Concert Dates, Concert Tour News, Artist Information

Drake Wants to Collaborate with Dre

One of the up-and-comers in the hip-hop world is Drake. He is already a proven actor, as a standout star in the teen show Degrassi: The Next Generation. His first love, though, was music, as he came from a very musical family. When his time on the show ended, he turned his attention toward music and soon earned quite the following online. That soon led to him working with everyone from Mary J Blige to Jay-Z and Eminem.

He is about to release his first full-length album, Thank Me Later, which will come out in early 2010. Now that he is making top friends in the music industry, he is expressing his dream collaborations. Rap Up revealed that Drake said, “I really, really wanna do a joint with Sade… I really wanna get André 3000 on the record. And I really wanna do a song with Kings of Leon.”

It is no wonder he picked one-half of Outkast as a dream collaborator. Over the years, Outkast has set themselves apart as one of the top names in all of hip-hop. Drake will inevitably be interested in the new solo album coming out from Dre. See him with Big Boi by getting Outkast tickets from StubHub. 

Big Boi Owes Georgia $55K?

Does Big Boi owe the government big bucks? That is what the Detroit News is reporting.  According to the report, Big Boi, whose real name is Antwan Patton, owes more than $55,000 in taxes. The taxes are owed to the state of Georgia, and the state filed a lien against Big Boi and his wife for the sum of $55,727. Since Big Boi is reportedly about to release his solo album next month, that sum could be taken care of soon. The writer of the report wasn’t able to reach Big Boi for comment, so there could be another explanation for the tax lien.

Both member of Outkast are probably still raking in the dough from their earlier releases. They have had well-know hits like “Elevators (Me & You),” “Rosa Parks,” “B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad),” “Ms. Jackson” and “Hey Ya!” Those songs are still considered some of the most innovative releases to ever hit the hip-hop scene. After both members of Outkast release solo albums, they are reportedly supposed to hit the studio together to make a new Outkast album. Catch this talented duo live in concert by getting Outkast tickets from StubHub. 

Big Boi Books Release Party

Is Big Boi finally going to release his much-anticipated album? According to Broadway World, he is. Big Boi said he was going to be releasing his album earlier in 2009, only to push it back multiple times. The latest date given was early 2010, but it looks like fans may be able to get it sooner. Big Boi is set to have a CD Release Event at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit. The event will be on December 12 of THIS YEAR, which will inevitably delight Outkast fans who have been waiting for a release from either member.

The doors for the event at the MotorCity Casino Hotel will open at 10 p.m. The event will also feature a guest star, the Grammy Award-winning Monica. Big Boi’s solo album will be the first of a slew of new albums coming from the duo. After Big Boi releases his album, Andre 3000 is supposed to release a solo album of his own. Following the release of each member’s respective solo albums, Big Boi and Andre 3000 will again hit the studio together for another Outkast album. See them perform live with Outkast tickets from StubHub. 

Wayna Wants to Work with Dre

It may have been a few years since Andre 3000 and Big Boi last released an album together, but that doesn’t stop them from still influencing the scene. Wayna is a Grammy-Nominated singer who is still developing her sound. When it comes to dream collaborations though, she doesn’t hesitate to name a Outkast great.

She revealed to Tadias, “My dream collabo is with Andre 3000 of Outkast. He seems to be the kind of artist and producer who has no boundaries for himself, and that is exactly the kind of creative energy I want to be around.”

She may not have realized it, but the interview revealed another connection with Dre, as she named his former flame (and the mother of his son). Erykah Badu, as an influence. She said, “I love different artists for different things. Bob Dylan for his lyricism, Kim Burrell for her vocals, Stevie Wonder for all of the above, Erykah Badu for her stage show…the list goes on and on.”

Wayna will be one of many Dre fans that are sure to check out the solo album that he is supposed to release sometime soon. See him in concert with Big Boi by getting Outkast tickets from StubHub. 

Outkast Collaborator Moving On

Over the last several years, Killer Mike has worked closely with Outkast, and more specifically Big Boi. He has appeared on mixtapes created by Big Boi, helping Killer Mike’s popularity. Now, he is looking to take a new direction in his career. Like Big Boi, Andre 3000 and other aging hip-hop artists, Killer Mike is looking to mature in his sound.

He revealed to S2S, “I’m a big guy and I got a ego triple big as me, a very high temper and I make my mind very quickly. Ego leads to frivolous things with women, drinking and drug abuse and a lot of things in the wrong direction if you’re not driving it.  As an artist you get the girls, parties, smoking or drinking.  So when I went into being my own boss I put away artist things.  I think more critically about what will grow this brand.  I had to learn patience is a virtue and to learn to build my mental and spiritual.”

Big Boi and Andre 3000 are also trying to transform their careers. They are both working on solo albums, which will be released before the newest Outkast album. See them live with Outkast tickets from StubHub. 

Outkast Has ‘Vim’

The Guardian in the U.K. recently has come up with a list of songs with “Vim” and, of course, Outkast is on that list. Merriam-Webster defines vim as, “robust energy and enthusiasm.” The article says that vim died with the rise of rock ‘n’ roll, which injected youthful rebellion into a carefree music scene. The article also credits Outkast as one of the artists bringing vim back.

