BEST OF 2012 - #10 - BIG BOI "VICIOUS LIES AND DANGEROUS RUMORS"

I'm definitely a big fan of Big Boi.  Ever since I started listening to OutKast (I was turned on to them when Stone Gossard played one of their songs on a Pearl Jam radio show).  He's a really interesting and underrated MC. But more than that, he has an interesting musical sensibility.  I think in OutKast, Andre 3000 got most of the credit for that. But if you listen to Big's two albums (Sir Luscious Leftfoot was one of my favorites of 2010).

His new one, Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors, came out late in the year and made me shuffle my year end list a bit.  I'm not mad, it's a great album.

There's some cool funky party jams, which I guess we'll always expect from him. I like "In The A" (which features T.I. and Ludacris) and also the new wave-y jam "Mama Told Me" with Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child. "Apple Of My Eye" is also a very strange, and very cool song. Then there's also a song called "Thom Pettie" that name drops "Free Fallin'."

But the ones that stand out to me are "She Hates Me" and "Tremendous Damage," which are both pretty revealing.  "She Hates Me" seems to be about his marriage.  When he says "Forgive me if I raise my voice, I won't raise my hand/But one thing I will do baby is raise my lil' man." What a line.

"Tremendous Damage" is about his father, a Vietnam vet, who passed away recently.  Not your average subject matter for a hip-hop song.  That's why I like Big Boi, and why (to me) he stand out above the pack of MCs.  Musically, he always looks for something a bit funkier and more creative, and lyrically he goes to different places.

Like everyone else, I hope that Andre 3000 wises up and agrees to an OutKast reunion.  But if that doesn't happen, Big Boi's second act is turning out to be a very strong one.

TIE FOR #11: BIG BOI, LAMONTAGNE, MUMFORD & SONS, SHERYL CROW, RECKLESS KELLY, GASLIGHT ANTHEM AND CASH

In late December, I posted my top ten albums of 2010; the list was topped by The Drive-By Truckers' The Big To-Do. Immediately afterwards, I started thinking about some other albums that I really enjoyed this year, so I started a brief series called "Tied for #11." I've done a bunch of posts, starting with one about Buddy Guy's Living Proof.  Here is another handful of albums that I enjoyed a lot.

Outkast's Big Boi finally released his debut this year: Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son Of Chico Dusty.  It's too bad that it didn't get the attention that it deserved. Both by the press and even by Def Jam, who helped Boi to get the album from Jive (the label that OutKast record for).  "Shutterbug" is one of the hottest singles of the year. I think that, like Black Thought of The Roots, Big Boi is one of the best MCs in hip-hop, but doesn't get the attention of, say, Lil Wayne or T.I.

Ray LaMontagne's God Willing and The Creek Don't Rise is a really great album. It's a gorgeous album, but because Ray doesn't really do much promotion, you don't hear much about it. I think it will benefit from being nominated for a few Grammys (including "Beg Steal or Borrow" which is up for Song Of The Year). Hopefully he will perform at the ceremony.

Mumford & Sons was probably my favorite new discovery of 2010. Their Sigh No More album reminded me of Springsteens' Seeger Sessions Band, and I mean that as a high compliment. The fact that a band so removed from any recent trend, either in the mainstream pop world or the "indie rock" world has become so popular is, frankly, amazing to me and it gives me hope. I haven't seen them live, but I have filmed a studio performance by the band (see it here) and I really dug it.

I've often felt that Sheryl Crow doesn't get the credit she deserves, and that's never been more true than on her current album, 100 Miles From Memphis. I guess in a way, I can understand people paying a bit less attention to her - her last two albums weren't as strong as her first few. But this album is a great comeback, and should have done really well. But if you liked her earlier music, I urge you to check this one out.

Like The Drive-By Truckers, Reckless Kelly is a band who I discovered thanks to the SiriusXM channel Outlaw Country. (And this is where I offer the full disclosure that I work for SiriusXM, but I was a SIRIUS subscriber before I worked there.) Somewhere In Time is an album of songs by someone named Pinto Beckett. Without knowing much about him, or the band, I really dug it. I have to make it a point to get more music by both of them in the '11.

