Big Boi

• Rating

There's a select few out there today that can be classed as Hip Hop royalty. When I say royalty, I'm not referring to those that run the game today, I'm referring to the groups that helped build all this. The groups in my opinion that make up this select bands are Gang starr, Tribe, Wu-Tang, De la Soul and of course Outkast. Any one that's ever been in any of those groups, hell anyone that's carried weed for any of those groups (well maybe not Wu-tang that would be ridiculous) is Hip Hop Royalty. Last night we were blessed by having half of one of those groups come and play a show for us in my home (Kentish) town. Will we ever see Outkast reform as a group? will we ever see Andre 3000 solo shows? who knows, questions for another day I believe because for now its all about celebrating Big Boi touring his incredible "Hip Hop LP of the year" Sir Lucious Leftfoot. I've never seen an Outkast show, not even on the internet so I have nothing to compare last nights show too, but that's OK because I left last night elated and overjoyed to be part of it. A three man show, with a hype man and a DJ with skills a plenty, Big Boi just stripped it all down to what it should be, Hip Hop music. He delivered from the start to the finish and in a first for me, his DJ VJ'ed his way through the show, with his video appearances cut up throughout and played through the show. Sound corny? it wasn't - it was pulled together with ghetto graphics - but that made it better. I've not sat through a lot of the early Outkast videos so for me it added a nice element to the proceedings. It was like being at an arena show - where you found yourself watching the screens more than watching Big Boi even though he was ten feet away. All the hits got played - they sounded as great as you know they should but personal highlights were the tracks from his new LP (which I wanted to hear him do all of) they sounded so fresh and so relevant and the crowd loved them. "Shutterbug", "Aint no DJ", "Tangerine" - all hit the spot. It was a Hip Hop show so I bet the sound was rubbish? I'm sure you'll all thinking.. well it wasn't top notch but it wasn't terrible, I have a very low bar for this kind of thing but it was OK, I've heard much worse this year. We crossed our fingers and hoped we'd get "Royal Flush" in the encore but alas that wasn't too be, hopefully he'll drop that next time he comes over. Overall his performance was first class, you could tell he's a 20 year vet in this game - it was lo-fi, no frills but i was cool with that. Exactly what I wanted.

• Rating

One of the only G.O.D.S that's still making high class music. Sir Lucious Leftfoot is an incredible LP and shows how relevant Big Boi still is in the game. A total legend and expect some special guests as well!

• Rating

As a Kentish Town resident, can't say enough how chuffed I am that Big Boi's coming to K-town in November. This should be the gig of the year!

• Rating

Saw him @ Electric Ballroom, must be five years ago now - absolutely incredible.. cant wait!