Biography

1/2 of OutKast

Patton was born and spent the first half of his childhood in Savannah, attending Herschel V. Jenkins High School before moving to Atlanta. He had a strong interest in hip hop music, and met André "3000" Benjamin while attending Tri Cities High School in the early-1990s. The two eventually joined forces as OutKast and signed with LaFace Records.

In contrast to his more sedate, philosophical partner, Patton's on-record persona enjoys partying. He can be identified by his rapid-fire delivery, a style which has become more distinct since the album ATLiens. Patton has often used his lyrics to criticize the problems that plague both the African American community and the world. One example is 2003's "War", a scathing attack on the Bush administration and the "war on terror."

Solo Work

In addition to his work on much OutKast and Dungeon Family-related material, Patton has also been featured on other artists' tracks without André 3000. His most notable guest appearances were on the 1999 Missy Elliott hit, "All N My Grill", the YoungBloodZ' "85 South", and Trick Daddy's 2002 single "In Da Wind". He is also featured in Hood Boy by Fantasia Barrino.

After four increasingly successful albums as a duo, Benjamin decided to make a solo album as a side project(Even though Big Boi was on some of The Love Below as Andre 3000 was on some songs in Speakerboxx). Patton also produced a solo effort, and the two albums were packaged together as Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2003. Speakerboxxx featured a style similar to OutKast's previous efforts, while The Love Below explored more offbeat territory. One song from each album was released in September 2003 as a single.

Patton's choice was the single "The Way You Move", featuring Sleepy Brown. It was originally supported by urban radio, but then crossed over to pop charts and became almost as big a pop hit as Benjamin's "Hey Ya!". "The Way You Move" supplanted "Hey Ya!" as the #1 song on the US pop charts. The second single from Big Boi's side of the album was "Ghetto Musick", which featured both members of OutKast and a sample from Patti LaBelle's "Love, Need & Want You".

Big Boi recently announced a solo album in the works, which may be finished in 2007. Purportedly similar in sound to Speakerboxxx, it will feature production from André and longtime Dungeon Family production team Organized Noize.

Patton and Benjamin star in Idlewild, a film about music in the Depression-era South. It was released in August 2006. Patton also has plans in the works for a project partnering him with Sleepy Brown. He released a mixtape/compilation album, Got Purp? Vol 2, in conjunction with the Purple Ribbon All-Stars in November 2005 on Purple Ribbon Records; Aquemeni Records had become defunct after Benjamin left the company. The first single from the album was "Kryptonite", which cracked the Billboard Hot 100 and was a hit on hip-hop radio. Patton is also currently featured on the song "International Players Anthem (I Choose You)", which is the first single off of UGK's new album, Underground Kings. He is also planning a new solo album in 2007 or 2008

Acting & Personal Life

Patton is married to Sherlita Patton, with whom he has two children: a daughter, Jordan, and a son, Cross. His second-born, a boy, Bamboo is from a previous relationship. Numerous references to the Patton family are present in Big Boi's rhymes. His younger brother James raps under the name "Lil' Brotha", and is a member of hip-hop group Konkrete. His other brothers, Marcus and Jason, also make their way onto some songs as well. He is related to Trey Morrel.

His wife is also the co-owner of a clothing boutique in Atlanta, Georgia called PValentine. She co-owns the store with Tracy Valentine. The expensive brands carried by the store and the tie to Big Boi attract many music artists and other celebrities to the store. the store was featured on an episode of MTV's sweet sixteen when R&B artist Chris Brown went for a birthday gift from Big Boi.

Big Boi also appeared on Nick Cannon's Wildin Out Season 3 as one of the many guest stars, as well as guest starring and appearing as a musical guest on Chappelle's Show. Besides Idlewild he is currently reaching more into acting, having appeared in T.I.'s film ATL, Outkast's film Idlewild and starring in the recently released Who's Your Caddy?.

Featured Appearances

Filmography

- (2006) ATL: Marcus
- (2006) Idlewild: Rooster
- (2007) Who's Your Caddy?: C-Note

Trivia

• He is a registered pit bull breeder
• He sometimes refers to, or credits, himself as "Daddy Fat Sacks," which is a term referring to a drug dealer, in such songs as "ATLiens," "Walk It Out" and "Morris Brown"
• Big Boi is a playable character in the Def Jam: Icon videogame.