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Big Boi to release album "Sir Lucious Left Foot" in late summer

Atlanta rapper Big Boi has been out of the spotlight and off the charts for quiet some time now. That, however, is about to change as he gears up to deliver his first solo album, "Sir Luscious Left Foot...Son Of Chico Dusty."

The LP, which is set to hit stores this coming August, is being produced mostly by Organized Noize, who handles a vast amount of Outkast's material including the entire Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik LP and "So Fresh, So Clean" from Stankonia.

"I'm shooting to finish the album by the end of August," Big Boi tells Billboard.com.

"This album is Big Boi to the extreme," he continues. "It's like a recession special. I'm talking about what's going on in the world, with everything from rising gas prices to the election. It's just my insights on life up to this point."

Mary J. Blige, Andre3000, T.I., & Raekwon will all be appearing on the album.

The first single, "Royal Flush" featuring Andre 3000 and Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon has already hit the airwaves with a video in the works directed by Bryan Barber.

The second official single will be "The World is Too Big" featuring Mary J. Blige.

Courtesy Billboard

MUSIC NEWS: BIG BOI DOING FIRST HIP HOP BALLET

Antwan "Big Boi" Patton (one half of hip hop duo Outkast) is making history with the world's first hip hop ballet. Teaming up with Atlanta Ballet choreographer Lauri Stallings, they aim to create a fusion of the best elements of these seemingly opposite ends of the musical spectrum. CNN reports: "Big Boi's contemporary style may seem inherently different from the traditional and classical sounds that normally echo through an Atlanta Ballet performance. But, Stallings said, as a choreographer it's not a stretch to equate one of hip-hop's biggest names with some of the most venerated composers who are usually the backdrop for traditional ballets. "For me [Big Boi's music] sounds like Shostakovich, Stravinsky a little … just today's Stravinsky," Stallings said."" "Big" opens today for a limited six show run. COURTESY CNN

OUTKAST: Both Solo and Group Projects In the Works!

Although, for the past few years, he's focused on his movie career -- with appearances in movies such as "Four Brothers," "Be Cool," "Idlewild," and "The Shield" -- Outkast's eclectic member, Andre 3000, is getting ready to get back to the music. The rapper/actor recently told MTV that after he's finished with promotions for his latest film, "Semi-Pro," he will get into the studio to begin work on his solo debut. "After I finish promoting 'Semi-Pro,' I'm going to the studio and kind of staying in there for a while," he promised. "[I'll] bang out something!" He added that he's not actually laid any tracks down for the album, as of yet, but it will be out in the fall. After his solo album, he and Big Boi will begin work on the next Outkast album.

ANDRE is also making a guest spot appearance on John Legend's new album. "It's going to be a surprise for a lot of John Legend fans, because it is a lot more upbeat than John is — than people think John is," Andre insisted. "I was actually happy to hear it. This is a cool John Legend song."

The song will be called "Green Light" or "Ready to Go," Andre said.

MTV

GET READY DEC. 31st NEW MUSIC BIG BOI (SIR LUSCIOUS LEFT FOOT) & OUTKAST

Big Boi of Outkast made news months back by announcing that he was working on a solo album, but few details have surfaced since. In a recent interview with Vibe, Outkast's other half spoke on the status of his project.

"I'm going to put 12 songs on there, I'm finished with like nine right now," says Big Boi. "I plan on releasing a single on December 31 at midnight going into the New Year, 'cause I want all the stuff to be '08, everything to be brand new. It's going to be a lot of surprises. We just really trying to bring that good music back."

While there is no official release date or title, Big Boi said he was leaning toward calling the album Sir Luscious Left Foot. Initial reports listed Sade and Organized Noize among featured guests on the album. (BANANAS!!! RIGHT?...BRING SADE BACK BIG BOI!)

Andre 3000 is also working on a solo album, although the group doesn't plan to package both works together as they did with Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, which has sold over 11 million copies to date. Big Boi added that he and Andre 3000 will release another Outkast group album after both solo projects are finished.

VIA:HHNLIVE