For a legend that helped usher in an entire city and region to prominence, Big Boi is comfortably perched within the lexicon of Hip Hop icons. There’s no denying Daddy Fat Sax’s dominance and confidence throughout his career. Unfortunately, the ATLien’s solo game hasn’t paralleled his tenure within the mighty Outkast and his fourth (if you rightfully count the Grammy Award-winning Speakerboxxx) solo effort in Boomiverse isn’t going to change that.
Sonically, Boomiverse traverses through a landscape of overused synths to force a cosmic, universal theme devoid of the “boom” the title alludes to. What should have been a blockbuster affair with all-star Hip Hop production courtesy of Organized Noize, DJ’s Dahi and DJ Khalil, Scott Storch, and Mannie Fresh largely comes up short in an attempt to incorporate too many musical genres into one singular product. The finished result is a clusterfuck of inconsistent harmonies, which will surely bring out the Nick Young puzzled faces.
To be a Hip Hop icon over the course of three different decades, tracks like the stale rug-cutter “Chocolate,” and “Freakanomics” — with its lethargic electro turn-up — should not be highlighted on the album, let alone exist Antwan Patton’s vault. The aforementioned songs not only represent a downshift in quality for his discography, they feature quite possibly some of the laziest hooks he’s ever been apart of. “Get Wit It” sees Big Boi squander a Snoop Dogg collaboration over a head-scratching Organized Noize production best suited for 00’s era album cut. While Big Boi opens with some of the most potent bars of the album (One of the last rap niggas snappin’, niggas playing sleep I’m St. Nick with the package/Blessed with the gift and only 3 Stacks can match me, light years ahead of you niggas another galaxy), it quickly crumbles with its flanked outdated production and a flat hook. “Overthunk” also features a painfully struggle hook by Eric Bellinger, who doesn’t sound enthused to be on whatever planet the record aims to personify.
Not all is lost as Big Boi is able to capture the magic we know him for on the Killer Mike and Young Jeezy-assisted “Kill Jill,” which is a candidate for 2017’s best pure rap cut. The South wins big with Gucci Mane and Pimp C doing what they do on“In The South” and “Follow Deez” boosted by Curren$y and Killer Mike yet again. Jeezy laced Big Boi with the strongest hook on the album while Killer Mike, Gucci and the late Sweet James Jones help connect the dots for Day 1 Outkast fans.
Ironically, the Dr. Luke-produced “All Night” makes for the most unsuspecting satisfying soundbed for Big to drip his syrupy Southern drawl. Big drips Southernplayalistic sauce over Luke’s antebellum laced piano riffs with bars like, “It’s alright it’s ok, everybody gonna say what they wanna say/Players gonna play when they wanna play, Long way, only for one night like Luther Vandross right.”
Big Boi is, and forever will be, a Hip Hop luminary. His lyrical prowess and flow ranks amongst the top of the game. However, no mortal man is above reproach or criticism. While there are moments on Boomiverse that reminds you of who you’re listening to, the lows are painful and distracting, to say the least. Weak production and terrible hooks drown out the enjoyable moments of the supposed intergalactic trip. Mr. Patton is too far in his career to release an album that just circles the bases. From Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors to Big Grams and now Boomiverse, we’re still waiting on Big Boi to single-handily take Southern Hip Hop to the next level. After all, he helped create the manual in the first place.
Nonsense review. Both this and Sir Luscious (which u failed to mention) are near classics. Just because their are no trap beats doesn’t mean production is lacking.
The hell are you talking about? This is no where near a classic. Stop it. Decent album, nothing special
Don’t nobody give a damn about no trap beats. The production is far from terrible but I will say I’m personally not scouring the net for the album instrumentals, either.
If your looking for trap/trunk beats, u missed entire point of Outkast
Actually people do care about trap beats
I meant as far as criteria for the review. It’s a common (misguided) criticism whenever we review legendary MCs that we don’t like it because it doesn’t sound like the current trend. That would be dumb to dock an OG for that but it also wouldn’t be progressive of us if we acted like they were content by trying to recreate some sort of past glory all the same.
” However, no mortal man is above reproach or criticism. ” Looks at DAMN. review and laughs to self. Then looks at R&B Lemonade review on a Hip Hop site and kills self.
