Hip-hop star Big Boi recently spoke to Complex about hip-hop performers and the tendency for some artists to rap over their recorded vocals during their live performances. Needless to say, the legend from Atlanta is not impressed with rappers who rhyme over their songs.
“This new thing going on with rappers these days, how do you allow them to rap over the words?” Big Boi said. “Like, what part of the game is that? Y’all don’t care? It’s crazy, I don’t understand that. If you an emcee, rapping over the words, like, ‘N—-, we hear you in the background [laughs]!'”
Big Boi was also asked about A$AP Ferg, who some have accused of appropriating Big Boi’s rhyme style on A$AP Rocky’s “Ghetto Symphony.”
“It’s cool man ’cause everybody’s influenced by somebody,” Big Boi replied. “It’s a lot of artists out there that I hear bits and pieces of Three Stacks, Daddy Fat Sax but we were influenced by people just like new artists are influenced by us. It’s just where you going to take it, that’s what it’s all about. Originality is key, you can be most influenced by somebody but then you got to take it and you got to grow.”
Big Boi has been performing festival shows with his old partner Andre 3000, as the duo have reunited as OutKast in recognition of the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.
