Las Vegas Weekly

March 14, 2009 · 3:02 PM

Big Boi talks big plans at Pure

By Melissa Arseniuk

Rapper Big Boi entertains the crowd at Pure in Caesars Palace.

Photo: Pure

Alternative hip hop sensation Big Boi is not a big man physically speaking, but his influence is huge – and so is the anticipation for his forthcoming album, Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty.

The disc was originally slated for release on February 24 of this year, but the date was pushed back. Now, Big Boi says it will be “coming out in two months, three months at the most. … Juneish, Julyish.”

“I’m finished with it right now,” he said Friday night on the red carpet outside Pure at Caesars Palace, where he was scheduled to perform.

“I’ve been working on it for two years straight, I’ve got T.I. on the album, Jamie Foxx is on the record,” he said, visibly pleased with what the record has accomplished.

“The whole album is stupid,” he said. “There’s new single out, called, “Ring Tone,” so it’s buzzin’ right now.”

He said the record’s peculiar title is actually a nod to his dad.

“My father was in the Air Force and he was a pilot and his name was Chico Dusty. (That was) the nickname they gave him and so … that’s me, walkin’ in his footsteps.”

“It’s a funky ride, from beginning to end,” the 34-year-old Georgia native said. “You push play, you ride all the way up.”

“As far as sound, it’s all over the place,” he said. “It’s everything, baby. You got to expect the unexpected.”

Outkast fans can expect as many as three records this year from Big Boi and his Outkast collaborator, André 3000, this year. In addition to Big Boi’s forthcoming album, André 3000 plans to release a disc of his own in the coming months. After that, Big Boi said the two will reunite to release their seventh album.

“We’re going to try to get all three of them out (this year) … It depends on how fast Dré finishes his record,” Big Boi said last night.

The innovative hip hopper entered the VIP section of Pure at 12:40 a.m. Saturday morning dressed in black sneakers, logoed Yves Saint Laurent knee socks, a black “atl ian” hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses and a Reebok cap.

When he took to the mic just over five minutes later, he greeted the crowd with a resounding, “Las Vegas, what's happenin' baby?!” and got a warm welcome in return.

He performed more than half a dozen tracks during his 20-mintute set, including Outkast’s breakout single, “Ms. Jackson,” and the hit, “The Way You Move,” from their smash 2003 release, Speakerboxxx and The Love Below.

Music isn’t the only thing keeping the father of three busy these days.

In addition to his family, he said, “I’ve got a couple of film projects in the works right now… a couple of film and TV projects,” he said. “But the music comes first.”

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