Ok, so for a while there, especially after Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, there was a lot of talk about Big Boi being the superior MC in hip-hop’s best group. Now don’t get me wrong; Mr. Fat Sacks is one of the best rappers in the game. But Andre 3000 is one of the best of all time, as he’s shown through every single one of Outkast’s classics. Admittedly, though, it seemed like he was focusing his talents on other forms of entertainment. But just when it seemed like Dre’s career had gone the way of depression-era concept albums, shitty Hollywood sequels and children’s shows on the Cartoon Network, out of nowhere last summer he started showing up with guest verses on song after song. And every single one was sick. Please sample said flavor below (complete with where Andre’s verse is within the song):
“Walk It Out (Remix feat. Andre 3000)” – DJ Unk
Download audio file (WalkitoutAndre.mp3)
Dre’s verse goes until 1:25 of the song
“You (Remix feat. Andre 3000)” – Lloyd
Download audio file (YouRemix.mp3)
Dre’s verse goes until 1:01 of the song
“Throw Some D’s (Remix feat. Andre 3000)” - Rich Boy
Download audio file (SomeDsRemix.mp3)
Dre’s verse goes until 1:20 of the song
Continuing his return to hotness as the year went on, Outkast teamed up with UGK and put out, at least in my opinion, the best hip-hop song of 2007: “International Player’s Anthem (I Choose You).” Amongst hip-hop legends on a brilliant track, Andre’s verse is the true highlight:
“International Players Anthem (I Choose You)” – UGK feat. Outkast
IntlPlayersAnthem.mp3″>Download audio file (IntlPlayersAnthem.mp3)
Dre’s verse goes until 1:13 of the song
Fast-forward to now: Dre has announced that he’s planning on putting out a solo album this year in the wake of Big Boi’s upcoming solo release, “Sir Lucious Left Foot,” set to drop this summer. Meanwhile, Andre’s return to hip-hop has begun to reverberate through hip-hop, as it truly seems that he’s taken his lyricism to a whole new level. Just what he has put out in the past few months alone is enough to get excited about. I love Nas and Wayne and Hova, and I think they’re each one of the best rappers hip-hop has ever seen. But I don’t think that any of them is able to do what Dre can in these verses: spit it so hot that it gives you the goosebumps.
“Da Art of Storytellin Pt. 4″ – Outkast
Download audio file (StorytellinPart4.mp3)
“Royal Flush” – Big Boi feat. Andre 3000 & Raekwon
Download audio file (RoyalFlush.mp3)
Dre’s verse goes until 1:47 of the song
And, apparently, I’m not the only one who sees this happening:
Royal Flush: first single off Big Boi’s new album Sir Lucious Left Foot. 3 Stacks please rap more, like a lot more.
Finally, this is all good news because Idlewild really sucked ass.