New Jersey's own Gaslight Anthem got a decent amount of press for their album American Slang, and deservedly so. They're a really good band, and they have the double edged approval of Bruce Springsteen (good because of the obvious extra exposure, bad because you can't do interviews without talking about him). They come from the punk rock underground, but they sound is really accessible. Hopefully people won't be scared of them because of their appearance. I'd love to see them get huge. In 2010 they headlined Radio City Music Hall, so maybe they're on their way.

One last album I'll mention is Johnny Cash's final recordings: American VI: Ain't No Grave. It sounds like he is aware that this is "it" for him, and it adds a poignancy to the songs . I have always been a big fan of the American Recordings series, I think Rick Rubin did a great job on all of them, this one included.

BIG BOI'S SIR LUCIOUS LEFT FOOT... WORTH THE WAIT!

One of my favorite albums of the year so far is Big Boi's Sir Lucious Left Foot... The Son Of Chico Dusty. For those who are unfamiliar with the story of the album, it was sort of due to come out two years ago.  Big Boi, like his group OutKast, is signed to Jive Records. Jive, apparently, didn't know what to do with it.  I read that Big Boi said that the last straw was basically when they asked him to cover a Lil' Wayne song! How insulting. So he ended up taking the album to Def Jam (a weird choice, as they don't seem to know how to handle "left-field" hip-hop records, The Roots' How I Got Over is exhibit A).

I don't know how the album has done, commercially.  I wonder if Jive was right - it isn't the job of a major label to put out "art," it's their job to put out stuff that's going to sell, even if they know it's bad.

Still, this album has some catchy songs.  "Shutterbugg" is a total hit!  Actually, I may not be the right person to decide if a hip-hop track is a hit in 2010. But it is a great song.  There are many others, including some with some pretty big name guests (which seems important these days, big guest lists): "Night Night" features B.o.B. (who I don't really "get"), "Shine Blockas" features Gucci Mane (a big current artist, apparently) and "Tangerine" features T.I. *I* don't care about the guests, but the songs are all really tight. Another song, "Follow Us," features what sounds like a rock band, Vonnegutt, who I don't think I'd like, but the singer serves this song well.

It's too bad Jive didn't let Boi use his collab with Andre 3000 and Raekwon, "Royal Flush." I guess I can't blame them - they are waiting for a new OutKast album, why should they give away the group's first new song in years.  Anyway, it doesn't matter - it's been on iTunes for years (and it even lists Sir Lucious... as the album). As far as I'm concerned, it is on the album, it was just a single that came out two years early. Anyway, check out Boi's album, it's a great one, and it makes me look forward to OutKast's next one even more!

TODAY ON OUTQ: HIP-HOP: THE ROOTS, EMINEM, BIG BOI AND MORE

For those of you who are new to No Expiration, every Wednesday morning at 9 am-ish, I am a guest on the SIRIUS XM Channel OutQ; I talk about new music on The Morning Jolt With Larry Flick. Today, I'll be talking about some recent hip-hop releases.

I've already written about The Roots' How I Got Over.  It's one of my favorite albums of the year, and the title track is up there as one of my favorite songs this year.  I also have a track from the Roots' upcoming collaborative album with John Legend, Wake Up, which I'll be writing more about.  It's covers of socially conscious soul tunes from the '60s and '70s.   Another one of my favorite albums this year is Big Boi's long awaited solo debut, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty.   It's amazing that Jive Records thought that this didn't have any commercial potential: Big Boi signed to Def Jam for the album (which is also odd, as they don't seem to be able to handle more "adult" or "arty" releases, such as How I Got Over. I'll also be talking about one of Larry Flick's favorite albums of the year, Eminem's Recovery. I've never been a huge fan of Eminem's (although I enjoy his SIRIUS XM channel Shade 45), but I definitely recognize the man's skills.  And there are some great songs on Recovery.

Kanye West has a crazy new song called "Power," which samples King Crimson's "21st Century Schitzoid Man." Amazing song, and I have that one. Also a new song from T.I., one of his first since leaving prison.  Also, music from two newer artists -- neither of whom I really "get," I confess -- B.o.B. and Drake. Tune in (SIRIUS 109, XM 98), call in (866-305-6887) and tell us what you think!

