Big Boi is Antwan André Patton, a rapper, producer and actor from Savannah, United States, born in 1975. He is known as one half of OutKast and is also associated with Dungeon Family, Earthtone III, Big Grams and Purple Ribbon All-Stars. He records hip hop and has releases on Polar Bears Toe Nails and HITCO.

Career

Big Boi meets André 3000 while they are at high school in the 1980s, and the two form OutKast. The duo signs to LaFace Records and goes on to make a run of successful albums together. Big Boi is recognised for a rapid delivery and dense rhyming style, which becomes more distinct from the ATLiens era onwards.

He works as a solo artist alongside his group activity. His debut solo album, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, is released in 2010, followed by Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors in 2012. Before that, he and André 3000 release Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2003 as a paired solo project package, with Big Boi handling the Speakerboxxx side. His single The Way You Move, featuring Sleepy Brown, crosses from urban radio to the pop chart and reaches number one in the United States, where it replaces OutKast’s own Hey Ya! at the top. Another track from his side of the project is Ghetto Musick, which features André 3000 and includes a sample of Patti LaBelle’s Love, Need & Want You.

In 2005, he releases the mixtape/compilation Got Purp? Vol. 2 with Purple Ribbon All-Stars on Purple Ribbon Records. The set includes Kryptonite, which reaches the Billboard Hot 100 and becomes a hip hop radio hit.

Guest appearances and film work

Outside OutKast and his solo releases, Big Boi appears on records by other artists, including Missy Elliott’s N All N My Grill, Youngbloodz’s 85 South and Trick Daddy’s In Da Wind. He also appears in the film Idlewild with André 3000, in T.I.’s ATL, and in Who’s Your Caddy? On television, he appears in season 3 of Nick Cannon’s Wildin’ Out and also appears on Chappelle’s Show as a guest and musical act.

Personal life

Big Boi is married to Sherlita Patton. They have two children, Jordan and Bamboo. He also has an older son, Antwan Jr., from a previous relationship. His younger brother James performs as Lil’ Brotha and is a member of the group Konkrete. References to the Patton family appear throughout his lyrics.