Big Boi Explains His Evolution As A Soloist

While talking to the Wall St. Journal, Big Boi reveals his nine-year solo grind and using free music giveaways and social media to strengthen his brand.

Outkast hasn’t released a group album since the 2006 soundtrack to Idlewild, but according to Big Boi, the duo has been moving separately yet together for a bit longer. As Big Boi prepares his second solo album, he hasn’t exactly been forthcoming on when fans should expect another album featuring him alongside Andre 3,000. But at this point, it’s probably safe to say Big’s previously stated plan of an Outkast album and an Andre 3,000 solo album in the same year probably won’t happen.

“That’s top-secret information, so right now I’m just working on this Daddy Fat Sax album, I’m working on my new group, Vonnegut, and as well I just shot the video for my new single, “Be Still” with Janelle Monae,” Big Boi told the Wall St. Journal, when asked about the next Outkast album. “For the most part, it’s been about, hmm, nine years solo.”

In the meantime, Big Boi has had plenty to keep him busy. Since inking a solo deal at Def Jam in 2010, he’s been nominated for two Grammys—one for his own “Shutterbugg” and another as a guest on Janelle Monae’s “Tightrope.” Big Boi also had some interesting thoughts on free music promotions such as Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Fridays, which spawned nearly a dozen imitations from artists looking to cash in on the trend.

“Before either one of them did it, I was doing it with this record,” Big Boi explained. “I put out ‘Shine Blockas’ the day after Christmas, and then came ‘For Your Sorrows’ maybe a week after that. They just put a name on it. But that was my method to releasing Sir Lucious Leftfoot—I didn’t have a record company releasing it, so I was just putting songs out like every week or two.”

Big Boi drove his point home by adding that “Royal Flush,” a song that he says he and Andre “just threw out there” prior to being featured on DJ Drama’s album, eventually got nominated for a Grammy with no major radio support.