Big Boi’s Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors

As music simultaneously fragments and forms new relationships, Big Boi has taken advantage with a brief walk around the indie and electronic world with some successful collaborations as souvenirs. Phantogram, Jai Paul, Wavves, ASAP Rocky, and Little Dragon all make at least one appearance on the album, along with Southern rappers and vocalists including Killer Mike, Sleepy Brown, T.I., and Ludacris. Big Boi brings it all together without breaking a sweat, his cool, relaxed charm always shining through no matter who he might share the mic with.

Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors is a fresh take on a genre (Southern rap) that has considered to have peaked in popularity in the minds of many, and the charts reflect this. Big Boi tries to keep this genre going by bringing in sounds and styles that have not reached their pinnacle of mainstream success (I have faith that Little Dragon will unleash an international hit in the next few years that will rid us of lesser dance music like they’re Noah watching as the flood wipes away the undeserving). The effectiveness of what Big Boi concocted is hit and miss with strong new collaborations such as the singles “Lines” and “Mama Told Me.” Other stellar new tracks include “CPU,” “Thom Pettie” and “In The A.” It’s not so much that some tracks are poorly constructed or less lyrical, but they just don’t grasp the attention of a listener as effectively. Big Boi remains as clever as ever with his flows, bringing humour and wit to almost every song. He has brought something new, but not groundbreaking, to mainstream rap though, bringing fresh ideas. Overall it is a strong album that definitely puts Big Boi on the right direction in staying relevant; conquering new genres of music and new audiences.

As a Bonus, Big Boi has offered a free download of the original

Mama Told Me (Feat. Little Dragon)
Thom Pettie (Feat. Little Dragon & Killer Mike)
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Mama Told Me (Feat. Kelly Rowland)
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