BIG BOI'S "SIR LUCIOUS" DUE OUT JULY 6

Congrats to Big Boi: after releasing singles for two years, his debut solo album Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty has not just a label (Def Jam) but a release date (July 6). The singles that I've heard ("Shine Blockas (featuring Gucci Mane)," "Royal Flush (featuring Andre 3000 and Raekwon)" and "Sumthin's Got To Give (featuring Mary J. Blige)") are all great. I wonder how long it will be until Andre 3000 puts out his solo debut... and until OutKast put out a new duo album.

BIG BOI SIGNS TO DEF JAM

Big Boi of OutKast has been releasing singles from his upcoming solo album for two

years! About a year ago, he accused OutKast's label, Jive, of "shucking and jiving" on his album, now he has announced (via twitter) that he has just signed to Def Jam. So, hopefully Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty is that much closer to release. And hopefully that brings the release date of a new OutKast album that much closer also.

ROCK THE BELLS WILL ROCK A LITTLE MORE

Busta Rhymes and The GZA have been added to the already cool Rock The Bells lineup which also features Nas and Damien "Junior Gong" Marley, The Roots, Common, Big Boi and GZA's fellow Wu-Tangers RZA and Raekwon. That's a pretty cool lineup. This is according to All Hip-Hop.com.

ROCK THE BELLS 2009

They haven't announced the dates yet, but Rock The Bells announced the main artists on this year's lineup.  The headliner is Nas with Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley (they are doing an album together). Also on the bill: The Roots, Common, Big Boi, KRS-One, House Of Pain (!), RZA and Raekwon, among others. Rock The Bells puts on a great show: last year rocked, and the year before was even better (it featured Rage Against The Machine, Pubic Enemy and The Wu-Tang Clan).  

BIG BOI (AND OUTKAST) VICTIMS OF "SHUCKIN' AND JIVIN'"

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Big Boi said that his long-awaited solo album is being held up by he defacto label, Jive, who got OutKast when Arista disolved their roster. He says that both he and Andre 3000 are working on solo albums with the same production team - Organized Noize - so they've been listening to each other's tracks, and holding on to some of them for the next OutKast album. Leave it to a major label to drop the ball on one of the coolest and best selling bands of the decade. OK, Idlewild was a bad move, but it's not like this was a one-hit wonder: OutKast has earned the right to try something new and fail without being deemed "over." 

OUTKAST TO RELEASE THREE ALBUMS IN THE '09

Big Boi said in an interview with MTV that the Outkast camp will release three albums next year. Big will release his album, followed by Andre 3000's, followed by a group album. I already mentioned that I like Big Boi's "solo" song "Royal Flush," which features Andre 3000 and Raekwon. He has another single out, "Sumthin's Gotta Give" with Mary J. Blige. I'm looking forward to that. I think Andre might get a bit overindulgent with his album, but I'll check it out. Hopefully they'll return to Outkast with renewed energy.

BIG BOI HAS A HOT NEW SINGLE (AND ANDRE 3000 RAPS ON IT!)

Anyone can act tough by getting into fights and acting all macho. You're probably tougher if you don't have to do that. That's what I think of Big Boi from OutKast: can you imagine being in a duo with Andre 3000? OutKast is one of the greatest hip-hop combos ever, and one of the most commercially successful of the past few years.

So imagine if your partner decides he doesn't want to rap. He doesn't want to really work with you. And, turning down millions in ticket sales, he doesn't want to tour. Big Boi has like this calm, zen-like way of dealing with it. He just moves on, doesn't talk smack about Dre, and hopes that dude will come around.

So, it's funny that Big's new single, "Royal Flush," features Dre (as well as Raekwon from The Wu-Tang Clan, a bunch of guys who could maybe learn a thing or two about co-existing with bandmates from Big Boi). He raps on it. It's a great song. Talk about just rewards. Here's hoping they do an OutKast album soon.

Oh yeah, and on the macho tip: Big Boi also talks about being influenced by, of all people, Kate Bush, and he recently collaborated with the Atlanta Ballet. For real.