That was back in ’94, ’95 or whatever, and you skip fast-forward, and look at what the South has done: from OutKast and Goodie Mob, we got Ludacris and T.I…., 2 Chainz, Gucci… you know what I’m saying? Atlanta music, Atlanta artists, Jeezy… it’s a certain brotherhood that we got out here in Atlanta. If you run out here into dudes in clubs all the time, you can’t help but politick. What, you wanna slap the shit out of someone every time you see ’em?”
Big Boi also spoke about Idlewild, the 2006 film starring both him and Andre 3000. The film, which received mixed reviews, didn’t get its due, said Big Boi.
“Sometimes…if something is ahead of its time, they don’t get it until years later,” he explained. “It’s a cult classic. It was a well-put-together piece. It was shot beautifully, the choreography, the music, the storyline, the actors… we had some of the greats in there. It’s definitely one that your kids are going to be watching.”
As part of OutKast, Big Boi released seven albums, was nominated for 16 Grammy Awards, and won six. Big Boi has released two solo albums in 2010’s Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, and 2012’s Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors.
Watch the interview below:
