Big Boi accepts Plea Deal in Drug Arrest

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Last August, while promoting his Def Jam debut album, Big Boi was arrested in Miami. Big Boi was in possession of drugs. He had one count of drug paraphernalia and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Today, Big Boi appeared in court in Miami. In court, he accepted a plea deal. Accepting the plea deal helped Big Boi avoid becoming yet another rapper being sent to prison. Many former chart-toppers are currently behind bars.

Big Boi will not be spending any time behind bars, but he will be $2,000 short. He has to donate the previously-mentioned sum of money to charity. Aside from donating the money to charity, Big Boi has to undergo drug testing for three months and he has to do community service.

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Outkast moving to Epic Records

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

The writing has been on the wall for Outkast with Jive Records for the past few years. Fans of the duo have been waiting on a new Outkast album for nearly five years. However, label issues have held the album up.

Both Andre 3000 and Big Boi said things changed for them at Jive when L.A. Reid left. Big Boi signed a solo deal with Def Jam, while Reid was the head of the label.

Since leaving Def Jam, L.A. Reid is now the head of Epic Records. The past few years have been rough on the label. Reid was brought in to return the label to its former glory.

Reportedly, L.A. Reid's first move was adding Outkast to the label. Reid originally signed Outkast to their deal with Jive Records. However, since L.A. Reid left, things have not been going so smoothly for the duo, evidenced when Big Boi released his solo album with Def Jam. Now, the duo is headed over to Epic and they intend to release both a new Outkast album and solo albums with the label in 2012.

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Big K.R.I.T. talks Def Jam debut

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Last year, mixtape rapper, Big K.R.I.T. signed a lucrative deal with Def Jam. Even after signing with Def Jam, Big K.R.I.T. continued to release mixtapes. Currently, the Mississippi rapper is crafting his debut album.

Big K.R.I.T. is always working on new material and he said to be on the lookout for new material from him this year. While his debut album is coming this year, K.R.I.T. was mum on revealing the title of the album.

Well in advance of the album's release, Big K.R.I.T. said people will know the title of his album. Big K.R.I.T. wants to keep the details of his album a secret until he is done. K.R.I.T. revealed he will also be producing the album.

While many have anticipated a collaboration between Big K.R.I.T. and Outkast, K.R.I.T. said he has only heard from Def Jam label-mate, Big Boi. Still, he is hoping to work with the Dungeon Family. The Def Jam rapper also revealed he will be a part of the Rock The Bells Festival. Working with David Banner, and other veterans, has been a very fun experience, according to Big K.R.I.T.

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Big Boi - 'The Crown Life"

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Throwback Video of the Day: Outkast - "Roses"

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Big Boi analyzes the game

Yesterday, David Banner gave his diagnosis on the death of hip hop and he has sparked another discussion. After David Banner gave his opinion of what has gone wrong with hip hop, Big Boi plans to deliver his. Much like Banner, Big Boi is trying to prove himself to be one of the best rappers in the game. He wants his debut album to be one of the best of the year.

Big Boi said hip hop has lost its essence because it has become too commercial. In the old days, rappers used to come off of the top of their head and do a freestyle. But, now rappers such as Drake write their freestyles and then recite them. Big Boi said the game is not about that. People are supposed to come with their own styles and come off of the top of their heads.

Like many other rappers, Big Boi has realized the game is changing, but he does not like the direction. His statement was similar to the one made by David Banner, yesterday. While the game is currently lost to him, he feels as if the game can be changed back to its original form. Big Boi plans to begin this change with his album, as does David Banner with Death of a Pop Star.

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Big Boi's quest to become a top Emcee

Over the years, Big Boi has been the lyrical half of Outkast, while his partner, Andre 3000 was the creative backbone of the group. Despite his accomplishments on critically-acclaimed Outkast albums, no one has looked at Big Boi as a lyricist. When speaking of some of the best lyrical rappers from Atlanta, all eyes fall upon Ludacris, Andre 3000, and T.I., as opposed to Big Boi.

When speaking of the best lyrical rappers in the game, overall, Big Boi is overlooked by almost everyone. From the beginning of his career, he has been overlooked for Andre 3000, in his own crew, and rappers like Jay-Z, who ran the game. But, as Jay-Z stepped aside and other rappers and groups, such as Outkast moved into his role. Many rappers had their eyes set on the position once held by Hov.

However, Lil Wayne was able to move fast enough to claim the position for himself. Following his barrage of mixtapes and one strong album, Wayne became considered the top lyricist in the game. The attention was on Lil Wayne and still remains on his crew, but Big Boi is confident in his own abilities. He feels as if he is just as good, if not better, than the top "lyricists" in the game. Now, with his debut album finally coming out, Big Boi is ready to claim the title, himself, instead of having it handed down to him.

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Big Boi gets a Release Date

For the past two years, Big Boi has been rumored to be working on a solo album. Towards the end of 2007, Big Boi announced that he would release an album during the summer of 2008. Supposedly, the lead single was supposed to be released on New Year's Eve.

However, 2008 went by and the new album never came. During the summer of 2009, it was revealed that Big Boi had signed with Def Jam. The man who originally signed him, L.A. Reid, was now an executive with the label. Because things had changed at Jive, Big Boi was ready for a reunion.

There has not been a set release date for this album. For the most part, the only thing that Big Boi could confirm is that the album would come out before the end of the year. However, now, Big Boi has been informed that Def Jam will be releasing his album in July 2010.

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