Earlier this year, Big Boi did a series of interviews and every single one seemed to involve a nosy reporter asking about the thing every hip-hop head has been praying for since 2006's Idelwild: "When will there be an Outkast reunion?"
According to many reports, it seems like Big Boi is down to bring the group back, especially to mark the duo's 20th year anniversary. But Andre 3000 wants to keep Outkast in the past, telling the AP that he's "not the type that prescribes to nostalgia," and making it a point that their concurrent appearances on songs by Frank Ocean and T.I. are in no way a reunion, simply unofficial remixes.
But Big Boi doesn't need Andre 3000. He's been dropping tracks left and right, collaborating with fresh voices in the biz, and continues to release albums post Outkast. Three Stacks, on the other hand, seems more preoccupied with grooming.
Though both have talent oozing from their nostrils, and, yeah, together they're like a puzzle solved, we think Big Boi's way better off without Dre at this point. Let us explain.
5. Andre 3000's short pants
No doubt, we know Andre 3000 is all fashion, and you gotta give it up for his attention to detail. But lately, he's been too fashion. Big Boi even noted this increase in a Village Voice interview last year. Saying about tracks he'd sent to his former partner that they never ended up working on, "I guess he was just too busy. He said he had to do some Gillette shit."
Andre's been shaving that pretty mug and reviving his preppy clothing line, Benjamin Bixby. But we blame him for Dwayne Wade's recent shamefully poor pedal pusher style decision. He and Kanye are the reason young hip-hop kids are dressing like your grandfather. Big Boi's keeping it normal. Can't have Andre forcing straw hats on his head. So soft.
4. No one needs a peacocking rapper in 2013
This leads us to the next point. There's no room in the 2013 world for a rapper to peacock. Hell, even rock stars have paired it down. The economy isn't what it was in 1994, when dressing to display excess made sense. Your cleaning lady had a Fendi bag under Clinton. Now you're the cleaning lady.
Even the Atlantic has gotten in on some Big Boi lovin'. In an article on the rapper, they explain about Dre, "he seems more intent on acting and fashion designing."
3. Speakerboxxx is better than The Love Below
Everyone thought Andre 3000 was the wonky, creative mind behind Outkast, until they heard Speakerboxxx.
Sure, The Love Below had "Hey Ya!" but it also had that rambling convo with the Almighty about getting the guy's pee-pee wet with a big booty gal. But people who actually like hip-hop know that Speakerboxxx was the truly superior album. It is, like Big Boi's musical career since, more consistent in its brilliance. Yeah, you all got distracted by Andre's lovely looks and crazy voice, you thought Big Boi was just a thug with some slick, quick raps. But you were very wrong. Very wrong.
2. Big Boi is the perfect Game of Thrones and Kate Bush-loving nerd
You know why Big Boi doesn't need Andre 3000? Because he has Words With Friends. That's right. The rapper challenges his Twitter followers to friendly word jousts. He's also big into Game of Thrones. In a recent interview on Fuse, he said the nerdiest words ever uttered by a rapper: "Khaleesi don't play." And everyone knows Big Boi loves Kate Bush. He's cool in the way people are cool these days. He's not dolled up like Jay Gatsby, he's watching freaking HBO and Instagraming with the rest of us.
1. Spread the Big Boi wealth
And on the subject of Kate Bush, there are so many other talents Big Boi needs to collaborate with, like Ms. Bush. He's said they've even discussed collaborating via phone.
The great Antwan André Patton already got together with Wavves, Kid Cudi, Phantogram, Luda, and Little Dragon on Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors. But we need Big Boi to work like a venogram, spreading his music through the veins of the world, so we can see how his sound works in every pairing.
Big Boi Shoes for Running 2013 world tour with Killer Mike. 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 5, at Revolution Live, 100 SW Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cots $25 plus fees. Call 954-449-1025, or visit jointherevolution.net.
Follow @CountyGrind