The article stated, “The energies running through B.O.B. spin off in a dozen directions and the song has a BPM count more befitting drum’n'bass. Big Boi and Andre 3000 were, of course, last seen sporting spats and pomade in Idlewild. It seems like they’re bringing vim back.”

Of course, Outkast knows how to create a good balance between carefree, energetic songs and socially-conscious tracks. Over the years, they have found success with tracks like “Player’s Ball,” “Elevators (Me & You),” “Rosa Parks,” “Ms. Jackson,” “The Whole World,” “Hey Ya!,” “The Way You Move” and “Roses.” Big Boi and Andre 3000 are both working on solo albums right now, but after that they are supposed to release a new Outkast album. See them take the stage live by getting Outkast tickets from StubHub. 

Bola Embraced Alter Ego Because of Outkast

New female hip-hop wonder Bola has learned the art of the scene from T.I., but that isn’t her only connection with the Atlanta hip-hop world. She is known as “The Black Betty Boop” and she first got her start as part of the group Xtaci.

Because of her time in a group, she sees how it is important to have many facets to her appeal. And as an example, she holds up Big Boi and Andre 3000 and reveals their example helped her make her connection to Betty Boop. She told Hip-Hop Wired, “Coming from a group I feel like it takes two definite personalities to make one, like Outkast or 8 Ball and MJG I kind of felt like I needed to introduce the world to me, so I was like what’s the best way for them to see me to really explain myself in the best way. It actually came from somebody who saw the way I acted around people he was like, there go the Betty Boop right there! With my audience, it’s a flirty thing too. I work with guys and I just leave them like that. A lot of people tell me I look like her, so I really embraced the character because it kind of brought me out of my shell.”

Of course, there will never be another Outkast, and you can see them live by getting Outkast tickets from StubHub. 

Rimidi Says Outkast Is One of Her Inspirations

“Eclectic” may be the perfect word to describe the work of Outkast, as Andre 3000 and Big Boi each add their own flair to the collaboration. In fact, it may be what they are most known for in the hip-hop scene. Up-and-coming artist Rimidi from Miami also describes her sound as “eclectic,” which makes it little surprise that she picked out Outkast as one of her inspirations.

In an interview with 24 Hour Hip-Hop, she said, “Growing up my mom used to play a lot of music such as artist like Sade, Anita Baker, Stevie Wonder, Prince, etc. In addition to the fact that she sings as well. so I think ultimately she is the cause of what inspires me musically overall. I am completely open to all kinds of music and new sounds because of her. Though I must say that Lauryn Hill has had a tremendous effect on me as well. I remember mimicking her ad lib’s over and over again until I got it exactly right. Of course, she isn’t the only one though, just the one I can remember the most vividly. Today I am inspired by the sounds of simply ‘Good Music’, especially from the likes of Outkast, Cee-lo, Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott and Erykah Badu.”

Dre and Badu used to be romantically linked, which was quite the partnership. Not as magical as Dre and Big Boi, however, and you can see them in concert with Outkast tickets from StubHub. 

Big Boi Comments on Rihanna

Over the last few days, the entertainment world has been abuzz with the interviews Rihanna has given about her altercation with then-boyfriend Chris Brown, who reportedly got physical with the star. The story had everyone talking, including Big Boi of Outkast.

Big Boi had strong opinions about violence against women. According to Rap Basement, he said, “My thing was, people kept sending me messages asking me what I think so I asked ‘em what they think. I was just posting comments to what people were saying, you know, it was surprising to me how many people were like, ‘Maaan,’ they were like, ‘Maaan.’ But hey man, everything is marketing and promotion and whatever, you know. Nothing excuses violence against women at all. Eh man, I just wanted to know what the people were thinking, that’s why I just got on the whole social networking thing because you can get the true thoughts and feelings of the people out there that are really consuming the music.”

Big Boi and Andre 3000 of Outkast have kept their records clean compared to others in the hip-hop scene, and both seem to hold women in high regards. See them live with Outkast tickets from StubHub. 

Shwayze Loves Andre 3000

Shwayze may be one of the newest up-and-comers in the scene, but he has influences that show he knows top music . He is a rapper and musician who grew up in Malibu, although not in the affluence that most in Malibu are known for. His real name is Aaron Smith, and he has been rising by working with Whitestarr frontman Cisco Adler.

In a recent interview, Shwayze opened up about his music career, and cited Andre 3000 of Outkast as an influence. He told teenmusic, “You know that Snoop is on the record. I love Snoop. Growing up it was all oldies and rock like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin but lately I love Andre 3000 from Outkast. N.E.R.D. I was a big fan of growing up. I love people doing things their own way and not in the box.”

He also revealed his dream collaboration, saying, “I would love to do something with Andre 3000. His music influenced me as a kid and I’d also love to work with Lady Gaga.”

Dre is supposed to be back in the studio soon. Who knows, Shwayze could just be one of the guest stars. See Dre and Big Boi in concert with Outkast tickets from StubHub.