I don’t know what dick-n-the ass clown wrote this review. This album is solid! You may need to get your ears checked find another job and write about butterflies trying to fuck snakes. Yo (F.I.) = Fucking Idoit.
is not dope like no Aquemini or none of the Outkast your used to. the production is suspect. it doesnt feel funky , I mean when you listen to some of Kendrick Lamar you can tell he was influenced some by Outkast and there organic vibes now it sounds like big Boi needs to listen to Kendrick. lol cause Big Boi sure killed my vibe. I thought the reviewer was nice.I gave it a 1.5 out of 5 I could not see another listen … What happened to the dope cats that made goodie Mob soul food, the cats that made crumblin erb . dont sound like no soul food i want sounds like chic fila
This album is a 5/5 period. Y’all buggin
His worst solo effort so far. I kept about 4 songs on my phone.
can’t agree with this review because it did not mention one of the stronger songs: made man with kurupt and killer mike with the great hook, I do wish bigboi would of snapped on it better. i do dislike big boi’s obsession with electro beats, people expecting the outkast sound clearly did not listen to his other solo albums as they do not represent the outkast sound. I think bigboi is trying to push the southern sound away from trap but I agree this album does not add to his legacy like sir lucious left foot does. btw pimp c’s hook on in the south is the best on this album for real.
Really love Big Boi overall. Masterful emcee extremely underrated.
This album just wasn’t that good to me.
Peace.
It’s good prob his best solo effort Imo
Track with snoop is dope af an overthunk great tracks along with made man
?!
100%
I like the album… It’s solid. 4/5
Decent album. 3 to 3 1/2. Not as good as his first solo debut but there are some tracks worth listening to.
Big Boi has always been weak. Everybody know that Andre3000 carried him on Every album they ever put out. Why do u think they aint put out another album together in over 15yrs? Big Boi washed up!!
Andre is overrated and that wack ass Love Below proved it. Can spit 16, but can’t put together a solo project
yeah this album was a let down from big boi’s standards. His albums have been forgettable to me, but this one is especially. I still need to continue to listen though.
Legends in rap sometimes try to prove how diverse their sound can be an often fail. Unfortunately Big Boi is making music that is too far outside of what makes him great. Big Boi is known for and best with that playa talk and in your face raw rap. Stick to the basics man and just rap over dope hip hop beats. This album is sonically disappointing. I’m just being real about it.
Big Grams was dope, this one didn’t sound good. The concept was either too heavy for him or his mind wasn’t in it.
Good album, not great. Agree with the article about inconsistent.
Extremely disappointing.
To be the voice of dissent – I loved the album and wish it was longer. I’ve long been one of the few people backing up Big Boi as one of the best in the game – and yes, better than 3 Stacks.
I thought it was a nice album 4/5 Big Boi always comes original
Forget to cast my vote
Yessss hhdx. Piss these hipster nerd losers off. All they do is rate garbage undergrouns rap albums or albums made by washed up old 90s rappers highly. They hate on good albums made by current rappers because they fail to adapt to todays society and are out of touch with reality. These nerds are all living in their moms basements and this is their only form of expressing themselves. This album was garbage and if you hipsters cant accept that 2 chainz album is better then you are dellusional.
It’s better than his last ones that I’ve listen to and for that it gets an extra point from me.
Album has 8 bangers on it
It’s cool. 4/5 is fine! Kill Jill is pure fire!
Pure Genuis. It’s clear he is the brain of Outkast concepts, bars, production and hooks. Andre only shows up will his 16 while Big Boi did the rest. This album is better than 2Chainz. He is top 3 Southern MC of alltime (Scarface, Bun B). Andre said himself Big is the better MC! His lyrics and flows have always been ahead of its time. The bangers are the following: Kill Jill, In the South, Order of Operations, All Night, Get Wit it, Overthunk, Made Man, Freak and Follow Deez. Give this man his flowers now, not when he is gone!
Good ish, my 8 basically same as yours, I prefer Mic Jack over All Night, but more I listen to All Night, more I like…it has classic Kast feel. so I guess Im @ 9
Mic Jack is cool but I’m not feeling the hook with Adam, maybe if he would have kept Sleepy Brown as main hook man. I like All night because I can vision Killa Cam on the remix – FIRE!!
Some absolute bangers in a very eclectic mix. Not every track is of premium standard but the 5 or 6 that are stand out with powerful incandescence and defiance by diverging triumphantly in what is now a trap-dominated era of hip hop. For flow, lyrics and production Big Boi stands leagues above most of his peers and is a worthy mention in the ever popular Top 5 conversation.
Fuck off Marcel.
You first (:
I beg to differ.
this review is actually about the REVIEW ITSELF, not Big Boi’s record. “weak production, inconsistent harmonies and terrible hooks” indeed!
album is ok at best he needs someone else to rap with he can’t do it on his own. he needs to join killer mike and make them outkast of something. ever song he got wth him is great. need 13 big boy and killer tracks.
His best solo I think. Dope.
Reviewer got no funk in his soul.
album dope as fuck. Better than Jay z